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GEORGIA 


Comprising  Sketches  of  Counties,  Towns,  Events, 
Institutions,  and  Persons,  Arranged 
in  Cyclopedic  Form 


IN  THREE  VOLUMES 


EDITED  BY 

Ex-Governor  ALLEN  D.  CANDLER 

AND 

General  CLEMENT  A.  EVANS 


VOLUME  III 


State  Historical  Association 
ATLANTA 
1906 


Copyright,  1906 


BY 


STATE  HISTORICAL,  ASSOCIATION 


? I 'i'.g’ 

(L  t I & G- 


Cyclopedia  of  Georgia 


O 

Oak,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southern  part  of  Berrien  county,  is 
about  six  miles  southeast  .of  Heartpine,  which  is  the  nearest  rail- 
road station. 

Oakdale,  a post-village  of  Cobb  county,  is  on  the  Southern  rail- 
road, about  twelve  miles  northwest  of  Atlanta. 

Oakfield,  a town  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Crisp  county,  was 
incorporated  by  act  of  the  general  assembly  on  Dec.  6,  1900.  Its 
population  that  year  was  107.  It  is  on  the  Albany  & Northern 
railway,  about  half-way  between  Albany  and  Cordele,  and  is  one 
of  the  most  important  trading  and  shipping  points  on  the  line. 
It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  express  and  telegraph  offices, 
schools,  churches,  etc.,  and  is  one  of  the  thriving  towns  in  that 
section  of  the  state. 

Oakhurst,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northern  part  of  Cobb  county,  is 
on  the  Atlanta,  Knoxville  & Northern  railroad,  about  six  miles 
from  Marietta. 

Oakland,  a post-village  of  Meriwether  county,  with  a popula- 
tion of  68,  is  about  ten  miles  northeast  of  Greenville,  which  is  the 
nearest  railroad  station,  and  is  a trading  center  for  the  neighbor- 
hood in  which  it  is  situated. 

Oakridge,  a post-hamlet  of  Meriwether  county,  is  about  eight 
miles  northwest  of  Greenville.  Odessadale,  on  the  Macon  & Bir- 
mingham railroad,  is  the  nearest  station. 

Oakwood,  a post-village  of  Hall  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Southern  railway,  about  eight  miles  southwest  of  Gainesville.  The 
population  in  1900  was  43.  It  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the 
legislature  on  August  12,  1903. 

Oaky,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northern  part  of  Effingham  county, 
is  not  far  from  the  Screven  county  line.  Oliver,  seven  miles  west 
on  the  Central  of  Georgia,  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 


2— in 


17 


IS 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Oasis,  a post-hamlet  of  Fannin  county,  is  about  seven  miles  due 
west  of  Kyle,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Oats. — As  a forage  crop  oats  has  been  profitably  cultivated  in 
the  Oostanaula,  Etowah  and  Coosa  valleys,  and  all  through  Mid- 
dle Georgia.  The  expense  of  production  is  comparatively  light 
and  under  favorable  conditions  the  returns  are  good.  In  1900 
there  were  467,336  acres  and  the  production  was  7,010,040  bushels, 
valued  at  $3,434,920.  The  largest  yield  was  reported  from  a farm 
in  Wilkes  county.  This  was  137  bushels  to  the  acre,  but  farms  in 
DeKalb,  Floyd,  Coweta  and  Schley  counties  reported  crops  of  100 
bushels  and  over. 

Oatts,  a post-hamlet  of  Burke  county,  is  fifteen  miles  southwest 
of  Waynesboro  and  almost  on  the  Jefferson  county  line.  Louis- 
ville is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Ocean  City. — (See  Tybee). 

Ocee,  a post-hamlet  of  Milton  county,  is  about  five  miles  north- 
west of  Duluth,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Ocher. — Strictly  speaking  ocher  is  a combination  of  peroxide  of 
iron  with  water,  but  the  name  has  been  conferred  on  various  clays 
colored  with  iron  oxides,  the  shade  of  color  depending  upon  the 
proportion.  Subjected  to  the  process  of  calcination  the  color  is 
deepened  and  rendered  more  permanent.  Ocher  is  found  in  the 
iron  bearing  mud  associated  with  the  water  pumped  from  many 
mines  and  in  natural  beds,  sometimes  several  feet  in  thickness,  in 
different  geological  formations.  In  northwest  Georgia  large  de- 
posits of  these  iron  bearing  clays  are  found,  being  generally  asso- 
ciated with  the  brown  iron  ores.  The  most  extensive  of  these  de- 
posits are  found  in  what  is  known  as  the  Weisner  quartzite,  near 
Cartersville.  They  occur  chiefly  along  the  western  margin  of  the 
quartzite,  where  it  has  been  crushed  or  broken.  The  ocher  ob- 
tained from  these  deposits  is  really  a pulverulent  form  of  brown 
iron  ore,  is  remarkably  free  from  impurities  and  well  adapted  to 
the  manufacture  of  paints  and  linoleum.  The  mining  and  ship- 
ment of  yellow  ocher  has  become  a considerable  industry  in  Bar- 
tow county.  At  Cartersville  there  are  four  mills  for  preparing 
the  material.  For  the  year  ending  August  1,  1900,  the  product  of 
this  district  was  4,500  tons.  It  is  said  that  most  of  this  ocher  finds 
its  way  to  England,  where  it  is  used  in  the  linoleum  factories.  The 
value  of  the  state’s  output  for  the  same  year  was  approximately 
$75,000. 

Ochillee,  a village  in  the  northern  part  of  Chattahoochee  county, 
is  at  the  junction  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  and  the  Central  of 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


19 


Georgia  railroads.  It  has  a money  order  postoffiee,  express  and 
telegraph  offices,  and  is  an  important  trading  and  shipping  point 
for  that  part  of  the  county. 

Ochlochnee,  an  incorporated  town  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
Thomas  county,  is  on  the  Albany  & Thomasville  division  of  the 
Atlantic  Coast  Line  railway,  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  244. 
It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  which  supplies  mail  to  the  rural 
districts  by  means  of  several  free  delivery  routes,  and  is  an  impor- 
tant commercial  center  and  shipping  point  for  that  section  of  the 
county. 

Ochwalkee,  a village  of  Montgomery  county,  is  a short  distance 
west  of  Mount  Vernon,  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line,  at  the  point 
where  it  crosses  the  Oconee  river.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice, 
express  and  telegraph  service,  some  mercantile  interests  and  in 
1900  reported  a population  of  100. 

Ocilla,  a town  in  the  eastern  part  of  Irwin,  county,  was  incorpor-, 
ated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1898.  It  is  located  on  a branch 
of  the  Atlantic  & Birmingham  railroad  and  a branch  of  the  Sea- 
board Air  Line  connects  it  with  Fitzgerald.  It  is  the  second  larg- 
est town  in  the  county,  -and  by  the  census  of  1900  had  a population 
of  805  in  the*  corporate  limits  and  1,740  in  its  entire  district.  It 
has  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a money  order  postoffice  with 
rural  free  delivery,  a bank,  prosperous  commercial  establishments, 
and  an  oil  and  fertilizer  company  doing  a large  business,  while 
there  are  good  schools  and  churches  in  the  town  and  vicinity. 

Ocilla  Oil  & Fertilizer  Company,  manufacturers  of  cotton-seed 
oil  products  and  fertilizers,  Ocilla,  Irwin  county,  represents  one 
of  the  important  enterprises  which  has  been  fostered  through  the 
development  of  the  cotton-seed  industry  throughout  the  South. 
The  company  was  organized  and  incorporated  in  1903,  with  a cap- 
ital stock  of  $30,000,  and  its  well  equipped  plant  has  a capacity  for 
the  handling  of  forty  tons  of  cotton  seed  every  twenty-four  hours, 
while  in  connection  is  maintained  an  extensive  gin,  with  a capacity 
of  125  bales  of  cotton  a day.  The  oil  products  of  the  concern  are 
maintained  at  the  maximum  standard  of  purity  and  attractiveness 
and  are  sold  throughout  the  Lhiion,  the  business  of  the  company 
having  shown  a constant  tendency  to  expansion  from  the  time  of 
its  inception.  The  plant  utilizes  25,000  square  feet  of  ground,  and 
employment  is  given  to  a corps  of  forty  men.  The  stock  of  the 
company  is  owned  entirely  by  residents  of  Irwin  county,  the  offi- 
cers being  as  follows:  J.  A.  J.  Henderson,  president;  J.  E.  Hoav- 

ell,  vice-president;  R.  V.  Paulk,  secretary  and  treasurer.  In  addi- 


20 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


tion  to  this  executive  corps  the  board  of  directors  also  includes 
William  Henderson,  D.  H.  Paulk,  J.  W.  Paulk,  Jacob  McMillan, 
and  J.  L.  Paulk. 

Oconee,  an  incorporated  town  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Wash- 
ington county,  is  on  the  main  line  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  rail- 
road, a short  distance  east  of  the  Oconee  river.  It  has  a money 
order  postoffice,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  some  mercantile  and 
shipping  interests,  school  and  church  privileges,  etc. 

Oconee  County  was  laid  out  from  Clarke  and  was  named  for 
the  Oconee  river,  which  forms  its  eastern  boundary.  It  lies  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  by  Clarke  county  on 
the  northeast,  Oglethorpe  on  the  east,  Greene  on  the  south,  Mor- 
gan and  Walton  on  the  southwest,  and  Walton  and  Jackson  on 
the  northwest.  The  Oconee  and  Appalachee  rivers,  with  their 
branches,  water  the  county.  The  surface  is  hilly.  The  soil  is 
productive  and  raises  good  crops  of  corn,  wheat,  oats,  barley,  sweet 
and  Irish  potatoes,  cotton,  ground  and  field  peas,  sugar-cane,  vege- 
tables, berries  and  melons.  Peaches  and  apples  yield  abundantly 
and  large  quantities  of  fruits  and  vegetables  are  exported.  Along 
the  streams  are  growths  of  sycamore,  poplar,  maple,  ash  and  gum. 
In  other  parts  of  the  county  grow  oak,  hickory,  chestnut  and  wal- 
nut. There  is  also  some  pine,  but  the  output  of  lumber  is  insig- 
nificant. There  are  a number  of  factories  along  the  Oconee  and 
Appalachee  rivers,  but  the  water-power  is  greatly  in  excess  of 
what  is  used.  The  minerals  are  mica,  feldspar,  hornblende  and 
gneiss.  Watkinsville  is  the  county  seat.  It  is  on  the  Macon  & 
Athens  branch  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  Railroad.  A division  of 
the  Seaboard  Air  Line  traverses  the  northern  part  of  the  county. 
The  population  in  1900  Avas  8,602,  showing  a gain  in  889  in  ten 
years. 

Oconee  River. — This  river  rises  in  Hall  county  and  flows  a gen- 
eral southeasterly  direction  until  it  unites  with  the  Ocmulgee  to 
form  the  Altamaha.  In  November,  1864,  as  Howard’s  wing  of 
Sherman’s  army  advanced  to  this  river  at  Ball’s  Ferry,  Gen.  IT  C. 
Wayne,  commanding  the  cadets  of  the  Georgia  military  institute 
and  part  of  the  reserves,  fell  back  across  the  river.  On  the  23rd, 
Austin,  with  the  cadets,  successfully  held  the  Central  railroad 
bridge,  while  Hartridge  at  the  ferry  drove  back  across  the  river  a 
Federal  detachment  which  had  forced  its  way  over.  This  gave 
time  for  the  removal  of  the  stores  at  Tennille.  On  the  next  day 
General  Wayne  reported  to  General  McLaws  that  the  Federals 
were  shelling  him  at  Oconee  Bridge.  Wayne  with  the  state  troops 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


21 


and  cadets  kept  up  a brave  fight  until  night,  holding  one  end  of 
the  bridge  while  the  enemy  set  fire  to  the  other.  Finally,  when 
flanking  parties  had  crossed  to  his  right  and  left,  he  withdrew  his 
small  force  in  good  order. 

Oconee  War. — Both  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees  had  extended  aid 
to  Great  Britain  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  but  by  the  triumph 
of  American  arms  they  met  the  fate  of  the  vanquished  and  were 
left  to  the  mercies  of  the  victors.  The  State  of  Georgia  took  ad- 
vantage of  the  situation  and  in  dictating  terms  of  peace  made  at 
Augusta  in  1783  obtained  important  cessions  of  land.  The  Chero- 
kees, being  comparatively  weak,  without  adequate  leadership  and 
not  inclined  to  hostility,  accepted  the  exigencies  of  the  occasion, 
but  the  Creeks  were  not  so  disposed.  By  the  treaty  they  had  lost 
all  their  possessions  east  of  the  Oconee  river,  and  as  the  agree- 
ment had  been  signed  by  only  a portion  of  their  head  men  a power- 
ful faction,  under  the  leadership  of  the  redoubtable  McGillivray, 
refused  to  acquiesce  in  it.  The  dissatisfaction  of  this  party  in- 
creased when  the  legislature,  in  February,  1784,  passed  an  act 
throwing  open  to  settlement  the  newly  acquired  territory. 

Conditions  were  aggravated  by  the  dispute  between  the  United 
States  and  Spain  over  the  territory  lying  between  the  Chattahoo- 
chee and  Mississippi  rivers.  Spain  claimed  sovereignty  over  the 
region  on  the  ground  of  having  taken  the  Province  of  West  Flor- 
ida from  Great  Britain  while  the  Revolution  was  in  progress  and 
as  she  was  at  that  time  a powerful  nation  the  United  States  was 
inclined  to  settle  the  question  by  diplomacy,  rather  than  by  an 
appeal  to  arms.  Early  in  1784  McGillivray  went  to  Pensacola, 
where  he  formed  a treaty  of  “alliance  and  friendship’’  with  the 
Spanish  authorities.  Aided  and  abetted  by  the  emissaries  of  Spain 
the  Creeks  kept  up  for  several  years,  in  that  irregular,  desultory 
manner  so  common  to  Indian  warfare,  a series  of  depredations  on 
the  white  settlements  along  the  Georgia  frontier.  Various  at- 
tempts were  made  to  restore  peace  and  good  feeling,  but  every  new 
treaty  was  broken  soon  after  it  was  concluded.  Notwithstanding 
the  continuance  of  hostilities  the  whites  kept  pouring  into  the 
Oconee  country.  Every  neighborhood  had  its  fort,  or  blockhouse, 
which  frequently  became  the  permanent  abode  of  the  women  and 
children,  while  the  men  toiled  in  the  forest  or  field  with  the  trusty 
rifle  always  within  easy  reach. 

For  some  time  President  Washington  sought  to  restore  peace  by 
a settlement  of  the  Spanish  claims  in  a way  that  would  break  the 
alliance  between  them  and  the  Creeks.  Failing  in  this  he  deter- 


22 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


mined  to  appeal  to  the  Indians  themselves.  In  the  spring  of  1790 
he  sent  Col.  Marinus  AYillet  on  a confidential  mission  to  the  Creek 
nation,  with  the  result  that  McGillivray  and  several  other  chiefs 
returned  with  Colonel  Willet  to  New  York,  where  a treaty  was 
concluded  on  August  7th.  By  its  stipulations  the  Creeks  renounced 
their  allegiance  to  Spain,  accepted  the  Altamaha  and  Oconee  rivers 
as  the  . eastern  boundary  of  their  possessions,  and  placed  them- 
selves under  the  protection  of  the  United  States,  while  the  govern- 
ment agreed  to  restore  to  the  tribe  the  Tallassee  country,  lying 
between  the  Altamaha  and  St.  Mary’s  rivers,  and  to  guarantee  all 
the  Creek  domain  against  further  digressions  on  the  part  of  the 
whites.  But  the  treaty  was  not  satisfactory  to  either  the  Indians 
or  the  people  of  Georgia.  The  Creeks  had  not  received  more  than 
half  of  what  they  had  been  led  to  expect  and  the  Georgians  re- 
sented the  surrender  of  the  Tallassee  country.  The  abrupt  ter- 
mination of  McGillivray’s  treaty  with  Spain  threatened  to  embroil 
the  United  States  in  serious  complications  with  that  nation  and 
hostilities  continued  until  the  treaty  of  Coleraine  in  June,  1796. 
Taking  its  name  from  the  territory  in  dispute,  this  intermittent 
struggle,  that  continued  over  a period  of  twelve  years,  is  known 

O’Connor,  Daniel  P.,  is  successfully 
established  in  the  wholesale  grocery 
trade  in  the  city  of  Augusta,  where  he 
conducts  business  under  the  title  of  D. 
P.  O’Connor  & Co.  He  was  born  in  the 
city  which  is  now,  his  home,  April  19, 
1865,  is  a son  of  John  and  Ellen  (Hickey) 
O'Connor,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 
County  Cork,  Ireland,  whence  they  came 
to  America  as  young  folks,  the  father  in 
1852  and  the  mother  the  following  year, 
forming  an  acquaintance  in  Augusta, 
where  their  marriage  Avas  solemnized 
June  22,  1856.  John  O’Connor  became'  a successful  furniture 
dealer  of  Augusta,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  July  5,  1905,  and  he  is  survived  by  his  widow, 
three  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  being  resident  of  Augusta.  Dan- 
iel P.  O’Connor  secured  his  early  education  in  the  parochial  schools 
of  Augusta,  and  took  a‘  course  in  St.  Patrick’s  commercial  insti- 
tute of  that  city.  He  left  school  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  and  se- 
cured employment  in  a wholesale  grocery  establishment.  For  five 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


23 


years  he  was  employed  as  salesman  for  the  firm  of  O’Donnell  & 
Burke,  both  members  being  now  deceased,  and  he  has  continued 
to  be  identified  with  the  wholesale  grocery  trade  in  Augusta  since 
the  age  of  fifteen  years.  In  1890  he  engaged  in  business  for  him- 
self, forming  a partnership  with  William  E.  Jackson,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Jackson  & O’Connor.  On  Jan.  1,  1900,  he  purchased 
the  interest  of  Mr.  Jackson  and  has  since  continued  the  business 
individually,  under  the  title  of  D.  P.  O’Connor  & Co.  In  politics 
Mr.  O’Conor  is  a stanch  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  is 
a communicant  of  St.  Patrick’s  Catholic  church,  as  is  also  Mrs. 
O’Connor.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  in 
which  he  is  a deputy  grand  knight.  On  Jan.  28,  1888,  Mr.  O’Con- 
nor was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ann  C.  Faughnan,  daughter  of 
Miles  Faughnan,  of  Augusta,  and  she  died  March  7,  1902,  survived 
by  three  children,  namely:  Catherine  E.,  born  Jan.  15,  1889; 

Marie  Anna,  born  July  27,  1893  ; and  Miles  J.,  born  July  19,  1899. 
On  Oct.  17,  1905,  Mr.  O’Connor  wedded  Miss  Volo  M.  Benson, 
daughter  of  James  A.  Benson,  of  Washington,  Wilkes  county. 

O’Connor,  Jeremiah  J.,  one  of  the  progressive  business  men  and 
representative  citizens  of  Augusta,  was  born  in  that  city,  Oct.  4, 
1855,  and  is  a son  of  Michael  G.  and  Julia  Agnes  (Mullane)  O’Con- 
nor, both  native  of  County  Cork,  Ireland,  where  their  marriage 
was  celebrated  and  whence  they  immigrated  to  the  United  States 
m 1850,  locating  in  the  city  of  Augusta,  where  the  father  died  in 
1858  and  the  mother  in  1885,  the  subject  of  this  review  being  the 
only  surviving  child.  Mr.  O’Connor  attended  the  parochial  and 
public  schools  of  Augusta  during  his  boyhood  days;  but  early  as- 
sumed the  practical  responsibilities  of  life,  and  it  has  been  his  por- 
tion to  win  independence  and  success  through  his  individual 
efforts.  When  but  eleven  years  of  age  he  became  a cash  boy  in 
a local  dry-good  establishment,  and  even  prior  to  this,  in  the 
Civil-war  period,  he  found  employment  in  a local  factory  in  which 
was  manufactured  ammunition  for  the  Confederate  government. 
In  the  dry-goods  store  of  Gray  & Turley,  later  Jas.  W.  Turley, 
which  he  entered  as  a cash  boy,  he  rose  through  various  grades  of 
promotion  to  that  of  buyer  and  manager  and  that  his  services  were 
appreciated  is  shown  not  less  in  this  fact  than  in  his  continuing  in 
the  employ  of  the  one  firm  for  the  long  period  of  eighteen  years. 
In  1885  he  became  a salesman  in  the  shoe  store  of  William  Mul- 
herin  & Co.,  and  two  years  later  was  admitted  to  partnership,  the 
title  of  the  firm  being  simultaneously  changed  to  Mulherin,  Rice 
& Co.  The  senior  member  of  the  firm,  William  Mulherin,  died 


24 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


in  1893,  and  a few  months  later  the  surviving  partners,  Rice  and 
O’Connor,  formed  a copartnership,  under  the  title  of  the  Rice  & 
O’Connor  Shoe  Company,  and  they  have  three  large  and  finely  ap- 
pointed stores  in  Augusta,  doing  an  extensive  business  in  both  the 
jobbing  and  retail  departments  of  their  flourishing  and  important 
enterprise.  Mr.  O’Connor  is  a stanch  supporter  of  the  cause  of 
the  Democratic  party;  is  a member  of  the  city  council,  in  which  he 
represents  the  third  ward ; and  served  three  years  as  a member 
of  the  board  of  education  prior  to  entering  the  municipal  council. 
He  and  his  wife  are  communicants  of  the  Catholic  church  and  he 
is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  the  Catholic  Knights 
of  America.  On  Sept.  8,  1887,  Mr.  O’Connor  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Elizabeth  I.  Rice,  daughter  of  Matthew  Rice  and  a 
sister  of  his  business  associate,  Patrick  H.  Rice.  They  have  seven 
children : Matthew  R.,  Arthur  B.,  Thomas  M.,  Marion  A.,  Eliza- 

beth R.,  Gerald  A.,  and  Joseph  J. 

O’Connor,  John  J.,  is  established  in  a very  successful  retail 
grocery  business  at  1289  Broad  street,  Augusta,  in  which  city  he 
was  born,  June  11,  1873,  being  a son  of  Patrick  J.  and  Mary  E. 
(Murray)  O’Connor,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  county 
Mayo,  Ireland,  Jan.  10,  1842,  and  the  latter  in  Augusta,  Ga.,  in 
March,  1846.  The  father  was  for  many  years  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  in  Augusta,  and  was  for  a number  of  years  a mem- 
ber of  the  city  council.  He  served  from  1888  to  1903  as  sheriff  of 
Richmond  county  and  died  on  Christmas  day  of  the  latter  year, 
having  been  one  of  Augusta’s  well  known  and  highly  honored  citi- 
zens. He  was  prominent  in  local  politics,  as  a stanch  supporter 
of  the  cause  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  was  a communicant  of 
the  Catholic  church,  as  is  also  his  widow,  who  still  resides  in  Au- 
gusta. He  is  survived  by  two  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of 
whom  reside  in  Augusta,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  being  the  elder 
of  the  two  sons.  Thomas  H.  is  engaged  in  business  in  his  native 
city;  Anna  Catharine  is  the  wife  of  James  P.  Armstrong,  cashier 
of  the  Irish-American  bank ; and  Mary  Ellen  and  Margaret  remain 
with  their  mother.  John  J.  O’Connor  completed  his  educational 
training  at  Spring  Hill  college,  in  Mobile,  Ala.,  and  thereafter 
served  six  years  as  deputy  sheriff  of  Richmond  county,  during  the 
regime  of  his  father  in  the  office  of  sheriff.  He  resigned  this  posi- 
tion in  1899,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  retail  grocery  trade, 
having  a well  stocked  and  well  appointed  establishment  and  en- 
joying an  excellent  supporting  patronage.  He  is  a Democrat  in 
his  political  allegiance  and  is  a communicant  of  the  Church  of  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


25 


Sacred  Heart,  one  of  the  principal  Catholic  churches  of  Augusta. 
He  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  the  Ancient 
Order  of  Hibernians.  On  Aug.  5,  1898,  Mr.  O’Connor  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Genevieve  Daly,  daughter  of  James  and 
Mary  (McAndrew)  Daly,  of  Augusta.  Mr.  Daly  is  manager  of  the 
extensive  department  store  of  J.  B.  White  & Company,  of  Augusta. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  O’Connor  have  five  children,  namely:  Mary  Eliza- 

beth, M.  Genevieve,  Margaret  V.,  Patrick  J.  and  John  J.,  Jr. 

Oculus,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southwestern  part  of  White  county, 
is  not  far  from  the  Hall  county  line.  Lula  is  the  most  convenient 
railroad  station. 

Odd  Fellows. — Oglethorpe  Lodge,  No.  1,  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  was  organized  at  Savannah  in  1842.  On  Nov.  13, 
1843,  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  Georgia  was  constituted  at 
Savannah  by  Albert  Case,  Deputy  Grand  Sire.  The  charter  granted 
at  that  time  was  destroyed  in  1845,  by  the  burning  of  the  lodge  room 
occupied  by  Oglethorpe  Lodge,  in  Washington  Hall,  Savannah, 
where  the  Grand  Lodge  maintained  its  headquarters,  and  a new 
charter  was  granted  the  following  year.  The  sessions  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  were  held  in  the  city  of  Savannah  until  1850,  when  the  head- 
quarters were  removed  to  Macon.  No  session  was  held  in  1864, 
owing  to  the  fact  that  there  was  no  money  in  the  treasury  to  de- 
fray the  expenses  of  the  meeting,  the  lack  of  funds  having  been 
caused  by  the  heavy  demands  upon  the  resources  of  the  order  during 
the  war.  In  1869  the  constitution  was  amended  so  that  the  sessions 
could  be  held  at  such  places  as  the  Grand  Lodge  might  designate 
at  a regular  meeting.  At  the  time  the  Grand  Lodge  was  organized 
there  were  seven  lodges  in  the  state.  The  report  for  May,  1905, 
shows  285  lodges  with  a membership  of  23,528.  Many  of  the 
subordinate  lodges  own  their  places  of  meeting  and  the  order  is  in 
a prosperous  condition. 

Odell,  a post-hamlet  of  Forsyth  county,  is  about  eight  miles 
southwest  of  Cumming  and  not  far  from  the  Milton  county  line. 
The  most  convenient  railroad  station  is  Suwanee. 

Odessadale,  a town  in  the  western  part  of  Meriwether  coiinty, 
is  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railway,  and  in  1900  reported  a popula- 
tion of  139.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  deliv- 
ery, an  express  office,  some  mercantile  concerns,  and  is  a shipping 
point  for  a rich  agricultural  district. 

Odomville,  a village  in  the  extreme  western  part  of  Emanuel 
county,  is  on  the  Wadley  & Mount  Vernon  railroad,  a short  dis- 
tance north  of  Adrain.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  an  express 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


26 


office,  some  mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  and  in  1900  had  a 
population  of  50. 

Odum,  a village  of  Wayne  county,  is  on  the  Macon  & Brunswick 
division  of  the  Southern  railroad,  ten  miles  west  of  Jesup.  It  has 
a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  express  and 
telegraph  offices,  and  is  a trading  and  shipping  point  for  that  part 
of  the  county. 


Oelschig,  August  Carl,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing florists  of  the  city  of  Savannah,  was 
born  in  the  kingdom  of  Saxony,  Ger- 
many, Nov.  27,  1848,  and  was  reared  and 
educated  in  the  fatherland,  where  he 
continued  to  reside  until  1874,  .when  he 
came  to  America,  dependent  upon  his 
own  resources  for  making  his  way  in 
life.  On  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  he  learned 
the  florist’s  trade  and  business,  becoming 
familiar  with  all  details  of  the.  work.  In 
1881  he  came  to  Georgia  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  Savannah,  establishing  a 
small  greenhouse  on  Anderson  street,  and  also  engaging  in  the 
raising  of  roses  on  an  extensive  scale,  for  the  wholesale  market. 
In  1890  he  established  his  present  greenhouses,  on  Mo.ore  avenue, 
accessible  to  the  center  of  the  city  by  the  Thunderbolt  electric  line, 
and  his  eldest  son,  Carl  H.,  is  now  associated  with  him  in  business, 
under  the  firm  name  of  A.  C.  Oelschig  & Son.  With  the  aid  of 
his  wife  and  son  Mr.  Oelschig  has  here  built  up  one  of  the  most 
extensive  greenhouse  plants  purveying  to  the  Savannah  and  whole- 
sale trade  in  this  section.  The  plant  includes  eleven  greenhouses, 
with  75,000  square  feet  of  glass.  The  firm  also  make  a specialty 
of  raising  rubber  plants  on  a large  scale,  for  the  wholesale  market, 
the  concern  being  undoubtedly  the  largest  growers  and  shippers 
of  rubber  plants  in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Oelschig  had  but  a lim- 
ited capital  when  he  arrived  in  Savannah,  and  his  pronounced 
success  stands  in  evidence  of  his  energy,  progressive  ideas  and  bus- 
iness sagacity.  He  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  beautiful  suburban 
homes  of  Savannah,  finding  great  pleasure  in  improving  and  beau- 
tifying his  property.  He  is  a member  of  the  Savannah  chamber  of 
commerce,  and  is  identified  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Ger- 
man Friendly  society,  and  the  Gesangverein  Frohsinn  club.  On 
April  4,  1882,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  Elizabeth 
Wagner,  who  was  born  in  Hesse-Cassel,  Germany,  Feb.  21,  1853, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


27 


being  a daughter  of  Johann  Heinrich  and  Catherine  (Schneider) 
Wagner.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oelschig  have  six  children,  namely:  Carl 

H.,  Albert  C.,  Edna  S.  Anna  C.,  Philipena  Marie  Elizabeth  and 
Olga  Frances. 

Oertel,  Theodore  E.,  M.  D.,  specialist 
in  the  treatment  of  tuberculosis  and  the 
diseases  of  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat, 
is  one  of  the  popular  and  successful 
practitioners  of  the  city  of  Augusta.  He 
was  born  in  Westerly,  Washington 
county,  R.  I.,  April  20,  1864,  a son  of 
Rev.  John  A.  Oertel,  D.  D.,  who  was 
born  in  Germany,  and  Julia  A.  (Torrey) 
Oertel,  who  was  born  in  Newark,  N. 
J.  Rev.  Dr.  Oertel  is  a clergyman  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  and  is 
an  artist  of  distinguished  talent,  his 
painting  entitled  “Rock  of  Ages”  having  given  him  a world 
wide  reputation,  reproductions  of  the  same  being  now  found 
in  thousands  of  homes.  He  and  his  wife  now  reside  in  Vienna, 
Va.  Dr.  Theodore  E.  Oertel  secured  his  more  purely  literary  ed- 
ucation chiefly  in  the  schools  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  cathedral 
at  Garden  City,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  and  he  was  graduated  in  the 
medical  department  of  the  George  Washington  university,  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1892,  duly  receiving  his 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  In  1893  he  was  engaged  in  post- 
graduate work  in  the  city  of  Chicago ; in  1893-5  was  pathologist 
in  West  Side  German  dispensary  in  New  York  city;  and  in  1896 
he  came  to  Georgia  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a pathological 
department  in  the  state  hospital  for  the  insane,  at  Milledgeville. 
He  there  remained  as  pathologist  for  nearly  three  years,  at  the  ex- 
piration of  which,  in  the  autumn  of  1898,  he  located  in  Augusta, 
where  he  has  since  been  actively  engaged  in  the  work  of  his  profes- 
sion, as  a specialist  in  the  lines  noted,  having  built  up  a very  large 
practice  and  one  which  brings  to  him  patients  from  Georgia  and  ad- 
joining states.  Since  1898  he  has  held  the  chair  of  histology  and 
bacteriology  in  the  Medical  College  of  Georgia,  which  is  a depart- 
ment of  the  state  university.  He  is  a member  of  the  American 
medical  association  and  the  Medical  Association  of  Georgia,  as  well 
as  the  Richmond  county  medical  society,  of  which  last  mentioned 
he  is  an  ex-president.  In  the  state  association  he  is  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  tuberculosis ; is  the  author  of  a valuable  and  author- 


28 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


itative  textbook,  entitled  Medical  Microscopy,  published  in  1902 ; 
and  is  a communicant  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  as  is 
also  Mrs.  Oertel.  On  April  24,  1893,  Doctor  Oertel  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Marie  Cecile  Rollings,  of  Washington,  D.  C., 
and  they  have  one  son,  Robb  Church  Oertel,  born  March  31,  1898. 

Offerman,  a town  in  the  northern  part  of  Pierce  county,  reported 
a population  of  500  in  1900.  It  is  located  at  the  junction  of  the 
Atlantic  Coast  Line  and  the  Atlantic  & Birmingham  railways, 
the  former  connecting  it  with  Savannah  and  the  latter  with  Bruns- 
wick, giving  it  ready  access  to  the  seacoast.  It  has  a money  order 
postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  express  and  telegraph  offices, 
a large  saw-mill,  several  good  stores  and  the  customary  school  and 
church  accommodations. 

Ogeechee,  a village  of  Screven  county,  is  on  the  main  line  of  the 
Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  a few  miles  northwest  of  Dover.  It 
has  a money  order  postoffice,  from  which  several  free  delivery 
routes  supply  mail  to  the  rural  districts,  express  and  telegraph 
service,  some  mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  schools,  churches, 
etc.,  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  73. 

Ogeechee  Canal. — This  is  an  artificial  water-way  between  the 
Savannah  and  Ogeechee  rivers  (See  Canals).  As  Sherman  drew 
his  lines  of  investment  about  the  city  of  Savannah  in  December, 
1864,  there  was  some  skirmishing  along  this  canal  as  the  Confeder- 
ate outposts  were  retired  upon  the  main  body  of  Hardee’s  forces. 

Ogeechee  Ferry. — In  the  early  spring  of  1780  the  Americans 
under  Twiggs,  Dooly,  Clarke,  Few  and  Jones  were  engaged  in  de- 
fending the  frontier  against  the  depredations  of  McGirth’s  Tories 
and  Indians.  Toward  the  latter  part  of  March  Colonel  Pickens, 
with  part  of  his  regiment  from  South  Carolina,  formed  a junction 
with  Twiggs  and  Captain  Inman,  and  with  their  combined  force, 
amounting  to  about  300  men,  they  marched  down  the  Ogeechee 
river,  hoping  to  surprise  and  perhaps  capture  McGirth.  They 
found  him  in  Liberty  county,  killed  some  of  his  men,  took  three 
or  four  prisoners,  but  McGirth,  through  the  fleetness  of  his  horse 
and  his  perfect  knowledge  of  the  country  managed  to  escape.  The 
British  general  at  Savannah,  hearing  of  the  presence  of  the  Amer- 
icans on  the  Ogeechee,  and  supposing  it  to  be  only  a small  party, 
sent  Captain  Conklin,  with  66  men,  to  disperse  them.  Conklin  left 
Savannah  at  three  o’clock  on  the  morning  of  April  4th  and  reached 
Ogeechee  Ferry  about  ten.  Having  been  informed  by  some  negroes 
as  to  the  position  of  the  Americans,  he  divided  his  men,  intending  to 
gain  the  right  flank  and  attack  from  two  sides  simultaneously.  Pick- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


29 


ens  and  Twiggs  could  see  the  British  as  they  were  crossing  the  river 
and  thus  became  aware  of  the  design.  They  accordingly  concealed 
the  main  body  of  their  troops  and  sent  Captain  Inman,  with  twenty 
dragoons,  to  draw  the  enemy  into  close  action  where  the  whole 
force  might  be  captured.  Inman  was  too  hasty  in  opening  the 
engagement,  which  compelled  the  main  body  to  expose  themselves 
before  the  plan  had  an  opportunity  to  succeed.  Conklin  was  mor- 
tally wounded  early  in  the  action,  Lieutenant  Roney  was  wounded, 
two  British  soldiers  killed  and  seven  wounded,  and  the  rest  scat- 
tered through  the  surrounding  swamps.  The  Americans  then 
burned  Governor  Wright’s  barn  to  prevent  350  barrels  of  rice 
stored  there  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  who  were 
then  engaged  in  collecting  supplies  for  the  army  at  Savannah. 

Ogeechee  River. — This  stream  rises  in  Greene  county  and  flows 
in  a southeasterly  direction  until  it  empties  into  Ossabaw  sound, 
forming  for  the  last  few  miles  of  its  course  the  boundary  between 
Chatham  and  Bryan  counties. 

During  the  early  days  of  December,  1864,  as  Sherman’s  army  was 
advancing  upon  Savannah,  the  Seventeenth  corps  followed  the 
course  of  the  Ogeechee  river,  on  the  north  side  of  the  stream,  while 
the  Fifteenth  in  two  columns  was  on  the  south  side,  the  most 
southern  column  passing  through  Statesboro.  In  crossing  the  river 
at  Jenk’s  Bridge,  on  December  7th,  the  northern  column  was  re- 
sisted by  a small  force  of  Confederates,  which  was  finally  forced  to 
retire  in  the  face  of  the  superior  strength  of  the  enemy. 

Ogeechee  Road,  Skirmish  May  21,  1782. — (See  Baillou’s  Cause- 
way). 

Oglesby,  a post-hamlet  of  Elbert  county,  is  on  the  Seaboard  Air 
Line  railway,  about  five  miles  west  of  Elberton.  It  has  a telegraph 
office,  and  express  office,  some  mercantile  concerns,  and  is  a trading 
center  for  the  adjacent  district. 

Oglethorpe,  the  county  seat  of  Macon  county,  is  located  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Flint  river  and  a short  distance  from  Montezuma. 
It  has  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a court  house,  valued  at  $20,- 
000,  several  neat  brick  stores,  a money  order  post-office  with  rural 
free  delivery  and  a bank.  There  are  also  a system  of  public  schools, 
an  excellent  high  school  where  boys  and  girls  are  prepared  for  a 
collegiate  course,  and  good  church  privileges  for  the  citizens.  The 
population  of  the  town  in  1900  was  545,  and  of  the  militia  district 
2,174. 

Oglethorpe  County  was  laid  out  in  1793  and  a part  was  given  to 
Greene  in  1794.  The  boundaries  were  somewhat  changed  in  1799, 


30 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


when  parts  of  Oglethorpe  were  given  to  Greene,  and  parts  of 
Greene  wrere  added  to  Oglethorpe.  A part  was  given  to  Madison 
in  1811  and  a portion  taken  from  Clarke  in  1813.  Another  portion 
was  set  off  to  Taliaferro  in  1813  and  still  another  part  to  Madison 
county  in  1831.  The  county  was  named  for  James  Edward  Ogle- 
thorpe, founder  and  first  governor  of  Georgia.  It  lies  a little  north- 
east of  the  center  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Mad- 
ison county,  on  the  northeast  by  Elbert,  on  the  east  by  Wilkes, 
on  the  southeast  by  Wilkes  and  Taliaferro,  on  the  south  by  Greene, 
and  on  the  west  by  Clarke  and  Oconee.  The  Broad  and  Oconee 
rivers,  with  their  tributaries,  drain  the  land.  There  are  valuable 
water-powers,  especially  at  Watson’s  and  Andrews  shoals.  The 
surface  is  hilly  and  the  soils  are  the  result  of  the  decomposition  of 
granite,  slate,  gneiss  and  hornblendic  slates.  The  productions  are 
principally  cotton,  sweet  and  Irish  potatoes,  field  and  ground  peas 
and  the  cereals.  The  county  is  well  adapted  to  the  raising  of  forage 
crops.  Dairy  farming  and  the  raising  of  cattle  for  the  market  are 
two  important  occupations.  .No  section  of  the  state  produces  finer 
fruits  and  melons,  but  none  are  exported.  Oak,  pine,  hickory, 
poplar,  ash,  birch,  maple,  gum,  dogwood  and  cedar  timbers  are  com- 
mon, and  about  twenty  sawmills  are  engaged  in  converting  these 
timbers  into  lumber.  The  county  has  an  abundance  of  trap  rock 
for  road  material,  and  granite  of  unsurpassed  quality  is  found. 
Gold  is  now  being  mined  and  two  gold  mills  are  in  operation.  Lex- 
ington is  the  county  seat,  and  Smithonia  is  a manufacturing  town. 
The  population  of  the  county  in  1900  was  17,881,  an  increase  of 
930  since  1890.  The  Athens  branch  of  the  Georgia  railroad  crosses 
the  county  in  the  western  part,  and  a short  road  known  as  the 
Smithonia,  Danielsville  & Carnesville  connects  with  the  Seaboard 
Air  Line  at  Colbert.  Lexington  is  connected  with  the  Georgia 
railroad  by  a short  line  called  the  Lexington  Terminal.  This  town 
has  been  the  home  of  quite'  a number  of  Georgia’s  noted  sons, 
among  whom  may  be  mentioned  William-  H.  Crawford,  Thomas  W. 
Cobb,  Stephen  Upson,  George  R.  Gilmer  and  the  Lumpkins. 

Oglethorpe,  James  Edward,  founder  and  first  governor  of  Georgia, 
was  born  in  London,  England,  June  1,  1689,  and  was  of  a noted  fam- 
ily. One  of  his  ancestors  was  a member  of  the  household  of  Charles 
II,  and  his  father,  General  Oglethorpe,  led  the  army  of  James  II, 
against  the  Prince  of  Orange.  James  Edward  was  educated  at  the 
Corpus  Christi  college,  Oxford,  and  upon  leaving  college  entered 
the  army,  where  he  attained  the  rank  of  general.  For  thirty-two 
years  he  represented  Hazlemere  in  Surrey  in  Parliament  and  it  was 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


31 


while  serving  on  a committee  to  inquire  into  the  condition  of  jails 
that  he  conceived  the  idea  of  aiding  the  honest  debtor  by  trans- 
planting him  to  a colony  in  America.  The  plan  at  once  met  with 
favor.  Parliament  voted  $50,000,  many  private  citizens  contrib- 
uted to  its  success  and  King  George  granted  the  lands  between  the 
Savannah  and  Altamaha  rivers  for  the  colony.  After  a year  in  this 
country  he  returned  to  England  and  in  1734  sent  over  150  new 
colonists,  Salzburgers  and  Scotch  Highlanders.  In  1735  he  fol- 
lowed with  300  more,  among  whom  were  the  Wesley,  brothers. 
Finding  affairs  in  an  unsettled  condition  he  exerted  all  his  energies 
to  place  the  colony  on  a firmer  basis  by  making  friends  with  the 
Indians  and  providing  protection  against  the  encroachments  of 
the  Spanish  in  Florida.  In  1743  he  went  to  England  to  refute 
charges  made  against  him  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Cooke.  Although 
he  was  exonerated  he  did  not  return  to  the  colony  as  his  means 
were  by  this  time  quite  exhausted.  He  was  recognized  as  the  gov- 
ernor of  Georgia,  however,  until  the  surrender  of  the  charter  of 
1752.  At  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution  General  Oglethorpe 
was  offered  command  of  the  British  troops  in  America,  but  refused 
to  accept  it  unless  he  should  be  allowed  to  conciliate  the  colonists. 
The  place  was  then  given  to  General  Gage.  His  last  years  were 
spent  at  Cranham  Hall,  where  he  was  known  as  a patron  of  liter- 
ature and  the  arts.  His  own  account  of  “The  St.  Augustine  Cam- 
paign” was  published  in  1742,  and  his  “New  and  Accurate  Account 
of  the  Colonies  of  Georgia  and  South  Carolina,”  with  many  of  his 
letters,  are  to  be  found  in  the  collections  of  the  Georgia  Historical 
Society.  He  died  at  Cranham  Hall,  July  1,  1785. 

Oglethorpe  University. — A division  of  the  interests  of  the  Geor- 
gia Educational  Society  led  the  trustees  of  the  Midway  seminary 
to  tender  that  institution  to  the  Plopewell  Presbytery,  which  ac- 
cepted it  and  appointed  a committee  to  report  on  the  advisability 
of  elevating  it  to  the  rank  of  a college.  That  was  in  the  spring 
of  1835.  At  the  fall  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  the  same  year  the 
committee  recommended  the  establishment  of  a college.  A board 
of  twenty-four  trustees  was  appointed,  the  name  of  Oglethorpe 
university  adopted  for  the  new  institution,  and  Midway,  Baldwin 
county,  selected  as  the  location.  The  university  was  chartered  in 
the  ensuing  December  and  on  Nov.  24,  1836,  the  organization  was 
perfected  by  the  election  of  officers  and  a faculty.  The  corner- 
stone was  laid  on  the  last  day  of  March,  1837,  though  the  main 
building  had  been  commenced  in  the  August  before.  The  univer- 
sity was  opened  in  January,  1838,  and  the  first  class  was  graduated 


32 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


in  the  fall  of  1839.  For  want  of  funds  the  exercises  were  suspended 
during  the  latter  years  of  the  Civil  war.  The  financial  difficulties 
continued  until  March,  1870,  when  the  board  decided  to  remove 
the  school  to  Atlanta.  The  exercises  were  accordingly  resumed 
in  that  city  in  October  following,  with  Dr.  David  Willis  as  presi- 
dent, but  in  1872  the  institution  was  closed  altogether. 

Ohoopee,  a town  in  the  eastern  part  of  Toombs  county,  is  on  the 
Seaboard  Air  Line  railway,  five  miles  from  Lyons.  In  1900  the 
population  was  205.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  express  and 
telegraph  offices,  some  good  stores,  and  is  a shipping  point  of  con- 
siderable importance. 

Okefinokee  Swamp. — This  great  bog  is  located  in  southeastern 
Georgia,  in  the  counties  of  Charlton,  Ware  and  Clinch.  It  is  about 
forty-five  miles  long  and  has  an  average  breadth  of  thirty-five  miles. 
The  Indian  name  of  the  swamp  was  Ecunfinocau,  meaning  “Quiv- 
ering Earth.”  According  to  their  traditions  one  of  the  islands 
in  it  was  inhabited  by  a peculiar  tribe,  the  men  of  which  were 
very  warlike  and  the  women  exceedingly  beautiful.  Some  hunters 
are  said  to  have  once  penetrated  so  far  into  the  swamp,  in  pursuit 
of  game,  that  they  lost  their  way  and  were  in  danger  of  perishing, 
when  they  were  given  food  by  some  of  the  beautiful  women  of  the 
strange  island,  and  at  the  same  time  warned  to  depart  to  escape  the 
cruelty  of  their  husbands.  These  hunters  claimed  to  have  seen 
the  homes  of  the  tribe,  but  as  they  tried  to  approach  the  island  it 
kept  constantly  receding  before  them  as  if  enchanted.  When  they 
told  their  story  to  their  own  tribe  some  of  the  young  warriors 
were  in  favor  of  invading  and  conquering  the  island,  but  it  could 
never  again  be  discovered.  Several  streams  have  their  source  in 
the  Okefinokee  swamp,  while  fish  and  game  abound  in  the  lakes 
and  on  the  islands.  One  of  the  islands  is  known  by  the  name  of 
“Billy’s  Island,”  as  it  was  once  the  home  of  the  celebrated  Seminole 
chief,  Billy  Bowlegs.  The  soil  is  prodigiously  fertile  and  there 
has  been  some  suggestion  of  taking  the  muck  and  mixing  it 
with  the  sandy  and  clay  lands  in  the  adjacent  territory  as  a ferti- 
lizer. On  Oct.  29,  1889,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  legislature,  au- 
thorizing the  sale  of  the  swamp  to  the  Suwanee  Canal  Company, 
which  was  organized  for  the  purpose  of  draining  the  swamp  in 
order  to  get  the  valuable  yellow  pine  and  cypress  timber  that 
grows  on  the  islands.  The  swamp  was  sold  for  about  26  cents  an 
acre  and  the  company  attempted  to  open  a canal  to  the  St.  Mary’s 
river.  The  scheme  proved  to  be  impracticable  as  the  sand  filled  the 
canal  and  the  topography  of  the  swamp  is  of  such  a character  that 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


33 


sufficient  fall  can  not  be  obtained  to  insure  a good  current.  The 
company  next  tried  to  construct  a railroad  across  the  swamp.  By 
this  means  they  were  able  to  get  a lot  of  the  cypress  timber  into 
market,  but  the  enterprise,  like  the  canal,  was  finally  abandoned 
as  being  too  expensive  to  warrant  completion.  In  1897  the  com- 
pany was  declared  insolvent  and  its  affairs  were  wound  up  by  a 
receiver. 

Oliver,  one  of  the  important  towns  of  Scfeven  county,  is  on  the 
main  line  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad  system,  not  far  from 
the  Effingham  county  line.  The  population  in  1900  was  350.  It  has 
some  mercantile  and  manufacturing  establishments,  a money  order 
postoffice,  from  which  radiate  several  free  delivery  routes,  express 
and  telegraph  service,  good  schools  and  church  privileges,  and  does 
considerable  shipping. 

Oliver,  Francis  McDonald,  a leading  attorney  of  Savannah,  Ga., 
was  born  in  Montgomery,  Ala.,  April  11,  1872.  He  is  the  second 
child  and  oldest  son  of  Joseph  Samuel  and  Nannie  (Roberts)  Oliver, 
both  of  whom  were  born  and  reared  near  Georgetown,  the  county 
seat  of  Quitman  county,  Ga.  His  grandfather,  James  M.  Oliver, 
was  born  in  Twiggs  county,  Ga.,  but  in  early  life,  after  his  mar- 
riage to  Mary  Ann  Reddish,  a native  of  Warrenton,  Ga.,  removed 
to  Quitman  county.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  Confederate  Army, 
enlisting  as  a private  in  Company  F,  Thirty-second  Georgia  regi- 
ment, at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  May  9,  1864,  and  continued  in  active 
service  until  the  surrender  of  his  brigade  at  Greensboro,  N.  C. 
on  April  26,  1865.  Shortly  after  the  war  he  was  elected  sheriff  of 
Quitman  county  and  held  this  position  continuously,  for  years. 
For  four  years  he  was  tax-receiver  of  Quitman  county,  and  for 
sixteen  years,  was  clerk  of  the  superior  court  of  that  county. 
Shortly  before  his  death,  on  Jan.  13,  1903,  he  had  just  been  elected 
clerk  for  the  ninth  consecutive  term.  Had  he  served  the  unexpired 
term,  he  would  have  completed  a continuous  service  of  eighteen 
years  as  clerk.  Joseph  Samuel  Oliver  was  the  second  child,  and 
oldest  son  of  James  M.  Oliver.  He  was  born  May  20,  1849.  On 
Jan.  9,  1868,  he  married  Miss  Nannie  C.  Roberts.  The  children  of 
this  marriage  are,  Annie  B.,  wife  of  N.  B.  Bryan,  of  Kissimmee, 
Fla. ; Mary  Ola,  wife  of  Rev.  Jasper  C.  Massee,  of  Raleigh,  N.  C. ; 
Edgar  J.,  a practicing  attorney  in  Savannah,  Ga. ; Ruby,  now  resid- 
ing with  her  mother  in  Kissimmee;  Thaddeus  S.,  a student  at  the 
Georgia  school  of  technology,  and  Francis  McDonald.  Joseph 
Samuel  Oliver  resided  at  Kissimmee,  Osceola  county,  Fla.,  from 
April,  1885  to  his  death  on  Nov.  28,  1901.  His  business  was  that 


3 — III 


34 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


of  a railroad  contractor  and  builder.  Among  the  railroads  con- 
structed by  him,  were  the  Toccoa  & Elberton;  a part  of  the  Spar- 
tanburg & Asheville  line  ; a part  of  the  Georgia  Southern  & Florida; 
The  South  Bound  railroad,  from  Savannah,  Ga.,  to  Columbia,  S.  C., 
now  a part  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  Ry. ; The  Carolina  Midland, 
from  Barnwell  to  Allandale,  S.  C.,  now  a part  of  the  Southern 
system ; The  Florida  East  Coast,  from  Daytona,  to  Rockledge, 
and  the  Carrabelle,  Tallahassee  & Georgia  railroad.  He  repre- 
sented Osceola  county  in  the  legislature  for  two  consecutive  terms. 
Francis  McDonald  Oliver  received  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Georgia  and  Florida,  which  was  supplemented  by  a 
four  years  course  in  the  Florida  state  college  at  Lake  City,  where 
he  graduated  in  1892  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  In  1894 
he  entered  Vanderbilt  university  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  graduating 
from  the  law  department  in  June,  1896  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B. 
During  his  two  years  at  Vanderbilt  he  did  post  graduate  work  in 
history  and  economics.  While  at  the  Florida  state  college,  Mr.- 
Oliver  won  the  honor  medals  in  language,  history,  science,  oratory 
and  essay.  At  Vanderbilt  he  received  the  “Founders  Medal”  in 
oratory  and  the  “Debaters  Medal.”  After  his  graduation  from 
Vanderbilt,  Mr.  Oliver,  on  July  3,  1896,  went  to  Savannah,  Ga., 
where  he  began  the  practice  of  his  profession,  becoming  in  the 
office  of  Barrow  & Osborne  an  associate  of  Ex-United  States  sena- 
tor Pope  Barrow,  and  solicitor-general  W.  W.  Osborne.  On  Jan. 
1,  1898,  he  formed  a law  partnership  with  Judge  H.  D.  D.  Twiggs, 
who  had  about  that  time  removed  to  Savannah  from  Augusta. 
The  firm  name  of  Twiggs  & Oliver  was  adopted  and  has  so  contin- 
ued since  that  date.  This  is  one  of  the  most  influential  law  firms 
in  the  city  of  Savannah.  Mr.  Oliver  is  a Democrat.  In  January, 
1904  he  was  elected  to  the  aldermanic  board  of  his  city,  and  has 
continuously  served  in  that  capacity  since  his  initial  election.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Delta  Tau  Delta  fraternity,  the  Savannah  lodge 
Knights  of  Pythias,  The  Savannah  Yacht  club,  the  Savannah  Vol- 
unteer Guards  and  is  a consistent  member  of  the  First  Baptist 
church.  On  April  16,  1902,  Mr.  Oliver  was  married  to  Julia  Peck 
Ashurst,  a daughter  of  Charles  F.  and  Carrie  (Peck)  Ashurst  of 
Montgomery,  Ala. 

Oliver,  George  Duncan,  of  Blakely,  the  incumbent  of  the  office 
of  ordinary  of  Early  county,  is  an  ex-member  of  the  state  legisla- 
ture, an  able  member  of  the  bar  of  his  county.  He  was  born  in 
Dougherty  county,  Ga.,  May  1,  1852,. and  is  a son  of  Joshua  Braddy 
and  Sarah  A.  ("Dupree)  Oliver,  the  former  born  in  North  Carolina 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


35 


and  the  latter  in  Georgia.  He  attended  school  in  Plattville,  Early 
county,  studied  law  in  the  office  of  McGill  & O’Neill,  of  Bain- 
bridge,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1875  in  Colquitt.  He  began 
practice  in  Blakely  in  1885,  has  been  successful  as  an  attorney  and 
counselor  and  has  gained  recognition  as  one  of  the  progressive 
and  public-spirited  citizens  of  Early  county.  "In  1888-9  he  repre- 
sented Early  county  in  the  state  legislature,  and  he  served  as  judge 
of  the  county  court  two  terms,  under  appointment  by  Governor 
Atkinson,  though  this  judicial  office  has  now  been  abolished 
throughout  the  state,  by  legislative  enactment.  Judge  Oliver  was 
mayor  of  Blakely  three  years  and  in  October,  1904,  was  elected 
ordinary  of  che  count}'.  He  is  a stanch  adherent  of  the  Democratic 
party  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  South.  In  November,  1897,  Judge  Oliver  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sadie  Jameson,  daughter  of  William  C. 
Jameson,  of  Talbot  county,  Ga. 

Olley’s  Creek  is  a little  stream  in  Cobb  county.  On  June  27, 
1864  after  the  repulse  of  the  Federal  forces  at  Kennesaw  mountain, 
Sherman  sent  a flanking  party  down  the  valley  of  this  creek  toward 
the  Chattahoochee.  The  movement  was  successful,  causing  Johns- 
ton to  abandon  his  position  north  of  Marietta  on  the  2nd  of  July. 

Ollie,  a post-village  of  Gilmer  county,  with  a population  of  47, 
is  about  ten  miles  northwest  of  Ellijay,  which  is  the  most  con- 
venient railroad  station. 

Olympia,  a town  of  Lowndes  county,  is  on  the  Valdosta  South- 
ern railroad,  not  far  from  the  Florida  state  line.  In  1900  it  reported 
a population  of  164.  It  is  the  principal  trading  center  for  that  sec- 
tion of  the  county  and  has  important  shipping  interests. 

Omaha,  a town  in  the  western  part  of  Stewart  county,  was  incor- 
porated by  act  of  the  legislature  on  Oct.  5,  1891.  It  is  on  the  Sea- 
board Air  Line  railroad,  in  the  Mineral  Springs  militia  district,  and 
in  1900  reported  a population  of  152.  It  has  a money  order  post- 
office,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  some  good  stores,  schools, 
churches,  etc.  Besides  the  railroad  facilities  the  town  is  near 
enough  to  the  Chattahoochee  river  to  profit  by  the  rates  offered  by 
the  river  traffic,  which  makes  it  a good  shipping  point  for  the 
products  of  the  surrounding  country. 

Omar,  a post-hamlet  of  Wayne  county,  is  about  five  miles  north 
of  Screven,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Omecron,  a post-hamlet  of  Wilkinson  county,  is  eight  miles 
northeast  of  Allentown,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 


3G 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Omega,  a village  in  the  southern  part  of  Worth  county,  is  on  the 
Fitzgerald  & Thomasville  division  of  the  Atlantic  & Birmingham 
railway,  and  not  far  from  the  Colquitt  county  line.  It  has  a money 
order  postoffice,  an  express  office,  some  mercantile  interests,  etc. 

O’Neill,  James  J.,  one  of  the  represen- 
tative business  men  of  Rome,  Floyd 
county,  where  he  conducts  the  largest 
saw  mill,  lumber  and  planing  mill  busi- 
ness in  northern  Georgia,  one  of  the 
largest  enterprises  of  the  sort  in  the 
state,  is  a veteran  of  the  Confederate 
service  in  the  Civil  war  and  has  passed 
his  entire  life  in  Georgia.  He  was  born 
in  Cherokee  county,  April  26,  1844,  and 
was  there  reared  and  educated.  He  is  a 
son  of  Capt.  John  B.  and  Nancy  (Blythe) 
O’Neill,  the  former  born  in  South  Caro- 
lina and  the  latter  in  Cherokee  county,  Ga.  Capt.  John  B.  O’Neill 
enlisted  in  the  Confederate  ranks  at  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war 
as  captain  of  Company  A,  Eighteenth  regiment,  Georgia  Volun- 
teers, and  was  wounded  in  the  second  battle  of  Manassas.  The 
Injury  was  so  severe  that  he  was  never  afterward  able  for  field 
service,  and  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  Cobb  county,  where 
his  wife  also  died.  The  family  was  also  represented  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution.  James  J.  O’Neill  was  seventeen  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the  war  between  the  states.  He  en- 
tered the  military  service  of  the  state  of  Georgia  in  1861,  as  ser- 
geant in  Company  A,  First  regiment,  Fourth  Georgia  brigade. 
After  being  in  rendezvous  two  months  the  command  went  to  Vir- 
ginia and  entered  the  Confederate  service,  being  numbered  as  the 
Eighteenth  Georgia  infantry.  This  was  the  Georgia  regiment  that 
was  brigaded  with  three  Texas  regiments  to  form  what  was  known 
as  Hood’s  Texas  Brigade,  famous  for  its  reckless  daring  in  battle. 
Sergeant  O’Neill  shared  fully  in  the  service  of  this  brigade  at  the 
battles  of  West  Point,  Seven  Pines,  Seven  Days’  battle  before 
Richmond,  Mechanicsville,  Cold  Harbor,  White  Oak  Swamp,  Mal- 
vern Hill,  Kelly’s  Ford  and  Thoroughfare  Gap.  In  the  second 
battle  of  Manassas  he  captured  the  flag  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
New  York  regiment.  In  this  engagement  his  father,  Capt.  J.  B. 
O’Neill,  was  seriously  wounded  and  was  furloughed  to  his  home, 
carrying  the  captured  flag  with  him.  He  gave  the  flag  to  private 
Northcutt,  of  his  company,  to  convey  the  same  to  a member  of  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


37 

legislature  and  through  the  latter  to  the  governor  of  the  state  at 
Milledgeville,  and  by  some  means  Northcutt  was  given  credit  for 
the  capture  of  the  flag,  as  is  shown  in  the  reports  of  Forty-second 
Georgia  records.  Following  closely  on  Manassas  were  the  battles 
of  South  Mountain  and  Sharpsburg,  Md.,  in  which  Sergeant  O’Neill 
participated,  and  later  he  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Fredericksburg, 
the  Wilderness,  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg,  after  which  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Western  Army  as  a private  in  the  Sixth 
Georgia  cavalry,  and  was  under  command  of  Gen.  Joe  Wheeler. 
Private  O’Neill  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga,  Sweet- 
water, Philadelphia,  Loudon  and  Dandridge,  at  which  last  men- 
tioned place  he  w^as  promoted  to  first  sergeant.  Fie  was  also  in  the 
siege  of  Knoxville  and  the  engagements  at  Bean’s  Station  and 
Mossy  Creek  (Now  Jefferson  City),  at  which  last  point  he  was 
seriously  wounded,  Dec.  29,  1863.  He  was  thereafter  in  hospital 
until  sent  home  on  a furlough.  On  recuperating  he  joined  his  reg- 
iment at  Resaca  and  took  part  in  the  engagement  at  that  place  as 
first  sergeant  in  command  of  his  company.  In  the  battle  of  New 
Hope  Church  he  was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant,  in  which  rank 
he  was  often  in  command  of  his  company.  He  took  part  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Jones’  Farm,  McAfee’s  Cross  Roads,  Latimer’s  Mill,  Kene- 
saw  Mountain,  and  the  engagement  near  Smyrna,  was  in  all  of 
the  battles  around  Atlanta  and  assisted  in  the  capture  of  Stone- 
man  and  his  command,  as  well  as  the  driving  of  Cook  and  Garrard 
across  the  Chattahoochee  river.  He  rode  with  Wheeler  and  his 
men  on  the  famous  raid  through  northern  Georgia  and  Tennessee, 
fighting  and  skirmishing  day  and  night.  While  crossing  the  Cum- 
berland mountains  he  was  captured  by  the  notorious  bushwacker, 
Blackburn,  but  escaped  by  taking  desperate  chances,  and  rejoined 
his  regiment.  Returning  in  time  to  see  the”  destruction  of  Atlanta, 
he  assisted  in  fighting  Sherman’s  cavalry  night  and  day,  on  the 
famous  march  to  the  sea,  and  after  the  fall  of  Savannah  took  part 
in  the  operations  in  the  Carolinas,  including  the  battle  of  Aiken, 
where  his  horse  was  shot  under  him,  and  also  the  battle  of  Ben- 
tonville.  He  surrendered  near  Greensboro,  N.  C.,  under  the  capitu- 
lation of  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  April  26,  1865.  After  the  close 
of  his  gallant  and  faithful  military  career  Captain  O’Neill  located 
in  Marietta,  where  for  some  time  he  was  employed  as  a clerk  in  a 
mercantile  establishment  and  where,  in  1865,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Mary  A.  Cook.  He  finally  engaged  in  the  lumber 
and  milling  business,  with  which  he  has  ever  since  been  identified. 
In  1881  he  established  himself  in  this  line  of  enterprise  in  Rome, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


38 

beginning  operations  on  a small  scale  and  from  this  modest  incep- 
tion evolving  the  fine  industrial  enterprise  controlled  by  the 
O’Neill  Manufacturing  Company,  of  which  he  is  president,  and  his 
son,  James  H.,  vice-president.  The  plant  of  the  company  is  the 
largest  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state  and  there  are  only  two 
larger  in  the  entire  state.  Employment  is  given  to  an  average  of 
100  workmen,  and  the  output  includes  general  planing-mill  work, 
sash,  doors,  blinds,  etc.  The  products  are  sold  principally  in  Vir- 
ginia, Illinois,  Ohio,  Kentucky  and  other  states  further  to  the  north, 
and  the  company  has  four  lumber  yards  in  West  Virginia,  handling 
all  kinds  of  stock  from  the  headquarters,  in  addition  to  the  man- 
ufactured products.  Captain  O’Neill  is  arrayed  as  a stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  Democratic  party,  though  never  a seeker  of  office, 
and  is  identified  with  the  United  Confederate  Veterans.  Captain 
and  Mrs.  O’Neill  became  the  parents  of  three  children,  Leni  L., 
James  H.  and  Louise,  all  of  whom  are  living. 

Onida,  a post-village  of  Liberty  county,  is  about  fifteen  miles 
northwest  of  Hinesville  and  not  far  from  the  Cannouchee  river. 
Groveland  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Oostanaula,  is  a river  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  state,  flow- 
ing a general  southerly  direction  until  it  unites  with  the  Etowah 
at  Rome  to  form  the  Coosa.  There  is  also  a village  of  the  same 
name  in  the  western  part  of  Gordon  county.  It  is  a station  on  the 
Southern  railroad,  at  the  point  where  it  crosses  the  Oostanaula 
river,  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  60.  In  the  Federal  advance 
on  Rome  in  May,  1864,  a slight  skirmish  occurred  near  the  village. 
(See  Rome). 

Ophelia,  a post-hamlet  of  Wilkes  county,  is  about  twelve  miles 
northwest  of  Washington,  which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad 
station. 

Ophir,  a post-village  of  Cherokee  county,  with  a population  of 
55,  is  about  ten  miles  northeast  of  Canton  and  near  the  Forsyth 
county  line.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Ball  Ground,  on  the 
Atlanta,  Knoxville  & Northern. 

Opper,  Frederick  H.,  cashier  of  the  Savannah  Brewing  Com- 
pany and  president  of  both  the  Southern  Paving  Gravel  Company 
and  the  General  Building  Supply  Company  of  Savannah,  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Cassel,  capital  of  the  Province  of  Hesse-Nassau, 
Prussia,  Tan.  22,  1874.  He  is  a son  of  Charles  G.  and  Augusta  C. 
(Rueppel)  Opper,  both  of  whom  were  likewise  born  in  Prussia, 
where  the  latter  still  resides.  Her  husband,  who  was  a merchant 
by  vocation,  died  in  1888.  Frederick  H.  Opper  secured  his  educa- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


39 


tional  training  in  the  excellent  schools  of  his  native  land,  having 
been  graduated  in  the  Realschule,  in  the  city  of  Cassel,  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  class  of  1889,  there  learning  the  English  language,  a fact 

which  greatly  contributed  to  his  success 
after  coming  to  America.  In  1891  Mr. 
Opper  came  to  the  United  States,  land- 
ing in  New  York  city  and  soon  afterward 
embarked  on  a steamship  for  Georgia. 
He  remained  a few  weeks  in  Brunswick, 
this  state,  and  then  took  up  his  residence 
in  Savannah,  where  he  has  since  remained 
He  .arrived  in  Savannah  with  but  eleven 
dollars  in  his  pocket,  and  his  first  work 
was  that  of  a day  laborer  at  a stipend  of 
one  dollar  a day.  On  Jan.  1,  1895,  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Savannah  Brew- 
ing Company,  in  the  capacity  of  shipping  clerk,  and  on  May  1, 
1902,  he  was  promoted  to  the  office  of  cashier,  of  which  he  has  since 
remained  the  incumbent.  In  1902  he  organized  the  Southern  Pav- 
ing Gravel  Company  of  which  he  has  been  president  from  the 
start,  and  in  1904,  he  organized  the  General  Building  Supply  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  is  president,  the  first  mentioned  concern  being 
incorporated.  He  is  a member  of  the  Savannah  chamber  of  com- 
merce ; is  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks;  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  and  the  Knights  of 
Pythias ; holds  membership  in  the  Savannah  Music  club,  the  Ger- 
man club,  the  German  Volunteers,  the  German  Singing  society, 
the  Knights  of  Fidelity;  and  his  religious  faith  is  that  of  the  Luth- 
eran church,  in  which  he  was  reared.  Mr.  Opper  is  well  known  in 
Savannah  musical  circles,  being  the  possessor  of  a fine  baritone 
voice,  exceptionally  well  cultivated.  For  the  past  seven  years  he 
lias  been  a member  of  the  choir  of  the  Independent  Presbyterian 
■church,  the  wealthiest  church  organization  in  the  city  of  Savannah. 
On  Oct.  11,  1905,  Mr.  Opper  was  united  in  marriage  to  Nellie 
Louise  Brown  second  daughter  of  John  Herbert  and  Ida  (Streeter) 
Brown  of  Cedar  Ledge,  Pa. 

Oran,  a post-hamlet  of  Murray  county,  is  four  miles  northeast  of 
Spring  Place.  Dalton  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Orange,  a post-village  of  Cherokee  county,  with  a population  of 
74,  is  about  ten  miles  northeast  of  Canton,  which  is  the  nearest 
railroad  station. 


40 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Orchard  Hill,  a village  of  Spalding  county,  is  on  the  main  line 
of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  not  far  from  the  Pike  county 
line.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery, 
express  and  telegraph  offices,  some  mercantile  and  shipping  inter- 
ests, and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  118. 

Oremont,  a post-village  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Polk  county, 
is  on  the  Southern  railway,  about  ten  miles  from  Cedartown.  It 
is  a trading  center  and  shipping  point  for  that  part  of  the  county, 
and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  172. 

Orient,  a post-hamlet  of  Gwinnett  county,  is  about  five  miles 
southeast  of  Gloster,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Orland,  a post-hamlet  of  Montgomery  county,  is  on  the  Macon, 
Dublin  & Savannah  railroad,  not  far  from  the  Laurens  county  line. 

Orletta,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Stewart  coun- 
ty, is  not  far  from  the  Chattahoochee  river.  Omaha  is  the  nearest 
railroad  station. 

Orme,  Aquilla  Johns,  is  one  of  the  rep- 
resentative attorneys  of  the  younger  gen- 
eration in  the  city  of  Atlanta,  and  in  the 
capital  city  his  success  in  his  chosen  pro- 
fession has  been  of  no  secondary  order. 
He  was  born  in  Atlanta,  April  30,  1874, 
a son  of  Aquilla  Johns  Orme,  Sr.,  born 
in  Dauphin,  Pa.,  Jan.  23,  1838,  and  Kate 
(Harman)  Orme,  born  in  Forsyth,  Ga., 
Feb.  19,  1850.  The  father  enlisted  in 
1861  as  a soldier  in  the  Confederate  ser- 
vice, becoming  quartermaster’s  guard  in 
the  First  Georgia  infantry,  and  took  part 
in  all  the  engagements  in  which  the  regiment  was  involved.  He 
was  one  of  the  number  lost  on  the  Laurel  Hill  retreat,  when  he 
went  six  days  without  food.  His  father,  Archibald  Orme,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  in  the  ancestral  line  two  representa- 
tives, Col.  Archibald  Orme  and  Col.  Richard  McAllister,  were  gal- 
lant officers  in  the  Continental  forces  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a descendant  also  of  Ninan  Beall,  who 
served  in  the  earlier  colonial  wars.  Rev.  John  Orme,  D.  V.  M., 
was  the  original  American  progenitor.  He  was  born  in  England, 
in  1691,  and  came  to  America  in  1720,  in  answer  to  an  appeal  made 
by  the  Presbyterians  of  America  to  the  Presbyterian  synod  of 
England,  and  continued  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  until  his  death. 
In  the  maternal  line  Mr.  Orme  is  a grandson  of  Zachariah  Edward 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


41 


and  Apsyllah  Anne  Harman,  the  former  of  whom  was  an  able 
lawyer,  and  a great-grandson  of  Zachariah  Harman,  who  served 
in  the  war  of  1812.  He  is  also  a descendant  of  Capt.  John  Holmes, 
Capt.  William  Bentley  and  John  Milner,  each  of  whom  was  an 
American  officer  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  of  John  Milner, 
who  served  in  the  colonial  wars.  Mr.  Orme  secured  his  earlier  ed- 
ucational training  in  the  public  schools  of  Atlanta  and  thereafter 
graduated  at  the  Virginia  military  institute,  Lexington,  Va.,  in 
1893.  He  then  took  up  the  study  of  law  under  able  preceptorship 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  his  native  state  in  1894,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Atlan- 
ta. In  1903  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Jos.  M.  Terrell  to  the  posi- 
tion of  solicitor  of  the  criminal  court  of  Atlanta.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Georgia  bar  association,  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Im- 
proved Order  of  Red  Men,  the  Capital  City  club  and  the  Piedmont 
Driving  club,  enjoying  distinctive  popularity  in  the  business  and 
social  circles  of  the  fair  city  of  his  birth.  He  has  never  deviated 
from  the  path  of  close  allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party,  is  a 
zealous  member  of  the  First  Baptist  church,  and  a member  also  of 
its  committee  on  finance.  On  April  6,  1899,  Mr.  Orme  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Callie  Cobb  Jackson,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Sally  (Cobb)  Jackson,  of  Athens,  Ga.,  and  they  have  three  children, 
— Aquilla  Johns,  Jr.,  born  March  22,  1900;  Sarah  Cobb,  born  Aug. 
20,  1902;  and  Callie  Jackson,  born  Jan.  13,  1905. 

Orr,  a post-hamlet  of  Gilmer  county,  is  almost  on  the  Pickens 
county  line,  and  is  four  miles  east  of  Keasley,  which  is  the  nearest 
railroad  station. 


derson  district,  in  honor 


Orr,  Gustavus  John,  was  born  at  Orr- 
ville.  Anderson  county,  then  designated 
as  district,  S.  C.,  Aug.  9,  1819.  His 
father,  James  Orr,  was  born  in  Mecklen- 
burg county,  N.  C.,  Sept.  26,  1774,  and 
his  mother,  Anne  (Anderson)  Orr,  was 
born  in  Anderson  county,  S.  C.,  Aug.  20, 
1792.  His  mother’s  father,  James  An- 
derson, a Virginian  by  birth,  was  a pa- 
triot captain  during  the  war  of  the  Revo- 
lution, at  the  close  of  which  he  settled 
in  what  was  then  known  as  Pendle- 
ton district,  S.  C.,  afterward  named  An- 
of  his  elder  brother,  Gen.  Robert  Ander- 


42 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


son.  James  Orr,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  was  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  was  reared  to  maturity  in  North  Caro- 
lina. From  that  state  he  removed  to  South  Carolina,  giving  his 
name  to  the  locality  where  Gustavus  J.  was  born,  and  later  in  life 
removed  to  Jackson  county,  Ga.,  where  his  son  grew  to  manhood. 
The  latter  was  educated  in  the  University  of  Georgia,  then  known 
as  Franklin  college,  and  in  Emory  college,  at  Oxford,  in  which  lat- 
ter institution  he  was  graduated  in  1844.  While  at  Athens  as  a 
student  in  the  university  he  had  as  college  mates  Thomas  R.  R. 
Cobb,  Samuel  Hall,  Joseph  Le  Conte,  W.  H.  Felton,  Linton  Steph- 
ens, J.  L.  M.  Curry  and  Benjamin  H.  Hill.  The  last  named  was  his 
classmate  and  both  were  members  of  the  Demosthenean  society. 
Young  Orr  stood  first  in  his  class,  and  in  debate  ranked  next  to  Mr. 
Hill.  At  Emory  college  his  most  intimate  associate  was  L.  Q.  C. 
Lamar.  He  chose  law  as  his  profession  but  soon  after  graduation 
was  chosen  assistant  in  the  preparatory  department  of,  and  tutor  in 
Emory  college,  and  held  these  positions  for  a time.  Later  he  began 
the  study  of  law,  in  the  office  of  B.  H.  Overby,  of  Jefferson,  Ga. 
Circumstances  caused  him  to  resume  teaching,  and  he  was  thus 
engaged  first  at  Jefferson,  and  later  at  Covington.  Being  offered 
the  chair  of  mathematics  in  Emory  college,  he  at  first  declined  it, 
with  a view  of  forming  a law  partnership  with  Judge  John  J. 
Floyd,  of  Covington,  but,  being  persistently  urged,  he  at  last  ac- 
cepted and  from  January,  1849,  until  1867  he  filled  this  position, 
with  credit  to  himself  and  profit  to  his  pupils.  In  1867  he  accepted 
the  presidency  of  the  Southern  Masonic  female  college  at  Coving- 
ton, and  in  1870  became  professor  of  mathematics  in  Oglethorpe 
college,  at  Atlanta.  In  1859,  while  a professor  at  Emory  college, 
he  was  appointed,  by  Gov.  Joseph  E.  Brown,  a commissioner  on  the 
part  of  Georgia  to  run  the  boundary  line  between  Georgia  and  Flor- 
ida, the  same  having  never  been  satisfactorily  determined.  When, 
through  a decision  of  the  supreme  court  of  the  United  States  and  a 
concurrent  act  of  the  legislatures  of  each  state  involved,  nothing 
wras  left  to  be  done  except  to  make  an  accurate  and  scientific  sur- 
vey, Mr.  Orr,  on  the  part  of  Georgia,  and  B.  F.  Whitner,  in  behalf 
of  Florida,  made  this  survey,  in  the  winter  of  1859-60.  The  two 
legislatures  had  decided  that  if  the  two  surveyors  should  come 
within  one-fourth  of  a mile  of  Ellicott’s  Mound,  the  line  thus  sur- 
veyed should  be  accepted.  In  fact  the  surveyors  missed  this  ob- 
jective point  by  only  twenty-four  feet,  in  a line  one  hundred  and 
fifty-eight  miles  in  length.  The  line  thus  surveyed  is  to-day  the 
boundary  line  between  Georgia  and  Florida.  On  Jan.  15,  1872, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


4o 


Gov.  James  M.  Smith  sent  together  to  the  senate  the  names  of 
Gustavus  J.  Orr  to  be  state  school  commissioner  and  Hiram  War- 
ner to  be  chief  justice  of  the  supreme  court.  Both  were  unanimous- 
ly confirmed.  These  were  the  first  appointments  under  a Demo- 
cratic administration  after  the  days  of  reconstruction.  Mr.  Orr 
was  thereafter  reappointed,  by  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  senate, 
six  times  in  succession  and  by  five  governors,  namely:  James  M. 
Smith,  Alfred  H.  Colquitt,  Alexander  H.  Stephens,  Henry  D.  Mc- 
Daniel, and  John  B.  Gordon.  In  none  of  these  instances  was  there 
any  opposing-  candidate,  and  his  incumbency  of  the  office  termi- 
nated only  with  his  death.  Doctor  Orr  was  as  truly  the  father  of 
public  education  in  Georgia  as  was  Horace  Mann  the  father  of  the 
public-school  system  of  Massachusetts.  The  first  school  law,  en- 
acted in  1870,  was  modeled  upon  a report  made  by  him  as  chairman 
of  a committee  of  the  Georgia  Teachers’  association,  in  1869,  and 
in  1872,  at  the  request  of  Judge  William  M.  Reese,  then  a senator, 
he  drafted  the  general  school  law  of  that  year.  Thereafter  he 
framed  almost  every  important  act  relating  to  the  common  schools. 
Not  only  was  his  influence  thus  felt  in  affirmative  legislation,  but 
he  also  had  to  stand  constantly  on  the  defensive  to  protect  and 
foster  the  interests  which  lay  so  close  to  his  heart.  At  every  ses- 
sion of  the  general  assembly  open  or  covert  assaults  were  made 
on  the  school  system  and  bills  were  offered  to  abolish  it  outright 
or  else  to  accomplish  that  end  under  the  guise  of  bettering  the 
law.  These  had  to  be  met  and  defeated,  and  his  efforts  along  this 
line  were  constant  and  indefatigable.  The  difficulties  of  his  work, 
especially  at  the  outset,  are  hard  to  realize.  In  the  first  place, 
an  effort  had  been  made,  under  the  first  school  law,  to  put  public 
schools  in  operation  with  no  funds  in  sight,  and  this  had  resulted 
in  a school  debt  which  was  hard  to  manage.  Many  of  the  people 
were  opposed  to  public  schools  because  they  thought  them  a 
“Yankee”  institution ; many  of  the  religious  people  because  they 
thought  them  “Godless  schools and  many  more  because  the 
negro  must  have  schools  as  well  as  the  white.  In  combating  op- 
position and  awakening  favorable  sentiment  Doctor  Orr  wrote 
thousands  of  letters,  issued  many  official  circulars,  published  numer- 
ous articles  in  the  newspapers  of  the  state,  and  delivered  hundreds 
of  addresses  all  over  Georgia.  His  annual  reports  contained  many 
recommendations  which  were  acted  upon  only  after  his  death 
and  some  of  which,  especially  the  matter  of  local  taxation  for  rural 
schools,  are  only  now  being  accepted  by  the  people  of  the  state. 
In  addition  to  all  the  ordinary  duties  of  his  office  he  was  in  control 


44 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


in  this  state  of  the  Peabody  fund,  being  the  trusted  representative 
first  of  Doctor  Sears  and  afterward  of  Doctor  Curry.  This  fund 
was  wisely  administered,  largely  in  free  scholarships  for  the  educa- 
tion of  teachers  and  in  normal  institutes  in  different  parts  of  the 
state,  under  his  general  personal  supervision.  Doctor  Orr  was 
widely  known  among  the  educators  of  the  United  States.  While 
he  impressed  Sir  George  Campbell,  member  of  parliament,  (“White 
and  Black  in  the  United  States,”  page  373),  as  a “thorough  old 
southerner”  and  as  being  “extremely  reasonable  for  an  out-and-out 
southern  man,”  he  was  listened  to  with  the  highest  respect  by 
northern  educational  audiences  everywhere  and  on  a number  of 
occasions  by  committees  of  the  United  States  senate  and  house  of 
representatives.  He  was  gifted  in  presenting  his  own  views  when 
these  were  antagonistic  to  those  entertained  by  his  audience.  In 
the  year  1880  he  delivered,  from  the  standpoint  of  the  south,  an  ad- 
dress on  “The  Negro,”  at  Chautauqua,  N.  Y.,  before  the  National 
Educational  association,  more,  perhaps,  than  nine-tenths  of  whose 
members  were  from  the  north  and  west.  Immediately  thereafter, 
without  being  a candidate  therefor,  he  was  elected  vice-president 
of  that  body  for  the  ensuing  year,  and  at  the  succeeding  session 
received  the  unsolicited  honor  of  the  presidency  of  the  association. 
Evans,  in  his  valuable  History  of  Georgia,  speaks  of  him  as  “an 
able  man,  possessing  great  learning,  energy  and  ability,”  and  of 
his  being  “called  the  father  of  common  schools  in  Georgia.”  In 
Avery’s  History  of  Georgia,  after  mentioning  his  first  appointment, 
the  following  occurs : “This  was  a most  admirable  selection.  A 

gentleman  of  erudition,  energy,  sleepless  zeal,  crystal  purity  and 
integrity,  and  fine  organizing  capacity,  Mr.  Orr  has,  in  the  nine 
years  of  his  continuous  incumbency,  seen  the  public-school  system 
flourish  and  grow  under  his  able  direction  until  its  former  unpop- 
ularity has  been  wholly  changed  and  its  sterling  benefits  are  every- 
where admitted.”  Nearly  four  years  after  his  death,  Hon.  Andrew 
S.  Draper,  superintendent  of  public  instruction  of  the  state  of  New 
York,  in  an  address  before  the  Georgia  State  Teachers’  association, 
delivered  at  Brunswick,  said:  “With  some  opportunities  for  spec- 
ial knowledge  of  the  subject,  I can  not  hesitate  a moment  in  saying 
that  the  statute  books  of  your  state  contain  a system  of  school 
laws,  a scheme  for  the  organization  and  management  of  the  state 
school  system,  more  comprehensive  and  judicious,  more  wise  and 
statesmanlike  than  is  to  be  found  in  most  states  of  the  Union.  If  I 
were  asked  to  name  one  in  which,  taking  all  things  together,  there 
were  better  provisions  for  securing  an  efficient  state,  city  and  coun- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


45 


ty  supervision,  for  regulating  the  admissions  to  the  teaching  ser- 
vice, for  selecting  trustees  and  directors,  and  for  directing  all  the 
innumerable  details  of  public-school  work,  I should  have  the  great- 
est difficulty  in  doing  so.  I suspect  that  the  educational  interests 
of  your  people  owe  a debt  of  gratitude  to  the  wisdom  and  expe- 
rience, the  discriminating  mind  and  the  honest  and  courageous 
purpose  of  Gustavus  J.  Orr,  which  was  hardly  appreciated  in  his 
life  time  but  which,  as  the  fruits  of  his  work  are  gathered,  will  win 
for  him  the  honor  and  esteem  of  many  generations.”  As  a thinker 
Doctor  Orr  was  noted  for  the  comprehensive  view  he  obtained  of 
any  subject  which  engaged  his  attention.  He  seemed  to  think  that 
he  knew  nothing  of  a matter  unless  his  knowledge  of  it  was  ex- 
haustive. As  a writer  and  speaker  his  logic  was,  perhaps,  equalled 
by  the  simple  elegance  of  his  diction.  There  was  hardly  ever  any 
revision  of  an  article  once  written  by  him,  and  an  extempore  speech 
when  delivered  by  him  could  be  stenographically  reported  and 
published  without  a single  correction.  Many  details  might  be 
named  to  show  the  wise  management  and  practical  efficiency  of 
his  administration,  but  only  one  will  be  here  mentioned.  During 
the  sixteen  years  of  his  incumbency,  such  was  the  honesty  and 
economy  of  his  official  life  and  so  well  was  the  small  school  fund 
of  that  early  day  husbanded,  that  ninety-five  per  cent,  of  all  money 
raised  reached  the  teachers,  only  five  per  cent,  going  to  all  ex- 
penses of  administration,  state  and  county.  His  Christian  character 
was  without  a blot  and  his  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  was  that  of  a little 
child.  Doctor  Orr  was  married  on  Dec.  30,  1847,  to  Miss  Eliza 
Caroline  Anderson,  daughter  of  Dr.  William  and  Mary  D.  (Hunter) 
Anderson,  of  Orrville,  Anderson  county,  S.  C.  Following  is  a 
brief  record  concerning  their  children:  William  Anderson  Orr 

died  in  infancy;  Judge  Edgar  H.  Orr  is  a resident  of  Atlanta; 
Alice  Gertrude  died  in  infancy;  Mary  Eliza  died  in  Atlanta,  Dec. 
21,  1900;  Anna  Gustavia  died  in  infancy,  Rev.  Gustavus  John  Orr 
is  principal  of  the  Massey  school  in  Savannah;  Mrs.  Jessie  Olivia 
Bass  resides  in  Atlanta ; Cornelia  Agnes  is  a teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Atlanta;  and  Angus  Elgin  is  in  the  railway  mail  service 
and  resides  in  Atlanta.  Doctor  Orr  was  an  active  and  consistent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  with  which  he 
united  in  early  manhood  and  in  which  he  continued  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  Dec.  11,  1887. 

Orus,  a post-hamlet  of  Colquitt  county,  is  on  the  Georgia  North- 
ern railroad,  seven  miles  northwest  of  Moultrie.  It  is  also  known 
as  Schley  Station. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Osborn,  a post-hamlet  of  Towns  county,  is  on  the  headwaters  of 
the  Hiawassee  river,  about  six  miles  southeast  of  the  town  of 
Hiawassee.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Clayton. 

Osborne,  Lyrran  S.,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 


army  during  the  Civil  war,  having  been  a member  of  Company  I, 
Eighth  New  York  heavy  artillery.  His  great-grandfather,  Roswell 
Osborne,  was  a soldier  in  the  Continental  line  during  the  Revo- 
lution and  also  served  in  the  war  of  1812  Doctor  Osborne  secured 
his  preliminary  educational  discipline  in  the  public  schools  of  Gen- 
esee county,  N.  Y.,  after  which  he  became  a student  in  the  State 
normal  and  training  school  at  Brockport,  N.  Y.  His  professional 
training  was  received  in  the  medical  department  of  the  celebrated 
University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  where  he  was  graduated  as 
a member  of  the  class  of  1878.  receiving  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Medicine.  In  the  following  year  he  located  in  Waverly,  la.,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  practice  one  year,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
he  removed  to  Big  Stone  City,  Dakota,  where  he  continued  in  prac- 
tice until  1881.  He  then  engaged  in  the  work  of  his  profession 
at  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  remaining  there  until  1890,  when  he  returned 
to  Waverly,  which  represented  his  home  and  field  of  endeavor  until 
the  autumn  of  1897,  when  he  came  to  Georgia  and  located  in  Fitz- 
gerald, where  he  has  since  resided  and  where  he  controls  a large 
and  representative  practice.  He  has  made  various  removals  on 
account  of  weakness  of  the  lungs,  but  has  found  the  climate  of 
Georgia  most  excellent  in  its  effect  upon  him.  He  is  a member  of 
the  Medical  Association  of  Georgia  and  of  the  American  medical 
association;  is  a Republican  in  his  political  views;  and  fraternally 
is  identified  with  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  and  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees.  Both  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership 
in  the  Congregational  church.  For  the  past  five  years  he  has  been 


4$  ¥& 


leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of  Ir- 
win county,  engaged  in  the  active  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  at  Fitzgerald,  and 
one  of  the  highly  esteemed  citizens  of 
that  thriving  and  attractive  little  city, 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Janesville,  Wis., 
Jan.  11,  1855.  He  is  a son  of  William 
F.  and  Helen  (Shedd)  Osborne,  both  of 
whom  were  born  in  Genesee  county,  N. 
Y.,  in  the  year  1833,  and  are  now  resi- 
dents of  the  state  of  California.  The 
father  served  three  years  in  the  Union 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


47 


a valued  member  of  the  board  of  education  of  Fitzgerald,  being 
secretary  of  the  same  at  the  present  time  (1905)  and  having  served 
one  year  as  its  president.  He  has  taken  a very  deep  interest  in 
local  educational  affairs  and  has  done  much  to  improve  the  schools 
of  Fitzgerald.  At  his  suggestion  the  schools  were  entirely  reorga- 
nized and  a thorough  business  course  has  been  added  to  the  cur- 
riculum, the  schools  of  Fitzgerald  being  now  recognized  as  among 
the  best  in  the  state.  Dr.  Osborn  has  been  a member  of  the  board 
of  pension  examiners  of  Irwin  County  since  1899,  having  been 
appointed  by  President  McKinley.  While  resident  of  South  Dako- 
ta he  also  served  three  years  in  this  capacity.  He  is  the  owner  of 
one  of  the  finest  homes  in  this  section  of  the  state  and  is  one  of 
the  loyal  and  public-spirited  citizens  of  his  city.  On  Sept.  24,  1884, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Laura  Smilie,  daughter  of 
Francis  and  Mary  (Perry)  Smilie,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Ver- 
mont and  are  now  deceased.  Ancestors  on  both  sides  were  soldiers 
of  the  colonial  army  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Osborne  have  three  children, — William  Farrand,  Plelen  M. 
and  Esther  L. 

Osborne,  Henry,  chief  justice  of  Georgia  from  March,  1787, 
to  January,  1789,  succeeded  John  Houston  in  that  office.  After  the 
constitution  of  1789  went  into  effect  he  was  the  first  judge  of  the 
superior  court  in  the  Western  circuit.  Sometimes  he  presided  with 
George  Walton  at  Savannah,  and  sometimes  he  sat  alone  in  the 
Eastern  circuit.  The  old  court  records  show  that  he  remained 
on  the  bench  until  1791,  after  which  all  trace  of  him  appears  to  have 
been  lost. 

Oscarville,  a post-village  of  Forsyth  county,  with  a population 
of  63,  is  twelve  miles  northeast  of  Cumming  and  not  far  from  the 
Chattahoochee  river.  Flowery  Branch  is  the  most  convenient  rail- 
road station. 

Osgood,  a post-village  of  Berrien  county,  is  on  the  Georgia 
Southern  & Florida  railroad,  six  miles  north  of  Sparks.  It  is  a trad- 
ing center  and  shipping  point  for  that  part  of  the  county,  and  in 
1900  had  a population  of  46. 

Osierfield,  a post-hamlet  of  Irwin  county,  is  a station  on  the  At- 
lantic & Birmingham  railroad,  about  ten  miles  east  of  Fitzgerald. 

O’Steen,  Levi,  judge  of  the  city  court  of  Douglas,  Coffee  county, 
is  an  able  jurist  and  lawyer,  and  a man  who  has  won  success  and 
prestige  through  his  own  efforts.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Clinch,  Clinch  county,  Ga.,  Sept.  1,  1870,  a son  of  Benjamin  and 
Mildred  O’Steen,  the  former  born  in  Waycross,  Ware  county,  this 


'48 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


state,  in  1849,  and  the  latter  in  Coffee  county,  in  1851.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  Judge  O’Steen  was  Capt.  John  Riley  O’Steen,  who 
went  forth  in  the  service  of  the  Confederacy  upon  the  outbreak  of 

the  Civil  war,  as  captain  of  Company  G, 
Fiftieth  Georgia  volunteer  infantry,  in 
which  he  served  with  distinction  until 
his  death,  in  September,  1862.  He  was 
killed  in  the  battle  of  Boonsboro,  Mary- 
land. Judge  Levi  O’Steen  was  afforded 
the  advantages  of  the  common  schools 
in  his  boyhood  days,  but  depended  upon 
his  own  resources  in  broadening  out  his 
education  to  symmetrical  proportions. 
He  completed  a course  of  study  in 
Jasper  normal  institute,  at  Jasper, 
Fla.,  and  thereafter  devoted  four  years 
to  successful  pedagogic  work,  teaching  in  the  public  schools  of 
Florida  and  Georgia.  He  then  took  up  the  reading  of  law, 
in  the  office  of  Quincy  & McDonald,  of  Douglas,  Ga.,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  his  native  state  in  1897,  after  which  he  was 
engaged  in  practice  one  year  at  Homerville,  Clinch  county.  He 
then  returned  to  Douglas,  where  he  entered  into  a professional 
partnership  with  his  former  preceptors,  with  whom  he  was  as- 
sociated in  practice  until  his  appointment  to  the  office  of  solicitor' 
of  the  city  court  of  Douglas,  on  June  6,  1899,  this  appointment 
having  been  conferred  by  Gov.  Allen  D.  Candler.  Judge  O’Steen 
proved  an  able  public  prosecutor,  and  continued  incumbent  of  the 
office  noted  until  his  appointment  to  preside  on  the  bench  of  the 
same  court,  Aug.  31,  1903.  He  has  exercised  his  judicial  functions 
with  much  discrimination  and  rvisdom,  is  an  able  and  popular 
official  and  a representative  member  of  the  bar  of  Coffee  county. 
For  two  years  he  was  associated  with  M.  A.  Candler  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession.  He  was  the  first  man  to  experiment  with  peach 
culture  in  his  section,  and  is  now  the  largest  individual  grower  of 
this  fruit  in  Coffee  county.  Judge  O’Steen  is  a stanch  adherent 
of  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  prominent  mem- 
bers of*the  local  organization  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
South,  in  which  he  is  a steward.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  the 
local  lodges  of  which  he  has  passed  the  various  official  chairs.  The 
Judge  has  not  been  denied  a due  reward  for  his  earnest  and  honor- 
able efforts,  having  gained  both  professional  prestige  and  material 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


49 


prosperity.  He  provided  the  means  for  his  own  education,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  marriage  had  practically  no  financial  resources.  To-day 
his  capitalistic  status  is  indicated,  in  a conservative  way,  by  an 
estate  valued  at  $15,000.  He  now  resides  on  his  beautiful  farm 
of  490  acres,  one  mile  from  the  city,  having  as  a homestead  a fine 
old  colonial  mansion.  On  Nov.  27,  1897,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Fannie  Smith,  daughter  of  Robert  S.  and  Mary  (Gaskin) 
Smith,  of  Coffee  county,  and  of  the  five  children  four  are  living, 
namely:  Herbert  Quincy,  Edith,  Myrtie,  and  Alton  Tilden,  Mil- 

dred, the  third  in  order  of  birth,  died  in  early  childhood. 

Oswald,  a post-village  of  Telfair  county,  is  on  the  Seaboard  Air 
Line  railway,  five  miles  west  of  Helena.  It  has  some  mercantile 
concerns  and  does  some  shipping. 

Ottley,  John  King,  cashier  of  The 
Fourth  National  bank  of  Atlanta,  and 
known  as  one  of  the  able  financiers  of 
the  state,  was  born  in  Columbus,  Lown- 
des county,  Miss.,  June  15,  1868.  He  is 
the  son  of  John  King  Ottley  who  was 
born  in  Princess  Anne  county,  Va.,  in 
1816,  and  Ellen  Gertrude  (Williams) 
Ottley,  who  was  born  in  Washington, 
111.,  in  1840.  John  McLaran,  Mr.  Ott- 
ley’s  great-grandfather  in  the  maternal 
line,  was  a patriot  soldier  in  the  War  of 
the  Revolution.  The  father  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  loyal  to  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy  during 
the  war  between  the  states,  but  was  physically  incapacitated  for 
service  in  the  army.  He  passed  the  closing  years  of  his  life  in 
Columbus,  Miss.,  having  been  a merchant  by  vocation  during  the 
greater  portion  of  his  active  business  career.  John  K.  Ottley  com- 
pleted his  educational  training  in  the  Southwestern  Presbyterian 
university  at  Clarksville,  Tenn.  He  has  been  identified  with  the 
banking  business  during  practically  his  entire  business  career. 
While  yet  a boy  he  held  a clerical  position  in  the  Boatmen’s  bank 
of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  subsequently  became  cashier  of  the  Delta 
bank  at  Greenwood,  Miss.  In  1890  he  removed  to  Atlanta  where 
he  became  interested  in  the  organization  of  the  American  Trust 
& Banking  Company,  and  later  in  that  of  its  successor,  The  Fourth 
National  bank  of  Atlanta,  in  1896.  Of  this  bank  he  has  been 
cashier  from  the  time  of  its  inception.  The  “Southern  Bank”,  in 
its  issue  of  January,  1905,  says  that  Mr.  Ottley  “has  been  with  The 


50 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Fourth  National  bank  since  its  organization,  discharging  the  deli- 
cate, responsible  and  difficult  duties  of  cashier  so  skillfully  and  so 
faithfully  that  to  his  efforts  and  ability  is  due,  in  large  measure, 
the  great  success  to  which  the  bank  has  attained.  Thoroughly 
capable,  energetic  and  painstaking,  with  a firm  grasp  of  the  details 
of  his  work  and  a breadth  of  view  that  enables  him  to  administer 
the  affairs  most  wisely,  Mr.  Ottley  has  wrought  out  a policy  and  a 
system  that  have  made  The  Fourth  National  bank  of  Atlanta  a 
conspicuous  factor  in  the  financial  world  and  for  himself  an  envia- 
ble reputation.  Largely  through  his  efforts  the  business  of  the 
bank  has  grown  from  one  showing  resources  of  $975,594,  in  1896 
to  nearly  $5,000,000  in  January,  1905,  as  shown  by  The  Fourth  Na- 
tion bank’s  last  statement  to  the  comptroller.  The  Fourth  Na- 
tional bank  is  represented  in  the  membership  of  the  American 
bankers’  association  and  the  Georgia  bankers  association.  Mr. 
Ottley  is  a member  of  the  sinking  fund  commission  of  the  city  of 
Atlanta.  On  March  21,  1889,  Mr.  Ottley  was  married  to  Miss 
Passie  Fenton  McCabe,  daughter  of  Dr.  Fenton  Mercer  and  Passie 
(Butler)  McCabe  of  Columbus,  Miss.  They  have  two  children, 
Passie  May  and  John  King,  Jr.  They  belong  to  the  Presbyterian 
denomination,  Mr.  Ottley  being  treasurer  of  the  North  Avenue 
Presbyterian  church  of  Atlanta.  Mr.  Ottley  belongs  to  the  Cap- 
ital City  club  and  the  Piedmont  Driving  club  and  is  affiliated  with 
the  Alpha  Tau  Omega  fraternity.  During  the  winter  the  family 
are  at  their  town  house,  527  Peachtree  street,  but  spend  the  re- 
mainder of  the  year  at  their  delightful  country  place  “Toyeuse,” 
a few  miles  out  of  Atlanta  on  the  beautiful  Peachtree  road.  Both 
these  homes  are  centers  of  the  pleasantest  social  interest  and  many 
friends  enjoy  their  cordial  hospitality  during  the  season.  From 
early  boyhood  Mr.  Ottley  has  been  greatly  interested  in  the  own- 
ing and  breeding  of  live  stock,  being  particularly  fond  of  saddle 
horses.  While  he  is  kept  exceedingly  busy  with  his  arduous  duties 
as  cashier  of  The  Fourth  National  bank,  he  yet  finds  some  time 
to  devote  to  his  favorite  recreation  of  riding  and  driving.  “Joy- 
euse”  is  famous  for  its  horses  and  poultry.  Mr.  Ottley,  being  of 
Southern  birth,  is,  as  may  be  supposed  a stanch  Democrat.  He  is 
public  spirited  and  very  loyal  to  the  interests  of  his  city,  being 
always  ready  to  aid,  in  any  way  possible  in  the  moral  and  national 
up-building  of  Atlanta. 

Otto,  a post-village  of  Union  county,  is  on  a branch  of  the  Notely 
river,  three  or  four  miles  south  of  Blairsville.  It  is  a trading  cen- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


51 


ter  for  the  neighbrohood  in  which  it  is  located  and  in  1900  reported 

Otto,  George  F.,  has  risen  to  promi- 
nence and  definite  success  as  a contrac- 
tor and  builder  in  his  native  city  of  Sa- 
vannah, where  he  was  born,.  Dec.  28, 
1868,  a son  of  Frederick  and  Martha 
(Padgett)  Otto,  both  of  whom  were 
likewise  born  and  reared  in  Savannah, 
where  the  former  passed  his  entire  life, 
a boilermaker  by  trade  and  having  died 
when  his  son  George  F.,  now  the  only 
living  child,  was  but  six  years  of  age. 
The  mother  is  still  living  and  maintains 
her  home  in  Savannah.  Frederick  Otto 
was  a Confederate  soldier  during  the  Civil  war,  as  a private  in  a 
Georgia  regiment.  George  F.  Otto  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Savannah  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  twelve  years,  when  he 
assumed  the  active  responsibilities  of  life,  his  first  employment 
being  as  a general  utility  boy  in  the  pressroom  of  the  Savannah 
Morning  News,  with  which  concern  he  remained  three  years.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  entered  upon  an  apprenticeship  at  the 
carpenter’s  trade,  serving  four  years  and  thereafter  engaging  in 
the  work  of  his  trade,  as  a journeyman.  Since  1891  he  has  been 
independently  engaged  in  business  as  a contracting  carpenter  and 
has  been  very  successful  in  his  endeavors,  having  erected  a num- 
ber of  the  handsome  private  residences  of  Savannah.  He  is  a 
stanch  Democrat,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  South.  He  is  a member  of  the  Sa- 
vannah chamber  of  commerce;  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  the  Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics,  in 
which  last  he  holds  a state  office  and  is  a member  of  Georgia  Com- 
pany, No.  1,  Uniform  Rank,  Knights  of  Pythias,  which  has  taken 
many  prizes  in  competitive  drills,  both  state  and  inter-state.  On 
Jan.  20,  1892,  Mr.  Otto  married  Miss  Georgia  Olivia  Floyd,  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  G.  and  Eva  (Brannon)  Floyd,  of  Savannah,  and 
of  their  seven  children  all  are  living  except  Benjamin,  who  died 
in  infancy.  The  names  of  the  others  are  here  entered  in  order 
of  their  birth:  Lillian  Inez,  Georgia  Lucille,  Frederick  Floyd, 
Eva  May,  Maud  Ethel,  and  Christine  Lois. 


a population  of  78. 


52 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Ousley,  a town  in  the  western  part  of  Lowndes  county,  is  on 
the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  railroad,  and  near  the  Little  river.  It  has 
a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  an  express  of- 
fice, some  good  stores,  schools  and  churches,  and  does  considerable 
shipping,  especially  in  cotton,  lumber  and  naval  stores. 

Ousley,  Robert  F.,  a leading  member 
of  the  bar  of  Lowndes  county,  being  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Valdosta,  has  represented  his  county  in 
the  state  legislature  and  is  a member  of 
one  of  the  old  and  prominent  families  of 
Georgia.  He  was  born  at  Ousley,  Lown- 
des county,  Oct.  18,  1860,  a son  of  Jo- 
seph A.  and  Angie  R.  (Rushin)  Ousley, 
both  natives  of  Georgia,  the  former  born 
in  Monroe  county,  Feb.  24,  1832,  and 
the  latter  in  Marion  county,  Aug.  22, 
1832.  The  paternal  great-grandfather 
of  the  subject  of  this  review,  was  a soldier  of  the  Continental  line 
during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  having  enlisted  from  Virginia. 
After  the  war  he  settled  in  Greene  county,  Ga.,  and  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  life  in  this  state.  Col.  Joseph  A.  Ousley  was  a 
gallant  and  distinguished  officer  in  the  Confederate  service  during 
the  Civil  war,  entering  the  arnry  as  second  lieutenant  in  the 
Twelfth  Georgia  volunteer  infantry,  and  having  been  promoted 
to  captain  and  later  to  quartermaster,  with  the  rank  of  colonel. 
He  was  a stanch  Democrat  and  in  the  early  ’70s  served  as  a rep- 
resentative of  Lowndes  county  in  the  lower  house  of  the  state  legis- 
lature. Several  years  later  his  party  again  nominated  him  for  the 
same  office,  but  he  declined  the  honor.  He  and  his  wife  both  died 
at  Valdosta,  the  latter  in  18S4.  Robert  F.  Ousley  secured  his 
earlier  educational  training  in  the  schools  of  Valdosta,  later  at- 
tended Emory  college  at  Oxford,  and  Auburn  college  in  Alabama ; 
studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1887.  He  has  been 
identified  with  agricultural  and  mercantile  pursuits  but  now  gives 
his  time  almost  entirely  to  the  work  of  his  profession,  in  which  he 
has  been  very  successful.  He  has  never  faltered  in  his  allegiance 
to  the  Democratic  party  and  has  been  prominent  in  its  councils  in 
his  county  and  state.  He  was  chairman  of  the  county  committee 
several  years,  is  a member  of  the  state  executive  committee  from 
the  Eleventh  Congressional  district,  and  he  served  two  terms  as  a 
member  of  the  state  legislature, — 1898-9  and  1900-01.  He  and  his 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


53 


wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South.  On 
July  18,  1885,  Mr.  Ousley  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sue  L. 
Beaman,  daughter  of  George  G.  and  Jennie  S.  (McCoy)  Beaman, 
of  Harperville,  Miss.,  and  they  have  two  daughters, — Mary  Louise, 
and  Gladys. 

Oval,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southern  part  of  Paulding  county,  is 
about  five  miles  northeast  of  Villa  Rica,  which  is  the  most  conven- 
ient railroad  station. 

Overton,  a post-village  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Elbert  county, 
is  not  far  from  the  Savannah  river.  Heardmont  is  the  nearest  rail- 
road station. 

Owen,  Allen  F.,  was  born  in  North  Carolina  and  moved  to  Tal- 
botton  when  young.  He  heid  several  local  offices  and  was  elected 
Georgia  representative  in  Congress  in  1848.  After  retiring  from 
Congress  he  was  sent  as  consul-general  to  Havana. 

Owens,  George  W.,  was  born  in  Georgia.  He  received  a good 
education,  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  Savannah. 
In  1834  he  was  elected  a member  of  Congress  as  a Unionist,  and  re- 
elected in  1836.  He  died  at  Savannah  in  1856. 

Owensbyville,  a post-village  of  Heard  county,  with  a population 
of  100,  is  on  the  west  side  of  the  Chattahoochee  river,  ten  miles 
west  of  Hogansville,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Owens’  Ferry,  a post-village  of  Camden  county,  is  on  the  Satilla 
river,  ten  miles  west  of  Woodbine,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad 
station,  though  the  Satilla  river  steamers  afford  transportation 
facilities.  The  population  ia  1900  was  105. 

Owens’  Ford,  where  a skirmish  occurred  on  Sept.  17,  1863,  was  a 
crossing  place  on  West  Chickamauga  creek,  not  far  from  Lee  and 
Gordon’s  mills.  Gen.  D.  H.  Hill  stationed  a cavalry  picket  to 
guard  the  ford,  but  a little  while  before  sunset  the  picket  was  at- 
tacked by  a considerable  force  and  driven  off.  The  Federals  suc- 
ceeded in  crossing,  but  did  not  advance  very  far  from  the  creek. 
During  the  night  the  Confederate  plans  were  changed,  so  that  the 
repulse  of  the  picket  at  the  ford  proved  to  be  a barren  victory. 

Oxford,  a town  in  Newton  county  about  two  miles  northwest  of 
Covington,  with  which  it  is  connected  by  a horse-car  railway,  was 
incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1839,  and  owes  its  impor- 
tance to  its  being  the  seat  of  Emory  College,  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  noted  institutions  of  learning  in  the  South.  The  population 
in  1900  was  800  in  the  corporate  limits  of  the  town,  and  1,149  in  the 
whole  Oxford  district.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural 
free  delivery,  telegraph  and  express  offices,  several  stores,  and  is  a 


54 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


long  distance  telephone  station.  Besides  Emory  College,  it  has 
schools  belonging  to  the  public  school  system. 

Ozell,  a post-village  of  Brooks  county,  is  on  the  Georgia  North- 
ern railroad,  about  seven  or  eight  miles  north  of  Pidcock.  It  had  a 
population  of  100  in  1900  and  is  a trading  and  shipping  point  for 
that  part  of  the  county. 

P 

Pace’s  Ferry. — During  the  war  there  was  a crossing  by  this  name 
on  the  Chattahoochee  river  east  of  Smyrna.  On  July  16-17,  1864, 
Palmer’s  and  Hooker’s  corps  of  Sherman’s  army  crossed  the  river 
at  this  point  and  the  advance  became  engaged  with  some  of  Wheel- 
er’s cavalry.  The  Confederate  loss  was  reported  as  being  67,  and 
that  of  the  Federals  was  estimated  at  about  300. 

Page,  Rinaldo  William,  a member  of 
the  firm  of  R.  W.  Page  & Co.,  proprietors 
and  publishers  of  the  Columbus  Ledger, 
of  which  he  is  business  manager,  is  one 
of  the  representative  citizens  of  Colum- 
bus. He  was  born  in  Lee  county,  Ala., 
April  17,  1862,  a son  of  William  B.  and 
Annie  Maria  (Green)  Page,  both  of 
whom  were  likewise  natives  of  Alabama, 
where  the  former  was  born  in  1830  and 
the  latter  in  1832.  The  paternal  grand- 
father, John  R.  Page,  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, where  the  family  was  early  estab- 
lished, but  removed  thence  to, Alabama,  where  he  became  a suc- 
cessful planter.  William  B.  Page  was  a loyal  soldier  of  the  Con- 
federacy in  the  Civil  war,  in  the  Alabama  volunteer  infantry, 
with  which  he  served  four  years.  Rinaldo  W.  Page  was  reared  on 
the  homestead  farm  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  state.  In  1886  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Columbus,  Ga., 
where  he  became  advertising  solicitor  for  the  Columbus  Ledger. 
In  1892,  in  company  with  his  brother-in-law,  Larkin  T.  Jones,  he 
purchased  the  plant  and  business  of  the  Ledger,  whose  publication 
they  have  since  continued  most  successfully.  The  Ledger  ably 
advocates  the  principles  and  policies  of  the  Democratic  party.  It 
has  much  influence  in  shaping  public  affairs  in  this  section  and  an 
excellent  circulation  both  in  Georgia  and  Alabama,  being  the  of- 
ficial paper  of  Columbus.  Mr.  Page  has  given  unqualified  alle- 
giance to  the  Democratic  party  from  the  time  of  attaining  his  legal 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


55 


majority  and  is  at  the  present  time  secretary  of  the  board  of  police 
commissioners  of  the  city  of  Columbus.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  and  he  is  affiliated 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Hepta- 
sophs.  On  Dec.  16,  1886,  he  was  united  m marriage  to  Miss  Mar- 
garet E.  Burrus,  daughter  of  James  William  and  Martha  (Putnam) 
Burrus,  of  Phoenix,  Alabama,  and  they  have  five  children,  namely : 
William  Eugene,  Rinaldo  Burrus,  Edmond  James,  Wyoline  and 
Annie  Laurie. 

Paine  College,  at  Augusta,  is  a coeducational  institution  for  the 
colored  people  and  was  established  in  1882.  It  has  college,  college 
preparatory  and  normal  departments,  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts 
being  conferred  on  its  graduates.  The  attendance  in  1904  was  278. 

Paine,  William  W.,  was  elected  representative  in  Congress  in 
1868,  but  owing  to  a contest  over  the  election  he  was  not  allowed 
to  take  his  seat  until  January,  1871,  which  was  near  the  close  of  the 
term.  He  served  until  March  of  the  same  year,  and  was  afterward 
for  several  years  a member  of  the  state  legislature. 

Paleozoic  Area. — (See  Geology). 

Palmer,  Herbert  A.,  vice-president  of 
the  Palmer  Hardware  Company,  of  Sa- 
vannah, is  one  of  the  old  and  honored 
business  men  of  that  city  and  is  well 
entitled  to  representation  in  this  publica- 
tion. He  was  born  in  Darien,  McIntosh 
county,  Ga.,  Nov.  30,  1833,  a son  of 
Samuel  and  Caroline  A.  (Dexter)  Palmer, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  the 
State  of  Rhode  Island  and  the  latter  in 
the  city  of  Savannah.  Samuel  Palmer 
came  to  Georgia  in  the  year  1819  and 
maintained  his  home  in  Darien  until 
1853,  when  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Savannah,  where  he 
founded  the  hardware  business  of  Samuel  Palmer  & Son,  the  junior 
member  of  the  firm  being  Samuel  B.  Palmer,  now  president  of  the 
Palmer  Hardware  Company,  whose  business  is  both  wholesale  and 
retail  in  scope,  the  concern  being  one  of  the  leading  commercial 
houses  of  Savannah.  The  business  has  been  conducted  consecu- 
tively under  the  family  name  from  the  time  of  its  inception,  more 
than  a . half  century  ago.  The  original  firm  was  succeeded  by  that 
of  Palmer  & Deppish,  in  1865,  and  in  1876  the  title  became  Palmer 
Bros.,  upon  the  death  of  John  H.  Deppish.  The  firm  of  Palmer 


56 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Bros,  consisted  of  Samuel  B.,  Herbert  A.,  and  Henry  W.  Palmer, 
and  in  1890  the  business  was  incorporated  under  the  present  title, 
the  Palmer  Hardware  Company,  with  officers  as  follows:  S.  B. 
Palmer,  president;  H.  A.  Palmer,  vice-president;  H.  W.  Palmer, 
treasurer,  and  A.  B.  Palmer,  secretary.  The  honored  father,  Samuel 
Palmer,  died  in  1867,  and  Henry  W.  Palmer,  treasurer  of  the  com- 
pany, died  Feb.  8,  1901,  the  present  treasurer  being  W.  G.  Thomp- 
son. Herbert  A.  Palmer  came  to  Savannah  in  1852,  has  ever  since 
maintained  his  home  in  this  city,  and  has  been  long  and  promi- 
nently identified  with  its  business  and  social  life.  From  1853  to 
1861  he  was  employed  by  the  hardware  firm  of  N.  B.  & H.  Weed, 
and  he  was  again  in  the  employ  of  this  concern  from  May  10,  1865, 
to  Jan.  1,  1866.  During  the  Civil  war  he  served  in  the  quarter- 
master’s department  of  the  Confederacy,  under  Maj.  M.  B.  Miller. 
On  Jan.  1,  1866,  he  became  a'  member  of  the  firm  of  Palmer  & 
Deppish  and  has  aided  in  upholding  the  high  prestige  of  the 
honored  name  which  he  bears.  He  is  a valued  member  of  the 
Savannah  chamber  of  commerce,  the  Oglethorpe  club  and  the  Sa- 
vannah Yacht  club.  In  politics  he  is  an  uncompromising  Democrat 
of  the  true  Jeffersonian  type.  On  March  10,  1857,  Mr.  Palmer  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Laura  C.  Winkler,  of  Savannah,  and  of 
their  children  only  one  survives,  Armin  B.,  who  is  general  manager 
of  the  Palmer  Hardware  Company. 

Palmer,  Samuel  W.,  the  popular  mayor 
of  the  city  of  Millen,  and  one  of  the 
prominent  and  influential  business  men 
of  the  new  county  of  Jenkins,  was  born 
on  the  homestead  plantation  of  his  father, 
in  Jefferson  county,  Ga.,  April  12,  1864. 
He  is  a son  of  William  R.  and  Julia  E. 
(Matthews)  Palmer,  the  former  a native 
of  Burke  county  and  the  latter  of  Jeffer- 
son county.  The  mother  died  when  Sam- 
uel W.  was  an  infant,  and  he  was  but 
ten  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  father’s 
death.  He  then  found  a home  with  his 
cousin,  John  T.  Cheatham,  of  Jefferson  county,  and  later  lived  in 
the  home  of  his  sister,  Mrs.  William  H.  Jones,  of  that  county.  He 
attended  the  high  schools  at  Bethany  and  Stellaville,  Jefferson 
county,  continuing  his  studies  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of 
eighteen  years.  He  then  secured  a clerkship  in  a general  store  at 
Bartow,  Jefferson  county,  and  about  one  year  later  engaged  in  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


57 


general  merchandise  business  on  his  own  responsibility,  at  Beth- 
any. Shortly  afterward  he  disposed  of  this  business,  having  taken 
up  his  residence  in  Millen  before  he  was  twenty  years  of  age.  Here 
he  became  a salesman  in  the  large  mercantile  establishment  of  J. 
H.  Daniel  & Son,  and  in  1887  he  married  Miss  Dollie,  the  only 
daughter  of  the  head  of  the  firm,  James  H.  Daniel.  In  1889  Mr. 
Palmer  was  admitted  to  partnership  in  the  business,  and  the  firm 
name  then  became  Daniel,  Sons  & Palmer.  In  1900  the  business 
was  incorporated,  with  a capital  of  $25,000,  under  the  title  of  the 
Daniel  Sons  & Palmer  Company,  of  which  Mr.  Palmer  has  since 
been  treasurer.  The  concern  is  one  of  the  largest  and  best  known 
mercantile  houses  in  this  section  of  the  state.  Mr.  Palmer  is  a 
director  of  the  Bank  of  Millen,  as  well  as  of  the  Morton  oil  mill  and 
the  Millen  mills,  while  he  also  owns  plantations  in  both  Jenkins 
and  Jefferson  counties.  Unwavering  in  his  allegiance  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  he  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  promotion  of  its 
cause ; served  several  terms  as  mayor  of  Millen,  being  the  incum- 
bent of  this  office  at  the  time  of  this  writing;  was  a member  of  the 
board  of  education  of  Burke  county  several  years,  Millen  having 
at  that  time  been  located  in  that  county,  and  he  is  now  a member  of 
the  board  of  education  of  the  new  county  of  Jenkins.  He  is  one  of 
the  prominent  members  of  the  local  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
South,  of  which  he  is  a trustee,  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Millen 
lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  which  he  is  a past  chancellor.  Mrs. 
Palmer  died  in  1894,  leaving  three  children — Mary  H.,  James 
Daniel,  and  Samuel  W.,  Jr.  The  daughter  is  now  a student  in  the 
Wesleyan  female  college  at  Macon. 

Palmetto,  a town  in  the  southern  part  of  Campbell  county,  on 
the  Atlanta  & West  Point  railway,  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the 
legislature  in  1854.  It  had  by  the  census  of  1900  a population  of 
620  in  its  corporate  limits  and  in  its  entire  district  1,478.  It  has 
express  and  telegraph  offices,  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural 
free  delivery  routes,  a bank,  prosperous  business  houses,  and  some 
manufactories,  the  most  important  of  which  is  a cotton  factory 
with  5,500  spindles  and  100  looms,  using  annually  about  3,000  bales 
of  cotton  and  producing  material  worth  about  $75,000.  Other  fac- 
tories are  a wood-working  and  blacksmith  shop,  an  iron  foundry, 
and  a public  ginnery.  The  town  is  also  well  supplied  with  churches 
and  schools. 

Panhan,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Warren  county, 
is  seven  miles  southeast  of  Warrenton,  which  is  the  nearest  rail- 
road station. 


58 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Pansy,  a post-hamlet  of  Lincoln  county,  is  on  Soap  creek,  six 
miles  northeast  of  Lincolnton.  Washington  is  the  most  conven- 
ient railroad  station. 


Pardee,  Don  Albert,  judge  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  district  court  for  the  fifth  ju- 
dicial district,  since  May,  1881,  was  born 
at  Wadsworth,  Medina  county,  Ohio, 
March  29,  1837,  son  of  Aaron  and  Eve- 
line (Eyles)  Pardee.  He  received  his 
early  education  in  his  native  county,  and 
was  a member  of  the  class  of  1854  in  the 
United  States  naval  academy,  Annapolis. 
He  studied  law  ; was  admitted  to  the  bar 
of  Ohio  in  1859,  was  thereafter  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Me- 
dina until  September,  1861,  when  he  en- 
tered the  Union  service ; was  made  major  and  later  lieutenant  col- 
onel of  the  Forty-second  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  with  which  he 
was  in  service  until  December,  1864,  being  breveted  brigadier- 
general  for  gallant  services.  In  1865  he  located  in  the  city  of  New 
Orleans,  La.,  where  he  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession.  In 
1867  he  was  made  register  in  bankruptcy.  In  1868  he  was  made 
judge  of  the  second  judicial  district  of  Louisiana,  being  re-elected  in 
1872  and  1876,  and  in  1879  he  was  a senatorial  delegate  to  the  con- 
stitutional convention  of  the  state.  In  1880  he  was  the  Republican 
candidate  for  attorney-general  of  Louisiana,  and  in  May,  1881,  was 
appointed  to  his  present  position  as  judge  of  the  fifth  judicial  cir- 
cuit of  the  United  States  circuit  court.  In  June,  1898,  he  took  up 
his  residence  in  Atlanta,  Ga.,  where  he  has  since  maintained  his 
home,  though  his  official  address  is  the  United  States  court,  New 
Orleans,  La. 

Paris,  a post-hamlet  of  Coweta  county,  is  on  the  headwaters  of 
Oak  creek,  about  five  miles  south  of  Sharpsburg,  which  is  the  near- 
est railroad  station. 

Paris  Exposition,  1867. — (See  Expositions). 

Parish,  a post-village  of  Bulloch  county,  is  on  the  Dover  & Brew- 
ton  division  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  about  eight  miles 
west  of  Register.  The  population  in  1900  was  81.  It  has  some 
mercantile  and  shipping  interests. 

Parishes. — The  second  general  assembly,  which  convened  on 
Jan.  11,  1758,  divided  the  province  into  eight  parishes,  viz:  Christ 
Church,  including  the  settlements  at  Savannah,  Acton,  Vernon- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


59 


burg-,  Sea  Islands  and  Little  Ogeechee ; St.  Matthew’s,  embracing 
Abercorn  and  Ebenezer;  St.  George’s,  which  consisted  of  the  dis- 
trict of  Halifax ; St.  Paul's,  Augusta ; St.  Philip’s,  including  the  dis- 
trict of  Great  Ogeechee;  St.  John’s,  comprising  the  settlements  at 
Medway  and  Sunbury;  St.  Andrew’s,  the  district  around  Darien; 
and  St.  James’  at  Frederica.  This  division  was  made  for  the  pur- 
poses of  election  and  representation,  and  for  the  better  regulation 
of  church  affairs.  In  1773  the  assembly  divided  the  territory  be- 
tween the  Altamaha  and  St.  Mary's  rivers  into  the  parishes  of  St. 
David,  St.  Thomas,  St.  Patrick  and  St.  Mary,  and  these  were  after- 
ward represented  in  the  provincial  legislature  according  to  popu- 
lation. 

Park,  Orville  Augustus,  is  a descendant 
of  the  Parks  of  Parkesburg,  Chester 
county,  Pa.,  more  than  one  of  whom  held 
commission  in  the  Revolutionary  army. 
A branch  of  the  family  coming  south 
shortly  after  the  Revolution,  settled  in 
Georgia  at  the  beginning  of  the  last  cen- 
tury. Of  this  family  Maj.  John  Park,  the 
grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  one  of  Georgia’s  prominent  educa- 
tors. His  schools  were  famous  through- 
out the  state  and  one  of  them,  the  La- 
Grange  female  institute,  is  still  a flour- 
ishing institution.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Emory  college 
and  a member  of  its  charter  board  of  trustees.  His  son,  John  W. 
Park,  the  father  of  Orville  A.,  was  for  half  a century  the  foremost 
lawyer  of  the  Coweta  circuit,  which  numbered  some  of  the  most 
brilliant  members  of  the  bar  of  the  state,  and  he  was  closely  identi- 
fied with  all  the  interests  of  the  county  and  section.  He  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Georgia  bar  association  and  subsequently 
became  its  president.  During  the  civil  war  he  was  a major  of  the 
First  Georgia  regiment  of  reserves,  serving  with  the  same  until  it 
was  mustered  out  after  the  final  surrender  at  Appomattox.  The 
maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  Orville  A.  Park  was  Sarah  C.  Bull, 
a daughter  of  Judge  Orville  A.  Bull,  of  LaGrange,  for  many  years 
the  distinguished  judge  of  the  Coweta  circuit.  Orville  A.  Park  was 
born  at  Greenville,  Meriwether  county,  Ga.,  March  11,  1872.  He 
attended  the  schools  of  his  native  city  and  later  entered  Vanderbilt 
university,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  taking  a special  course  preparatory  to 
entering  the  law  department  of  the  institution,  in  which  department 


60 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


he  was  graduated  with  distinction,  as  a member  of  the  class  of 
1893.  In  the  autumn  of  that  year  he  removed  to  Macon  and  entered 
the  active  practice  of  his  chosen  profession.  Shortly  after  settling 
in  Macon  he  formed  a partnership  with  J.  L.  Jerdine,  which  con- 
tinued until  1900,  when  Mr.  Jerdine  entered  the  ministry  and  the 
firm  of  Lane  & Park  was  formed,  Andrew  W.  Lane  being  the  senior 
member.  This  partnership  still  continues  and  the  two  interested 
principals  have  proved  effective  coadjutors,  the  success  of  the 
firm  having  been  marked.  It  now  enjoys  a large  and  steadily  grow- 
ing practice,  representing  a number  of  important  interests.  In 
1898  Mr.  Park  was  elected  secretary  of  the  Georgia  bar  association, 
which  position  he  still  continues  to  hold.  He  has  a number  of 
times  contributed  to  the  program  of  the  annual  meetings  of  the 
association  and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  all  its  work.  During  the 
present  year  (1906)  he  has  filled,  during  the  absence  of  Judge 
Emory  Speer,  dean  of  the  law  department  of  Mercer  university,  the 
chair  of  constitutional  law  in  that  institution,  in  a most  acceptable 
manner,  and  at  the  commencement  of  1906  he  was  elected  professor 
of  constitutional  law  and  federal  procedure.  He  is  a member  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  American  National  bank  of  Macon,  for 
which  he  is  also  attorney;  is  a member  of  the  directory  of  the  Ma- 
con hospital ; is  a prominent  member  of  the  Methodist  church, 
having  been  a steward  of  the  Mulberry  Street  church  for  a decade 
and  for  seven  years  superintendent  of  its  large  and  well  organized 
Sunday  school.  He  also  served  for  a number  of  years  as  a member 
of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Macon  Young  Men’s  Christian  As- 
sociation and  as  a member  of  the  state  executive  committee  of  the 
association.  In  1900  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elmyr  Taylor,  daughter 
of  Robert  J.  and  Frances  (Dillard)  Taylor.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, Frances  and  Orville  A.,  Jr.  Mr.  Park  is  a nephew  of  the  late 
Rev.  William  Park,  D.  D.,  of  Sandersville,  Ga. ; of  James  F.  Park, 
Ph.  D.,  LL.  D.,  of  La  Grange,  Ga. ; of  Captain  Robert  E.  Park, 
state  treasurer  of  Georgia,  and  of  L.  M.  Park,  of  Atlanta.  His 
mother’s  brothers  were  Col.  Gustavus  A.  Bull,  of  the  Thirty-fifth 
Georgia  infantry,  who  was  killed  while  leading  a charge  at  Seven 
Pines,  and  Hon.  Orville  A.  Bull,  who  is  now  a resident  of  Alabama. 

Parker,  Hardy  W.,  a representative  business  man  of  Millen, 
where  he  is  a large  dealer  in  naval  stores,  and  an  extensive  planter 
of  Jenkins  county,  was  born  on  a plantation  in  Screven  county, 
Ga.,  Aug.  2,  1853.  He  is  a son  of  James  and  Mary  (Lee)  Parker, 
the  former  born  in  Screven  county,  Dec.  25,  1811,  and  the  latter,  in 
the  same  county,  Sept.  14,  1816.  They  passed  their  entire  lives  in 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


61 


their  native  county,  where  the  father  was  the  owner  of  a large  and 
valuable  landed  estate.  He  died  on  Dec.  20,  1886,  and  his  wife 
passed  away  July  28,  1890.  They  were  married  in  January,  1833, 

and  became  the  parents  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, nine  of  whom  attained  years  of  ma- 
turity, though  only  three  of  the  number 
are  now  living.  James  is  a resident  of 
Rocky  Ford,  Screven  county ; Harrison 
is  a resident  of  Millen ; and  Hardy  W.  is 
the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch.  The 
last  mentioned  acquired  his  early  educa- 
tional discipline  in  the  schools  of  his  na- 
tive county,  and  has  been  identified  with 
plantation  interests  from  his  youth  to  the 
present.  He  has  also  been  a producer  of 
and  dealer  in  naval  stores  for  many  years. 
His  extensive  plantation  was  formerly  in  Screven  county,  but  is 
now  included  in  Jenkins,  which  county  was  organized  in  1905.  The 
Democratic  party  has  his  unreserved  allegiance,  and  his  religious 
faith  is  that  of  the  Baptist  church,  of  which  he  has  been  a member 
for  nearly  a score  of  years,  his  wife  also  being  a devoted  member 
of  the  same.  On  Dec.  24,  1874,  Mr.  Parker  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Sarah  Cornelia  Edenfield,  daughter  of  the  late  William  A. 
and  Sarah  (Bassett)  Edenfield,  of  Barnwell,  S.  C.,  where  she  was 
born  and  reared.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parker  have  five  children,  namely: 
Arthur  Cardel,  Ira  Oceola,  Lillian  Ward,  Rebie  Bernice,  and  Sarah 
Annice. 

Parker,  Henry,  was  governor  of  Georgia  from  1750  to  1754. 
Nothing  is  known  of  his  early  life.  He  settled  on  the  Isle  of  Hope, 
near  Savannah,  in  the  early  days  of  the  colony,  and  in  1734  was 
made  bailiff,  which  was  at  that  time  a very  important  office.  In 
1741  he  was  appointed  assistant  to  President  Stephens  and  on  the 
resignation  of  the  latter  became  acting  governor  by  virtue  of  his 
office.  He  died  on  the  Isle  of  Hope,  but  the  date  of  his  death  is 
unknown. 

Parker,  Hershel  Joseph,  a successful  merchant  of  Baxley  and 
incumbent  of  the  office  of  school  commissioner  of  Appling  county, 
was  born  on  the  homestead  plantation  in  Laurent  county,  Ga.,  Nov. 
2,  1878,  and  is  a son  of  Jasper  and  Mary  A.  (Jones)  Parker,  both 
born  in  that  county.  At  the  inception  of  the  Civil  war  the  father 
went  forth  in  the  defense  of  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy,  enlisting 
in  a Georgia  regiment  and  continuing  in  the  ranks  until  the  close 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


62 


of  the  great  internecine  conflict  between  the  states.  Thereafter  he 
turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  becoming  one  of  the 
successful  planters  of  Laurens  county,  where  he  died  in  the  year 

1878,  his  wife  coming  to  Appling  county 
in  1881.  The  subject  of  this  review 
passed  his  boyhood  and  early  youth  on 
the  home  farm,  and  after  duly  availing 
himself  of  the  advantages  of  the  public 
schools  of  Appling,  including  the  high 
school  at  Baxley,  he  entered,  in  1896,  Tif- 
ton  institute,  at  Tifton,  Tift  county,  where 
he  took  a general  course.  In  the  mean- 
while, in  1894,  he  had  become  a teacher  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  county, 
meeting  with  distinctive  success  in 
the  pedagogic  profession,  to  which  he 
continued  to  give  his  attention  until  1904,  when  he  was  compelled 
to  abandon  the  work  by  reason  of  his  impaired  health.  In  that  year 
he  was  granted  a state  teacher’s  license,  by  W.  B.  Merritt,  state 
school  commissioner,  the  examination  having  been  held  in  Baxley. 
In  1905  Mr.  Parker  engaged  in  the  general  merchandise  business  in 
Baxley,  where  he  has  a well  appointed  establishment  and  has  built 
up  a very  prosperous  enterprise.  He  is  a stanch  adherent  of  the 
Democratic  party  and  takes  a loyal  interest  in  its  cause.  His  interest 
in  educational  affairs  continues  unabating,  and  on  Dec.  30,  1905,  the 
board  of  education  of  Appling  county  showed  marked  appreciation 
of  his  eligibility  by  appointing  him  to  the  office  of  county  school 
commissioner,  in  which  position  he  is  according  most  excellent  ser- 
vice. He  and  his  wife  are  zealous  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  South,  and  he  is  affiliated  with  the  following  named 
organizations:  Holmesville  Lodge,  No.  195,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons ; Appling  County  Lodge,  No.  216,  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows;  and  Baxley  Lodge,  No.  48,  Knights  of  Pythias.  On 
Jan.  3,  1906,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Parker  to  Miss 
Frankie  Bennett,  daughter  of  Henry  A.  and  Isabel  (Leggett)  Ben- 
nett, well  known  residents  of  Appling  county. 

Parker,  Sidney  C.,  president  of  the  C.  Parker  Company,  of  Millen, 
one  of  the  most  extensive  mercantile  concerns  in  Jenkins  county, 
is  a member  of  one  of  the  old  and  honored  families  of  eastern 
Georgia,  an  enterprising  and  successful  business  man  and  represent- 
ative citizen.  He  was  born  on  the  homestead  plantation,  in  Screven 
county,  Ga.,  Dec.  6,  1878.  The  same  county  was  the  birthplace  of  his 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


63 


parents,  Crawford  and  Jeannette  (Burke)  Parker,  the  former  born 
in  1845  and  the  latter  in  1850,  both  being  now  deceased.  The 
mother  passed  away  in  1881  and  the  father’s  death  occurred  in 

1899.  The  latter  was  a soldier  of  the  Con- 
federacy in  the  Civil  war,  and  was  there- 
after engaged  in  superintending  his 
plantation  interests  in  Screven  county 
until  1880,  when  he  took  up  his  residence 
in  Millen,  which  is  now  the  county  seat  of 
the  newly  organized  county  of  Jenkins. 
Here  he  became  a prominent  and  wealthy 
merchant  and  banker,  retaining  also  his 
extensive  plantation  properties,  while  he 
stood  high  in  popular  confidence  and 
esteem,  having  ordered  his  life  ac- 
cording to  the  highest  ethical  prin- 

ciples, a business  ma’n  of  marked  ability  and  a citizen  of  influence. 
He  was  senior  member  of  the  mercantile  firm  of  C.  Parker 
& Co.,  of  which  he  was  the  founder,  the  business  having  been  con- 
ducted under  his  individual  name  until  1898,  when  the  title  of  C. 

Parker  & Co.  was  adopted,  thus  continuing  until  his  death.  In 

1900  the  surviving  partner,  Joseph  P.  Applewhite,  and  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  eldest  son  of  the  founder,  incorporated  the  business 
under  the  present  title,  the  C.  Parker  Company.  Sidney  C.  Parker 
has  been  president  of  the  companuy  from  the  time  of  its  organiza- 
tion, and  Mr.  Applewhite  is  secretary  and  treasurer.  Sidney  C. 
Parker  secured  his  rudimentary  education  in  the  schools  of  Millen, 
after  which  he  attended  a military  school  at  Dahlonega,  Ga.,  sup- 
plementing this  discipline  with  a course  in  the  Atlanta  business  col- 
lege. At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  became  connected  with  his 
father’s  mercantile  business,  with  which  he  has  since  been  asso- 
ciated. As  president  of  the  C.  Parker  Company  he  has  ably  upheld 
the  prestige  and  honor  of  the  family  name,  proving  a worthy  suc- 
cessor to  his  honored  father.  He  is  a member  of  the  board  of 
directors  of  the  Bank  of  Millen  and  of  the  directorate  of  the  Mor- 
ton oil  mills,  of  Millen.  His  political  allegiance  is  given  to  the 
Democratic  party,  and  he  is  serving  his  fifth  year  as  a member  of 
the  board  of  aldermen  of  Millen.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Baptist  church  and  he  is  identified  with  the  Millen  lodge  of 
Knights  of  Pythias,  of  which  he  is  a past  chancellor.  On  Dec.  8, 
1903,  Mr.  Parker  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Blanche  A.  Latta, 
daughter  of  DeLacy  Latta,  of  Griffin,  Spalding  county. 


64 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Parker’s  Cross  Roads,  sometimes  called  Rome  Crossroads,  is 
about  three  miles  from  Resaca.  On  May  16,  1864,  after  Johnston 
had  evacuated  Resaca,  the  pursuing  Federals  came  up  with  and  at- 
tacked the  rear  guard  at  this  place.  A force  of  infantry  was  ordered 
to  the  support  of  the  rear  guard  and  the  assailants  were  compelled 
to  retire  toward  the  town. 

Parkerstore,  a post-village  in  the  northern  part  of  Hart  county, 
reported  a population  of  62  in  1900.  It  is  five  miles  northeast  of 
Lavonia,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Parks,  a post-hamlet  of  White  county,  is  in  a picturesque  region, 
about  six  miles  north  of  Cleveland.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is 
Clarkesville,  on  the  Tallulah  Falls  road. 

Parks,  Robert  L.  M.,  manager  of  the  Knickerbocker  Ice  Com- 
pany, of  Savannah,  was  born  in  Oglethorpe  county,  Ga.,  Oct.  5, 
1864,  and  is  a son  of  Rev.  Harwell  H.  and  Sarah  A.  (Quillian) 
Parks.  His  father  was  a clergyman  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  South,  and  the  itinerant  system  of  the  church  caused  the 
family  to  move  from  place  to  place,  so  that  Robert’s  youth  was 
passed  in  various  places  in  Georgia,  namely:  Atlanta,  Macon,  Co- 
lumbus, LaGrange,  Athens,  Milledgeville,  Augusta  and  Savannah,  in 
each  of  which  places  his  father  held  pastoral  charges.  Rev.  Har- 
well IT  Parks  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Ga.,  in  1824,  and  died 
at  Edgewood,  this  state,  in  1895,  having  celebrated  his  golden  wed- 
ding anniversary  on  May  22  of  that  year.  His  wife  was  born  in 
White  county,  Ga.,  in  1825,  and  is  still  living,  making  her  home 
with  her  children,  all  of  whom  reside  in  Georgia.  Robert  L.  M. 
Parks  secured  his  preliminary  educational  training  in  the  public 
schools  and  then  entered  Emory  college,  Oxford,  Ga.,  where  he  was 
graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1884,  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts.  His  first  work  after  leaving  college  was  to 
assist  in  the  compilation  of  a city  directory  of  Atlanta  and  for  two 
years  thereafter  he  was  manager  of  a coal  business  in  Augusta. 
From  1891  to  1899  he  held  the  office  of  cashier  in  the  Savannah  office 
of  the  Southern  Express  Company,  and  since  that  time  he  has 
been  manager  of  the  business  of  the  Knickerbocker  Ice  Company. 
Since  he  assumed  charge  of  the  enterprise  he  has  increased  the 
capacity  of  the  plant  by  thirty-five  per  cent,  and  has  lately  com- 
pleted for  the  company  a modern  brick  building  for  commercial  cold 
storage,  the  plant  being  the  first  of  the  kind  in  the  state,  and  of  the 
best  modern  construction  and  equipment.  The  building  is  two 
stories  in  height  and  has  a cold-storage  capacity  of  120,000  cubic 
feet.  The  capacity  of  the  ice  plant  is  seventy-five  tons  of  highest 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


65 


grade  artificial  ice  per  day.  Mr.  Parks  is  a member  of  the  Savan- 
nah chamber  of  commerce  and  the  Savannali  Yacht  club ; his  politi- 
cal allegiance  is  given  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  being  a trustee  and 
treasurer  of  the  Wesley  Monumental  church,  in  Savannah.  On 
Nov.  7,  1889,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Frances 
Morris,  daughter  of  Richard  B.  and  Mary  Hasson  (Rich)  Morris, 
of  Augusta,  Ga.,  and  five  children  were  born  of  his  union — Bessie 
Sherman,  Louise,  Frances,  Dorothy,  and  Robert  L.  M.,  Jr.  Both 
Bessie  and  Frances  died  when  about  one  year  of  age,  and  the  other 
children  remain  at  the  parental  home. 

Parrott,  an  incorporated  town  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Terrell 
county,  is  on  the  Albany  & Columbus  division  of  the  Seaboard  Air 
Line  railway  system.  The  population  in  1900  was  267.  It  has  a 
money  order  postoffice,  with  several  free  delivery  routes  emanating 
from  it,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  some  manufacturing  and 
mercantile  establishments,  school  and  church  privileges,  etc. 

Partnerships. — General  partnerships  are  governed  by  the  com- 
mon law  rule,  each  partner  being  individually  liable  for  the  debts 
of  the  firm.  Special  partnerships  may  be  formed  for  conducting 
any  lawful  business  except  banking  and  insurance.  In  special  or 
limited  partnerships  the  special  partner,  upon  publication  of  proper 
notice,  is  liable  only  for  the  amount  of  capital  he  has  invested  in 
the  business  of  the  firm. 

Paschal,  a post-village  of  Talbot  county,  is  on  the  Talbotton  rail- 
road and  is  called  Bostick  Station.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice, 
with  rural  free  delivery,  some  stores  and  does  some  shipping. 

Patillo,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Monroe  county, 
is  not  far  from  the  Butts  county  line.  The  nearest  railroad  station 
is  Orchard  Hill,  ten  miles  west. 

Pattillo,  William  F.,  one  of  Atlanta’s  most  successful  men  in  the 
fire  insurance  business,  was  born  in  Harris  county,  Ga.,  March  26, 
1846.  Lie  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  that  county,  from 
which  he  entered  the  Georgia  military  institute  at  Marietta.  With 
the  other  students  of  that  institution  he  entered  the  Confederate 
service  in  April,  1864,  and  in  the  battalion  of  Georgia  cadets,  served 
to  the  close  of  the  war,  being  paroled  at  Augusta.  At  the  close 
of  the  war,  returning  to  his  home  in  Harris  county,  he  engaged  in 
farming  until  the  spring  of  1868,  when  he  took  a commercial  course 
at  Dolbear’s  commercial  college  in  New  Orleans.  Then  coming  to 
Atlanta  in  July,  1868,  he  entered  the  fire  insurance  business  as 
clerk  for  his  uncle,  W.  P.  Pattillo,  where  he  remained  as  clerk  for 


5 — III 


66 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


nine  years — then  in  partnership  under  the  firm  name  of  W.  P.  & 
W.  F.  Pattillo,  the  then  leading  local  insurance  agency  of  Atlanta, 
until  1889,  when  in  a mutual  separation  of  interest,  he  was  appointed 

general  agent  of  the  southeastern  depart- 
ment of  the  Hamburg-Bremen  Fire  Insur- 
ance Company  of  Germany,  which 
company  he  and  his  uncle  had  represented 
locally,  from  1875  to  1877,  and  from  1877 
to  1899  as  general  agents  also — when  W. 
F.  Pattillo  assumed  the  general-agency 
of  the  Hamburg-Bremen  individually, 
which  position  he  holds  to  this  date.  Thus 
it  will  be  seen  he  has  been  in  the  service 
of  that  company  over  thirty  years.  His 
energy  and  fidelity  in  all  these  years  have 
brought  him  the  reward  of  success. 
Ilis  residence  has  been  in  Decatur  since  1873.  In  his  home 
town  he  has  been  called  to  service  many  times  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  council,  trustee  of  the  town  school,  member  of  the  county 
school  board,  and  is  now  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the 
public  schools  of  Decatur.  He  has  been  a trustee  and  steward  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South  in  Decatur  since  1874:  super- 
intendent of  the  Methodist  Sunday  school  since  1881 ; and  is  chair- 
man of  the  orphan’s  home  conference  board  of  the  North  Georgia 
conference,  Methodist  church  South.  Mr.  Pattillo  was  married  in 
1870  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Moss,  daughter  of  Judge  Henry  E.  Moss,  of 
Harris  county.  Their  children  are  William  Franklin,  Jr.,  Olin 
Louis;  Marie  Estelle  (wife  of  Dr.  Charles  E.  Boynton,  of  Atlanta)  ; 
James  Raleigh ; Emory  Moss,  (who  died  in  1884)  ; and  Emory  Moss, 
the  second.  William  Franklin  Pattillo,  Jr.,  died  Sept.  26,  1901, 
leaving  two  children,  Francis  H.,  and  Annie  Marie,  who,  with  their 
mother,  reside  in  Decatur.  The  mother  was  Miss  Ruth,  daughter 
of  Thomas  H.  Hollyman,  for  many  years  a prominent  educator  in 
Georgia.  The  father  of  William  Franklin  Pattillo  was  James  Pat- 
tillo, a native  of  Green  county,  Ga.,  later  a resident  of  Harris 
county,  and  all  his  life  a farmer.  He  served  as  a private  in  mili- 
tary service  in  the  Georgia  militia,  in  1864.  In  November  of  that 
year,  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  inferior  court  of  Harris  county, 
serving  two  terms.  Though  a Democrat,  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Grant,  and  served  as  deputy  internal  revenue  collector 
for  Harris,  Talbot,  and  Upson  counties.  He  died  at  West  Point, 
Ga.,  in  1905,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  W.  F.  Pattillo’s  grand- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


67 


father,  John  Pattillo,  was  born  in  Green  county,  and  died  in  Harris 
county,  having  followed  the  occupation  of  farmer  all  his  life.  His 
great-grandfather  was  John  Y.  Pattillo,  a Revolutionary  soldier. 
The  progenitors  of  the  family  emigrated  from  France  to  Scotland, 
and  the  two  brothers,  George  and  Henry,  who  came  from  Scotland 
to  America  in  1740,  settled  in  Virginia ; from  whence  all  the  Pat- 
tillos  in  America  descended.  Robert  Pattillo,  who  joined  the  King's 
Archer  Guards,  so  distinguished  himself  in  an  insurrection  in  Gas- 
coyne, that  Louis  YI.  of  France  appointed  him  governor  of  one  of 
his  provinces,  and  conferred  on  him  the  Pattillo  coat  of  arms,  which 
is  an  unbent  bow,  resting  on  a shield ; the  crescent  a mailed  glove, 
with  rose  in  hand.  The  motto  is  “Et  decerpta  dat  Odorem.”  The 
Pattillo  name  in  Georgia  is  one  that  reflects  honor  and  character 
wherever  they  live,  as  a rule,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  has 
contributed  in  full  measure  to  the  excellent  character  and  stand- 
ing of  the  name. 

Patterson,  a town  of  Pierce  county,  was  incorporated  by  act  of 
the  legislature  on  Dec.  1,  1893.  The  population  in  1900  was  314. 
It  is  located  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  railroad,  five  miles  south- 
west of  Offerman,  has  a money  order  postoffice,  express  and  tele- 
graph .service,  some  mercantile,  manufacturing  and  shipping  inter- 
ests, good  educational  and  religious  advantages,  etc. 

Patton,  William  Alexander,  was  one  of 
the  prominent  and  highly  honored  young 
business  men  of  Rome,  popular  in  both 
business  and  social  life,  and  was  sum- 
moned to  the  eternal  life  in  the  prime  of 
his  manhood,  his  death  occurring  on 
June  18,  1903.  He  was  born  in  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  in  the  year  1868,  and  was  there 
reared  to  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  when 
he  came  with  his  parents,  Joseph  B.  and 
Laura  (McIntyre)  Patton,  to  Rome, 
where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  His  parents  were  both  born  in 
Nashville,  and  his  father  was  a member  of  a Tennessee  regiment  in 
the  Confederate  service  during  the  Civil  war,  having  been  identi- 
fied with  the  artillery  arm  of  the  service.  William  A.  Patton  se- 
cured his  education  in  the  schools  of  Nashville  and  ’Rome.  In  his 
business  career  he  held  at  all  times  the  highest  reputation  for  abil- 
ity, fidelity  and  impregnable  integrity.  He  was  for  some  time 
employed  in  the  First  National  bank  of  Rome,  was  later  with  the 


G8 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Merchants’  National  bank,  of  that  city,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  O’Neill  Maunfacturing 
Company,  in  which  he  was  a stockholder.  To  him  was  ever  ac- 
corded uniform  confidence  and  esteem  and  he  was  mayor  of  East 
Rome  at  the  time  of  his  demise,  having  been  a stanch  Democrat  in 
his  political  allegiance.  When  seventeen  years  of  age  he  enlisted 
in  the  Rome  Light  Guards,  was  captain  of  the  same  for  a number 
of  years,  and  never  lost  his  vital  interest  in  military  affairs,  having 
been  senior  major  in  the  Fifth  regiment  of  Georgia  state  troops  for 
several  years  and  held  that  office  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was 
a Knight  Templar  Mason,  a member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
the  Woodmen  of  the  World,  and  other  social  and  fraternal  organi- 
zations, while  his  religious  faith  was  that  of  the  Baptist  church. 
On  Oct.  15,  1889,  Major  Patton  was  United  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Ida  Nevin,  daughter  of  Mitchell  A.  and  Helen  (Underwood)  Nevin, 
of  Rome.  Mr.  Nevin  was  born  in  Augusta,  Ga.,  and  came  to  Rome 
shortly  after  the  war,  when  he  became  one  of  the  prominent  mer- 
chants and  influential  citizens,  and  took  a most  active  part  in 
furthering  the  advancement  and  material  upbuilding  of  the  city. 
He  served  three  terms  as  mayor,  then  passed  an  interim  of  one 
term  and  was  elected  for  the  fourth  term.  He  was  city  clerk  for 
eighteen  years,  and  for  twelve  years  was  associated  in  the  edito- 
rial management  of  the  Rome  Courier,  with  Henry  W.  Grady.  He 
was  a stanch  Democrat,  a member  of  the  Methodist  church  and  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  At  the  time  of  the  Civil 
war,  owing  to  a physical  disability,  he  was  unable  to  enter  the  Con- 
federate ranks,  but  he  served  in  the  commisary  department  at 
Augusta.  He  died  on  Dec.  14,  1895.  Major  Patton  is  survived  by 
three  children — William  A.,  Jr.,  M.  A.  Nevin,  and  Ida  May.  Wil- 
liam A.,  Jr.,  is  a student  in  the  Danville  military  institute  at  Dan- 
ville, Va. 

Paul,  a post-hamlet  in  the  western  part  of  Echols  county,  is  near 
the  Lowndes  county  line  and  about  two  miles  south  of  Blanton, 
which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Paulding  County  is  one  of  ten  counties  that  were  laid  out  from 
Cherokee  in  1832.  It  was  named  in  honor  of  John  Paulding,  one  of 
the  captors  of  Major  Andre,  and  lies  in  the  western  part  of  the 
state,  north  of  the  center,  being  bounded  on  the  north  by  Polk  and 
Bartow  counties,  on  the  east  by  Cobb,  on  the  south  by  Douglas 
and  Carroll,  and  on  the  west  by  Haralson  and  Polk.  The  county 
contains  the  headwaters  of  the  Tallapoosa  river  and  other  small 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


69 


streams  afford  excellent  drainage.  The  surface  is  hilly,  some  of  the 
ridges  rising  almost  high  enough  to  be  called  mountains,  and  the 
rapid  streams  furnish  fine  water-power.  The  climate  is  pleasant 
and  healthful.  There  is  a great  diversity  in  the  soils,  but  the  aver- 
age crops  are  oats,  potatoes,  barley,  wheat,  cotton  and  sorghum. 
Oak,  hickory,  pine,  gum  and  maple  timbers  abound,  and  there  is  an 
almost  unlimited  supply  of  building  stone  in  the  county.  Gold  has 
been  found  in  several  places,  the  most  important  deposit  being  at 
Burnt  Hickory.  The  Southern  railway  and  the  Seaboard  Air  Line 
cross  the  county  diagonally,  running  almost  side  by  side.  Dallas, 
on  the  Southern,  is  the  county  seat  and  the  commercial  and  manu- 
facturing center  of  the  surrounding  country.  The  Dallas  cotton 
mills  furnish  a home  market  for  much  of  the  cotton  which  is  raised 
on  the  farms  of  the  county.  Van  Wert,  which  was  formerly  the 
county  seat,  was  named  for  the  companion  of  Paulding  and  Wil- 
liams at  the  time  of  Andre’s  capture.  The  population  of  the  county 
in  1900  was  12,969,  an  increase  of  1,021  since  1890.  Along  the  line 
of  the  Pumpkinvine  Creek  there  was  almost  continuous  fighting  be- 
tween the  Federal  and  the  Confederate  forces  from  May  25  to 
June  4,  1864.  During  this  time  there  were  three  bloody  battles 
at  New  Hope  Church,  Picket’s  Mills  and  at  Dallas. 

Paulina,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northern  part  of  Harris  county,  is 
about  eight  miles  east  of  West  Point,  which  is  the  nearest  rail- 
road station. 

Paulsen,  Jacob,  holds  prestige  as  one 
of  the  most  prominent  and  influential 
business  men  of  the  historic  old  city  of 
Savannah,  where  his  capitalistic  interests 
are  wide  and  varied,  and  where  he  stands 
high  in  the  regard  of  all  who  know  him. 
He  has  the  distinct  initiative  ability  and 
industrious  habits  so  characteristic  of  the 
sturdy  race  from  which  he  is  sprung,  and 
his  course  in  life  has  been  dominated  and 
directed  by  the  highest  principles  of  in- 
tegrity and  honor.  It  was  his  privilege 
to  render  loyal  and  gallant  service  in 
support  of  the  Confederacy  during  the  Civil  war  and  he  stands  to- 
day among  the  representative  citizens  of  Savannah  and  of  the  state 
of  Georgia.  Mr.  Paulsen  was  born  in  Holstein,  Germany,  Aug.  1, 
1837,  a son  of  John  and  Magdalene  (Spleit)  Paulsen,  the  former 
born  in  Hanover  and  the  latter  in  Holstein,  Germany.  The  parents 


0 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


passed  their  entire  lives  in  the  fatherland.  Jacob  Paulsen  secured 
his  early  education  in  the  excellent  schools  of  his  native  land  and 
was  there  identified  with  agricultural  pursuits  until  he  had  attained 
to  the  age  of  seventen  years,  when  he  adopted  a seafaring  life,  tak- 
ing a position  as  cabin-boy  on  one  of  the  trans-Atlantic  vessels  of 
the  day.  In  1856,  after  two  years  of  service  on  the  sea,  he  took  up 
his  residence  in  the  United  States,  making  his  headquarters  in  New 
Orleans,  but  still  continuing  his  identification  with  maritime  inter- 
ests, as  a sailor  in  the  coast  trade,  being  promoted  from  time  to 
time,  for  faithful  and  efficient  service,  until  finally,  in  1860,  he  was 
given  the  captaincy  of  a vessel.  He  continued  in  this  capacity 
until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  when  he  manifested  his  loyalty 
to  the  cause  of  the  southern  states  in  no  uncertain  way.  In  April, 
1861,  he  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  B,  Fourth  Florida  infan- 
try. The  regiment  was  mobilized  at  Apalachicola  and  thence  was 
sent  to  Fernandina,  where  it  was  stationed  until  the  evacuation  of 
that  place.  Within  this  time  Colonel  Holland,  commanding  the 
regiment,  with  five  of  his  men,  including  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  captured  by  a United  States  vessel,  while  under  a flag  of  truce. 
They  were  held  in  captivity  until  the  evacuation  of  Fernandina, 
when  they  were  released  and  permitted  to  rejoin  their  regiment, 
which  had  retreated  to  Lake  City,  Fla.  From  that  point  the  com- 
mand was  ordered  to  Mobile,  Ala.,  thence  to  Atlanta  and  finally  to 
Chattanooga,  from  which  point  it  "went  forth  and  assisted  in  the 
recapturing  of  the  city  of  Murfreesboro.  Thereafter  the  regiment 
was  engaged  in  numerous  skirmishes  between  Murfreesboro  and 
Nashville.  In  1863  Mr.  Paulsen  was  transferred  to  the  navy  arm  of 
the  service,  being  assigned  to  the  gunboat  “Chattahoochee,”  which 
rvas  then  lying  at  the  Georgia  town  of  that  name.  He  was  made  a 
commissioned  officer  and  remained  on  this  vessel  about  eight 
months,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  an  explosion.  He  was  then 
transferred  to  the  Confederate  ram  “Savannah,”  an  iron-clad  vessel 
then  in  service  in  the  Savannah  river,  and  remained  on  this  boat 
until  the  capture  of  Savannah  by  Sherman’s  forces,  when  the  ship 
was  destroyed  by  its  own  officers  and  crew.  When  Sherman  en- 
tered the  city  Mr.  Paulsen  went  to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  where  he  en- 
tered service  on  the  iron-clad  named  “Palmetto  State,”  which  ves- 
sel also  was  destroyed  by  its  men,  at  the  time  when  Sherman 
entered  Charleston.  Prior  to  this,  however,  Mr.  Paulsen  had  been 
transferred  to  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  and  when  that  city  capitulated, 
in  February,  1865,  was  captured  and  taken  to  New  York  city,  where 
he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war,  a few  months  later.  After 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


71 


the  return  of  peace  Mr.  Paulsen  returned  to  Georgia  and  located 
in  Savannah,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  Here  he  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  grocery  and  ship-chandlery  business,  begin- 
ning operations  on  a modest  scale,  and  continuing  to  be  identified 
with  this  line  of  enterprise  from  1866  to  1880,  in  which  latter  year 
he  effected  the  organization  of  the  Propeller  Tow  Boat  Company, 
of  which  he  became  the  largest  stockholder  and  of  which  he  has 
been  president  from  its  inception.  This  company  has  a well 
equipped  fleet  of  tugs  and  conti'ols  a large  business  in  the  Savan- 
nah river  and  harbor  and  along  the  coast  of  this  section.  Besides 
his  important  interests  in  this  concern  Mr.  Paulsen  is  also  vice- 
president  of  the  Oglethorpe  Savings  & Trust  Company,  and  a di- 
rector in  each  of  the  following  named  important  corporations : 
The  National  bank  of  Savannah,  the  Savannah  Electric  Company, 
the  Macon  Railway  & Light  Company,  the  Georgia  Telephone 
Company,  and  the  Savannah  Lighterage  & Transfer  Company.  He 
is  distinctively  a man  of  affairs  and  is  a citizen  of  worth  and  in- 
fluence, held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  know  him.  He  is  a stanch 
adherent  of  the  Democratic  party;  in  1900  was  elected  a member 
of  the  board  of  commissioners  of  Chatham  county ; was  reelected 
in  1904,  and  is  now  the  incumbent  of  this  office.  He  is  affiliated 
with  Clinton  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  Hope  Lodge, 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  and  his  wife  are  zealous 
and  valued  members  of  the  Church  of  the  Ascension,  Lutheran,  in 
Savannah,  and  he  is  chairman  of  its  board  of  trustees.  On  July 
27,  1868,  in  Bremen,  Germany,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Paulsen  to  Miss  Henrietta  Meinken.  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Sophia  (Ritter)  Meinken,  who  continued  as  residents  of  Bremen 
until  their  death.  In  conclusion  is  entered  brief  record  concerning 
the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paulsen : Annie  S.  is  the  wife  of 

Otto  Seiler,  who  is  engaged  in  the  insurance  business  in  Savan- 
nah, and  they  have  one  son,  Carl ; John  F.,  is  treasurer  of  the 
Propeller  Tow  Boat  Company  and  married  Miss  Anna  Martha 
Marscher,  daughter  of  William  Marscher,  of  Charleston,  S.  C. ; 
Jacob  H.  is  secretary  of  the  Propeller  Tow  Boat  Company  and 
married  Miss  Catherine  Kuck,  daughter  of  Henry  Kuck,  of  Savan- 
nah ; Emma  Henrietta  is  the  wife  of  Harry  H.  Kuck,  of  Savannah ; 
and  Grover  Cleveland,  who  was  born  June  11,  1886,  remains  at  the 
parental  home.  All  of  the  sons  are  able  and  popular  young  business 
men  and  the  family  holds  a secure  place  in  the  business  and  social 
circles  of  the  city. 


72 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Pavo,  a town  on  the  line  between  Brooks  and  Thomas  counties, 
was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  on  Dec.  22,  1898.  It  is 
located  on  the  Georgia  Northern  railroad  and  in  1900  reported  a 
population  of  2G2.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  from  which 
free  delivery  routes  supply  mail  to  the  rural  districts,  some  mer- 
cantile and  manufacturing  enterprises,  and  is  probably  the  most 
important  shipping  point  between  Albany  and  Pidcock. 

Payne,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Cherokee 
county,  is  about  six  miles  north  of  Acworth,  which  is  the  nearest 
railroad  station.  The  population  in  1900  was  54. 

Payne,  George  E.,  wholesale  and  re- 
tail liquor  merchant,  1126  Broad  street, 
Augusta,  was  born  in  Greenville  county, 
S.  C.,  Jan.  25,  1870,  a son  of  William  H. 
and  Mary  Jane  (Davis)  Payne,  both  of 
whom  were  born  in  that  county  of  the 
old  Palmetto  State.  The  father,  who  was 
a member  of  a South  Carolina  regiment 
in  the  Confederate  service  in  the  Civil 
war,  is  a prosperous  farmer  of  Green- 
ville county.  His  wife  died  on  Aug.  26, 
1882.  George  E.  Payne  was  given  the 
advantages  of  the  public  schools  of  the 
city  of  Greenville,  S.  C.,  where  he  also  completed  a course  in 
Perry’s  business  college,  in  which  he  was  graduated  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  years.  Pie  then  entered  the  employ  of  his  uncle, 
James  E.  Payne,  of  Greenville,  who  was  engaged  in  the  wholesale 
and  retail  liquor  business,  remaining  thus  employed  until  the  state 
dispensary  law  of  South  Carolina  went  into  effect,  in  1891,  after 
which  he  served  for  four  years  as  storekeeper  and  gauger  for  the 
United  States  government,  in  Greenville.  From  1895  to  1900  he 
was  engaged  in  the  distilling  business  near  the  city  and  in  the  lat- 
ter year  he  removed  to  Augusta,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged 
as  a wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in  liquors.  Mr.  Payne  lends  his 
support  to  the  Democratic  party.  On  Oct.  4,  1891,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Minnie  A.  Fleidner,  of  Greenville,  S.  C.,  and 
they  have  two  children — Alvin  L.,  born  April  29,  1893,  and  Lillie 
May,  born  in  May,  1895. 

Paynter,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southern  part  of  Fannin  county,  is 
in  the  valley  of  the  Toccoa  river,  fifteen  miles  from  Blueridge, 
which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


73 


Paxon,  Frederic  John,  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Davison-Paxon-Stokes 
Company,  one  of  the  largest  department 
stores  of  Atlanta,  was  born  in  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.,  July  22,  1865.  He  is  a son  of 
Philip  Henry  and  Eliza  (Hatt)  Paxon, 
natives  of  England,  the  former  born  in 
London,  in  1826,  and  the  latter  in  Read- 
ing, in  1831.  The  ancestry  is  of  pure 
English  strain  in  the  agnatic  line,  the 
original  orthography  of  the  name  hav- 
ing been  Paxton.  The  great-grandfather 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  for  some 
unknown  reason,  dropped  the  “t”  upon  registering  as  a queen’s 
counsel.  Mr.  Paxon  is  a direct  descendant  of  Sir  Joseph  Paxton, 
the  celebrated  architect  of  the  Crystal  Palace,  in  London.  The  fam- 
ily is  of  pure  Saxon  origin  and  the  name  was  in  the  early  days 
written  dePaxton,  representatives  of  the  same  settling  in  Scotland 
and  Ireland  and  in  the  city  of  London.  Frederic  J.  Paxon  secured 
his  educational  discipline  in  the  public  schools  of  Philadelphia  and 
Camden,  N.  J.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  American  Baptist  publication  society  at  Philadelphia 
and  remained  identified  with  the  society  there  until  1887,  when 
he  was  appointed  general  manager  of  its  southern  territory,  with 
headquarters  in  Atlanta,  where  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Decem- 
ber of  that  year.  He  remained  in  this  position  until  May,  1901, 
when  he  became  a member  of  the  firm  in  which  he  is  now  an  in- 
terested principal,  as  noted  in  the  opening  of  this  article.  He  is 
one  of  the  trustees  and  also  president  of  the  Carnegie  library  in 
Atlanta;  member  of  the  directorate  and  vice-president  of  the  At- 
lanta chamber  of  commerce ; trustee  of  the  Atlanta  Baptist  college ; 
vice-president  and  director  of  the  Union  Savings  bank;  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Modern  Puritans,  a fraternal  organization ; 
chairman  of  the  finance  board  of  the  Second  Baptist  church,  and 
also  of  its  Sunday  school ; chairman  of  the  advisory  board  of  the 
Young  Women’s  Christian  Association,  and  also  of  the  advisory 
board  of  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  and  is  lieutenant- 
colonel  on  the  staff  of  Governor  Terrell.  He  is  one  of  the  twenty- 
five  leading  citizens  chosen  to  inaugurate  and  set  in  motion  the 
proposed  Exposition  of  1910. 

Pazo,  a post-hamlet  of  Upson  county,  is  ten  miles  southeast  of 


74 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Thomaston  and  not  far  from  the  corner  of  Crawford  and  Monroe 
counties.  Culloden  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Peace  Jubilee. — The  citizens  of  Atlanta  arranged  a Peace  Jubi- 
lee on  Dec.  14-15,  1898,  to  celebrate  the  successful  prosecution  of 
the  Spanish-American  war.  President  McKinley  was  the  guest  of 
the  city  during  the  ceremonies.  He  arrived  with  his  party  at  8 
a.  m.,  on  the  14th,  addressed  the  general  assembly  at  2 p.  m.,  wit- 
nessed a floral  parade  afterward,  and  in  the  evening  held  a recep- 
tion at  the  Capital  City  Club.  On  the  15th  there  was  a grand 
parade  at  noon  and  at  3 p.  m.  the  president  delivered  a public  ad- 
dress at  the  auditorium  in  Piedmont  Park.  The  presidential  party 
left  the  city  at  1 a.  m.  on  the  16th.  In  his  address  to  the  legisla- 
ture the  president  advocated  the  annihilation  of  sectional  lines  and 
the  care  of  Confederates’  graves  by  the  government  of  the  United 
States, — a speech  that  caused  a great  deal  of  favorable  comment, 
both  north  and  south. 

Peachland,  a post-hamlet  of  Macon  county,  is  on  the  Fort  Val- 
ley & Americus  division  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway,  about 
six  miles  north  of  Montezuma. 

Peachtree  Creek. — (For  the  battle  of  Peachtree  Creek  see  At- 
lanta). 

Peacock,  a post-village  of  Coffee  county,  with  a population  of 
51,  is  about  four  miles  east  of  the  Allapaha  river  and  near  the 
Clinch  county  line.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Bostick,  on 
the  Ocilla,  Pinebloom  & Valdosta. 

Peacock,  Julius,  postmaster  of  Vidalia,  one  of  the  most  flourish- 
ing and  attractive  towns  of  Toombs  county,  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington county,  Ga.,  Aug.  18,  1868,  a son  of  E.  S.  and  Martha  Ma- 
linda  (Brantley)  Peacock.  His  father  was  born  in  Washington 
county  in  December,  1830,  and  his  death  there  occurred  on  Feb. 
26,  1892.  He  was  a planter  by  vocation  and  was  a citizen  of  ster- 
ling character,  prominent  and  influential  in  his  community.  He 
was  one  of  the  loyal  sons  of  the  southland  who  went  forth  in  de- 
fence of  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy  in  the  Civil  war,  having  en- 
listed, in  1861,  in  a regiment  organized  in  Coffee  county,  Ala.,  and 
continued  in  active  service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  com- 
missioned lieutenant  in  his  company  and  made  the  record  of  a gal- 
lant and  faithful  soldier.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in  1840,  preceded 
him  into  eternal  rest  by  only  six  days,  her  death  having  occurred 
on  Feb.  20,  1892.  Julius  Peacock  was  reared  on  the  home  planta- 
tion and  received  his  educational  discipline  in  the  schools  of  Wash- 
ington county.  He  continued  to  be  associated  with  his  father  in 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


75 

the  work  and  management  of  the  home  farm  until  he  had  attained 
the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  when  he  engaged  in  teaching  in  the 
local  schools,  following  the  pedagogic  profession  one  year  and  then 
returning  to  the  farm,  of  which  he  is  now  the  owner.  On  Sept.  24, 
1898,  Mr.  Peacock  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Vidalia  by  Presi- 
dent McKinley,  and  has  since  been  continuously  the  incumbent 
of  the  office,  having  proven  a careful  and  painstaking  executive. 
The  office  is  well  equipped  and  is  headquarters  for  two  rural' free- 
delivery  routes.  In  politics  Mr.  Peacock  gives  allegiance  to  the 
Populist  party,  and  fraternally  he  is  a popular  member  of  Vidalia 
Lodge,  No.  82,  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  which  he  has  served  as  vice- 
chancellor  commander  and  as  master  of  finance.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  zealous  members  of  the  Baptist  church.  On  Nov.  20, 
1895,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sallie  Hunt,  daughter  of 
James  A.  and  Ruth  (Smith)  Hunt,  of  Washington  county,  and 
they  have  four  children, — Eula,  Lillian,  Ray  and  Spurgeon. 

Pearl,  a post-hamlet  of  Camden  county,  is  on  the  Little  Satilla 
river,  five  miles  east  of  Flatland,  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  rail- 
way, which  is  the  nearest  station. 

Pearson,  a town  in  the  southern  part  of  Coffee  county,  was  in- 
corporated by  act  of  the  legislature  on  Dec.  27,  1890.  It  is  in  a 
militia  district  of  the  same  name,  the  population  of  the  town  in 
1900  being  336  and  that  of  the  district  2,307.  It  is  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast  Line  railway,  has  a money  order  postoffice,  express  and  tele- 
graph offices,  some  good  stores,  a few  manufacturing  establish- 
ments, and  does  a large  shipping  business,  especially  in  lumber  and 
naval  stores. 

Peavine  Creek  is  a small  stream  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the 
state.  In  the  movements  of  the  Federal  army,  just  before  the  bat- 
tle of  Chickamauga,  Palmer’s  division  left  Rossville  on  the  morn- 
ing of  Sept.  10,  1863,  and  moved  on  the  road  toward  Ringgold. 
AVhen  within  five  miles  of’the  latter  place  a small  party  of  Con- 
federate cavalry  appeared  in  front.  The  Fourth  Michigan  cavalry 
was  sent  forward  and  the  Confederates  slowly  retired  in  the  di- 
rection of  Ringgold.  A little  while  later  a larger  force  of  Con- 
federate cavalry  made  a dashing  charge  upon  the  advance  guard  of 
the  enemy,  threw  it  into  confusion,  capturing  58  prisoners  and  re- 
tiring in  good  order  before  the  astonished  Federals  had  time  to 
form  a line  of  defence.  This  affair  was  the  cause  of  several  of 
the  officers  commanding  the  advance  guard  being  investigated. 

Peavine  Ridge. — The  skirmish  which  occurred  here  on  Sept.  18, 
1863,  is  sometimes  called  the  battle  of  Reed's  Bridge.  The  First 


7G 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


brigade,  Second  cavalry  division,  (Federal)  commanded  by  Col. 
Robert  G.  Minty,  was  stationed  at  the  bridge  and  scouting  parties 
had  been  sent  out  on  the  17th  toward  Lafayette  and  Ringgold. 
About  eight  o’clock  on  the  morning  of  the  18th  these  scouts  and 
the  pickets  were  driven  in,  as  Bragg  had  commenced  the  execution 
of  his  plans  to  bring  on  a battle.  Soon  afterward  Forrest’s  cavalry, 
supported  by  a considerable  force  of  infantry,  attacked  in  force  and 
compelled  Minty  to  retire  across  the  bridge.  At  Peavine  Ridge 
the  Federals  made  another  stand,  but  they  were  again  routed  and 
pursued  to  Lee  and  Gordon’s  mills,  where  the  Confederates  biv- 
ouacked for  the  night. 

Pecan,  a post-hamlet  of  Clay  county,  is  on  the  Central  of  Geor- 
gia railroad,  about  eight  miles  northeast  of  Fort  Gaines.  It  has 
some  stores  with  a good  local  trade  and  does  some  shipping. 

Peck,  William  Henry,  author  and  educator,  was  born  in  the  State 
of  Louisiana,  but  was  for  many  years  a resident  of  Atlanta,  where 
many  of  his  stories  were  written.  He  was  a tireless  worker  and 
wrote  nearly  a hundred  serial  stores,  most  of  which  were  pub- 
lished in  the  New  York  Weekly,  which  paper  paid  him  a salary 
of  $10,000  a year.  Some  of  his  stories  sold  as  high  as  $5,000,  al- 
though he  is  not  classed  by  critics  and  reviewers  as  a literary  man. 
This  is  chiefly  due  to  the  fact  that  his  productions  were  published 
in  the  weekly  story  papers  instead  of  book  form.  He  finally  re- 
moved to  Florida  and  died  there  in  1899. 

Pecot,  George  Sully,  is  president  of 
the  City  Grocery  Company,  of  Colum- 
bus, conducting  one  of  the  finest  retail 
grocery  establishments  in  the  state,  and 
is  prominent  in  the  business  life  of  the 
thriving  city  in  which  he  maintains  his 
home.  Fie  was  born  in  the  city  of  New 
Orleans,  La.,  March  17,  1869,  and  in  the 
agnatic  line  is  of  pure  French  lineage. 
He  is  a son  of  Sully  Joseph  Pecot,  a na- 
tive of  St.  Mary’s  parish,  La.,  and  Sallie 
Lavonia  (Heard)  Pecot,  born  in  Musco- 
gee county,  Ga.,  their  marriage  having 
been  solemnized,  in  Columbus  in  1865.  The  father  was  a book- 
keeper and  accountant  by  profession  and  was  a soldier  of  the  Con- 
federacy in  the  Civil  war,  having  served  in  Fenner’s  battery. 
After  his  marriage  he  removed  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  remained 
until  1875,  when  he  returned  with  his  family  to  Columbus,  the  girl- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


77 


hood  home  of  his  wife,  and  here  both  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives,  his  death  occurring  in  1882  and  his  devoted  wife  passing 
away  in  the  following  year.  They  are  survived  by  only  two  chil- 
dren,— the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  Joseph  Garret  Pecot,  who  is 
a traveling  salesman  and  maintains  his  home  in  the  city  of  At- 
lanta. George  Sully  Pecot  was  graduated  in  the  Columbus  high 
school  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  and  then  initiated  his  business 
career,  in  the  capacity  of  shipping  clerk  for  a wholesale  grocery 
house,  in  which  he  was  employed  four  years,  during  the  latter  two 
of  which  he  held  the  position  of  city  salesman.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  years  he  took  a position  in  the  counting  rooms  of  the 
Third  National  bank  of  Columbus,  in  which  he  remained  thirteen 
years,  filling  various  responsible  positions.  He  resigned  in  Oc- 
tober, 1902,  to  become  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  City  Grocery 
Company,  of  which  he  was  made  secretary  and  treasurer.  In  Oc- 
tober, 1904,  he  was  elected  president  of  the  company,  of  which  he 
has  since  remained  the  executive  head,  the  concern  having  one  of 
the  most  metropolitan  retail  groceries  to  be  found  in  the  state, 
the  headquarters  being  at  27  Eleventh  street.  A.  C.  Chancellor  is 
vice-president  of  the  company  and  E.  P.  Dismukes,  Jr.,  is  secre- 
tary and  treasurer,  all  of  the  interested  principals  being  enterpris- 
ing and  substantial  young  business  men.  Mr.  Pecot  is  a member 
of  the  Columbus  board  of  trade ; is  vice-president  and  secretary  of 
the  Columbus  retail  merchants’  association  and  an  active  member 
of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  In  politics  he  ac- 
cords allegiance  to  the  Democracy  and  both  he  and  his  wife  hold 
membership  in  the  First  Baptist  church.  On  Nov.  5,  1891,  Mr. 
Pecot  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lila  Garnett  Coles,  daughter 
of  Nathan  Byrd  and  Eugenia  (Upshaw)  Coles,  of  Coleridge,  Ala., 
and  they  have  two  children, — Meryl  Eugenia  and  Sully  Coles  Pecot. 

Pedenville,  a post-hamlet  of  Pike  county,  is  on  the  Flint  river, 
five  miles  northwest  of  Concord,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  sta- 
tion. 

Peerman,  a post-village  of  Wilkes  county,  with  a population  of 
44,  is  on  a branch  of  the  Broad  river,  twelve  miles  west  of  Wash- 
ington, which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Peete,  Cola  H.,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  representative  physicians  and 
surgeons  of  the  city  of  Macon,  was  born  in  Tipton  county,  Tenn., 
March  22,  1863,  and  is  a son  of  John  Speed  and  Ann  Eliza  (Whit- 
ley) Peete,  both  native  of  Virginia.  After  completing  the  curricu- 
lum of  the  public  schools  Doctor  Peete  was  matriculated  in  the 
medical  department  of  Vanderbilt  university,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in 


78 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


which  finely  equipped  institution  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of 
the  class  of  1.892,  receiving  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  Since 
his  graduation  he  has  taken  most  effective  post-graduate  courses 

and  also  given  much  attention  to  indi- 
vidual research.  He  located  in  Macon 
soon  after  his  graduation  and  here  he  has 
since  continued  in  professional  work,  hav- 
ing- built  up  a large  and  representative 
practice.  He  is  a valued  member  of  the 
Macon  medical  society,  of  which  he  has 
served  as  secretary,  vice-president  and 
president,  while  he  is  also  identified  with 
the  Tri-State  medical  society,  of  which  he 
was  formerly  first  vice-president,  and 
with  the  American  medical  association. 
He  is  also  a member  of  the  American 
laryngological,  rhinological  and  otological  society ; is  vice-president 
of  the  Georgia  anti-tuberculosis  league,  and  a member  of  the 
Georgia  sociological  society.  He  is  oculist  and  aurist  to 
the  Macon  city  hospital,  a member  of  the  medical  board 
of  the  institution,  and  a lecturer  on  the  diseases  of  the  eye  and  ear 
in  the  training  school  for  nurses,  a valuable  adjunct  of  the  hospital. 
He  is  also  oculist  and  aurist  for  the  state  academy  for  the  blind 
and  for  the  Georgia  orphans’  home,  located  in  Macon,  while  in  a 
professional  capacity  he  is  identified  with  many  other  institutions 
in  Macon.  In  his  practice  he  devotes  special  attention  to  the  dis- 
eases of  the  eye  and  ear  and  is  considered  an  authority  in  this 
department  of  professional  work.  He  and  his  wife  hold  member- 
ship in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South ; he  is  a Democrat  in 
politics  and  is  identified  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks.  In  1887  was  solemnized  in  Nashville,  Tenn.,  the  mar- 
riage of  Doctor  Peete  to  Miss  Annie  Dungan,  daughter  of  Dr. 
David  Dungan,  of  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  and  they  have  four  children 
living,  namely : David  Dungan,  John  Speed,  Mary  Alice  and  Annie. 

Pelham,  one  of  the  principal  towns  of  Mitchell  county,  is  located 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  county  at  the  junction  of  the  Atlantic 
Coast  Line  and  the  Flint  River  & Northeastern  railways.  It  was 
named  in  honor  of  Major  Pelham,  of  Alabama,  sometimes  called 
the  “boy  artillerist."  The  first  act  of  incorporation  was  passed  in 
1881,  but  six  years  later  the  corporate  limits  were  extended  by  a 
new  charter.  It  has  two  banks,  a number  of  manufacturing  con- 
cerns, among  which  are  a large  fertilizer  works  and  a cotton  seed 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


T9 


oil  mill,  telegraph  and  express  offices,  a money  order  postoffice  in 
which  a number  of  rural  mail  routes  find  their  beginning,  several 
mercantile  establishments,  good  school  and  church  accommoda- 
tions, and  according  to  the  census  of  1900  had  a population  of  945, 
the  district  in  which  it  is  situated  having  at  the  same  time  2,836 
inhabitants.  About  10,000  bales  of  cotton  are  handled  at  Pelham 
every  year. 

Pembroke,  a town  in  the  northern  part  of  Bryan  county,  re- 
ported a population  of  306  in  1900.  It  is  located  on  the  Seaboard 
Air  Line  railway,  has  a money  order  postoffice,  express  and  tele- 
graph offices,  several  good  mercantile  establishments,  schools, 
churches,  etc.,  and  does  considerable  shipping. 

Pence,  a post-hamlet  of  Cherokee  county,  is  about  three  miles 
southeast  of  Toonigh,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Pendergrass,  a town  in  Jackson  county,  was  incorporated  by  act 
of  the  legislature  on  Dec.  30,  1890.  It  is  on  the  Gainesville,  Jef- 
ferson & Southern  railroad,  seven  miles  northwest  of  Jefferson, 
and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  232.  It  has  a money  order 
postoffice,  with  several  free  delivery  routes  to  the  rural  districts, 
express  and  telegraph  offices,  mercantile  establishments,  etc.,  and 
is  one  of  the  best  shipping  points  on  the  line. 

Pendleton,  John  T.,  judge  of  the  superior  court  of  the  Atlanta 
circuit  and  one  of  the  distinguished  lawyers  of  the  capital  city,  is 
one  of  the  best  known  attorneys  and  jurists  in  the  state  and  is  a 
man  honored  by  all  who  know  him.  He  was  born  in  Christian 
county,  Ky.,  March  24,  1845,  a son  of  William  and  Issabella  Pen- 
dleton, both  natives  of  that  county,  and  the  former  a merchant  by 
vocation.  After  due  preparatory  discipline  he  was  matriculated 
in  Bethel  college,  Russellville,  Ivy.,  being  a student  there  at  the 
time  of  the  inception  of  the  Civil  war.  Ardently  loyal  to  the  cause 
of  the  Confederacy,  he  forthwith  abandoned  his  studies  to  tender 
his  aid  in  the  cause  of  the  Southern  States,  although  but  sixteen 
years  of  age  at  the  time,  and  in  September,  1861,  enlisted  in  the 
First  Kentucky  cavalry,  in  which  he  fought  right  gallantly  in 
many  of  the  most  important  battles  in  which  the  Western  Army 
was  involved.  He  was  in  the  forefront  of  his  command  in  the 
celebrated  charge  against  the  Federal  infantry  in  the  battle  of  Per- 
ryville ; was  later  transferred  to  Gen.  Nathan  B.  Forrest’s  com- 
mand, and  served  under  that  gallant  leader  during  the  greater 
portion  of  the  war.  In  1862  he  was  detailed  in  Gen.  Joe  Wheeler’s 
flying  squadron,  following  that  intrepid  leader  in  many  of  his  raids. 
Shortly  after  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge  Judge  Pendleton  was 


so 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


taken  prisoner  by  the  Federal  troops,  being  sent  to  the  prison  at 
Fort  Delaware,  where  he  was  confined  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
when,  with  all  other  prisoners,  he  was  released  on  parole.  In  1867 
he  attended  the  Louisville  law  school,  where  he  remained  as  a 
student  one  year,  taking  preparatory  legal  training.  During  the 
session  of  1868-9  he  was  a member  of  the  law  class  of  famous  old 
Washington  & Lee  university  at  Lexington,  Va.  At  the  close  of 
the  session,  as  an  honor  graduate,  he  delivered  the  valedictory  ad- 
dress for  the  large  law  class  and  duly  received  the  degree  of  Bache- 
lor of  Laws.  The  New  York  World,  in  its  report  on  the  com- 
mencement exercises  of  the  university  that  week,  mentioned  the 
speech  of  Judge  Pendleton  as  one  of  the  notable  addresses  of  the 
week,  though  there  were  several  speakers  of  national  reputation 
present  on  the  occasion.  Among  his  most  treasured  mementoes 
is  his  diploma  from  the  law  department  of  Washington  & Lee  uni- 
versity, chiefly  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  on  the  same  appears  the 
signature  of  Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee,  who  was  then  president  of  the 
institution.  The  fact  that  General  Lee  had  been  made  president 
of  the  college  at  the  close  of  the  war  drew  to  the  institution  hun- 
dreds of  young  Southerners,  the  enrollment  at  the  time  of  Judge 
Pendleton’s  graduation  having  been  in  excess  of  1,000.  No  other 
southern  university  has  ever  had  an  equal  enrollment  at  any  time. 
Immediately  after  his  graduation  Judge  Pendleton  removed  to  At- 
lanta, taking  up  his  residence  here  in  the  autumn  of  1869,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  state  in  April  of  the  following  year.  This 
city  has  ever  since  been  his  home  and  the  scene  of  his  successful 
and  noteworthy  efforts  as  a lawyer  and  jurist.  In  1874  he  was 
elected  recorder  of  the  police  court  of  Atlanta,  and  served  in  the 
dual  capacity  of  recorder  and  city  auditor  for  four  years,  the  two 
offices  being  conjoined  at  that  time.  He  served  four  years  as  as- 
sistant city  attorney  and  for  four  years  as  judge  of  the  recorder’s 
court,  making  a record  which  gained  to  him  the  confidence  and 
high  esteem  of  the  community.  Thereafter  he  was  engaged  in 
the  active  practice  of  his  profession  until  April,  1905,  when  he  was 
appointed  judge  of  the  superior  court  of  the  Atlanta  circuit,  by 
Governor  Terrell,  to  succeed  Judge  Joseph  H.  Lumpkin,  upon  the 
latter’s  elevation  to  the  supreme  court  of  the  state.  In  politics 
Judge  Pendleton  is  an  unswerving  adherent  of  the  Democratic 
party.  He  is  a prominent  and  valued  member  of  the  Second  Bap- 
tist church,  in  which  he  has  been  a deacon  since  1887,  and  he  has 
twice  served  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  Pie  was  for 
two  terms  incumbent  of  the  office  of  church  treasurer,  and  for  a 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


81 


quarter  of  a century  was  teacher  of  the  Bible  class.  He  has  also 
been  president  of  the  state  mission  board  of  his  church  and  a mem- 
ber of  the  home-mission  board  of  the  Southern  Baptist  convention. 
In  1870  Judge  Pendleton  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ella  J. 
Bowie,  of  Westmoreland  county,  Va.,  and  they  have  two  children, 
namely:  Mary  Belle  Stewart  and  Kate  Nunnally. 

Pendleton,  Nathaniel,  lawyer,  was  born  in  New  Kent  county, 
Va.,  in  the  year  1756.  During  the  Revolution  he  saw  active  service 
on  several  fields,  was  for  a time  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Nathaniel 
Greene,  and  received  the  thanks  of  Congress  for  his  gallant  con- 
duct at  the  battle  of  Eutaw  Springs.  After  the  war  he  settled  in 
Georgia,  studied  law,  practiced  for  a while  at  Savannah,  and  was 
attorney-general  of  the  state.  In  January,  1789,  he  succeeded 
Henry  Osborne  as  chief  justice,  being  the  last  man  to  hold  that 
office  under  the  constitution  of  1777.  He  was  a delegate  to  the 
convention  that  adopted  the  Federal  constitution  in  1787.  Here  he 
formed  the  acquaintance  of  George  Washington,  who,  after  his 
inauguration  as  president  of  the  United  States,  recommended  Pen- 
dleton for  secretary  of  state.  The  appointment  was  not  made  be- 
cause of  objections  of  Alexander  Hamilton,  though  later  Pendle- 
ton and  Hamilton  became  intimate  acquaintances  and  warm 
friends — so  much  so,  in  fact,  that  Pendleton  acted  as  Hamilton’s 
second  in  the  fatal  duel  with  Aaron  Burr.  After  his  failure  to  se- 
cure the  appointment  of  secretary  of  state  he  was  made  United 
States  district  judge  at  Savannah,  but  in  1796  resigned  his  position 
and  went  to  New  York.  He  died  at  Hyde  Park,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  20, 
1821.  A grandson,  George  H.  Pendleton,  was  at  one  time  a Con- 
gressman from  Ohio  and  was  prominently  mentioned  by  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  for  the  presidency  of  the  United  States. 

Penfield,  an  incorporated  town  of  Greene  county,  is  about  six 
miles  north  of  Greensboro  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of 
375.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice  and  is  the  principal  trading 
center  for  that  section  of  the  county.  Woodville,  on  the  Athens 
division  of  the  Georgia  railroad,  is  the  nearest  station. 

Penitentiary. — On  Dec.  11,  1811,  in  pursuance  of  an  act  of  the 
general  assembly,  John  Howard,  John  W.  Devereux  and  Hubert 
Reynolds  were  appointed  commissioners  to  contract  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a penitentiary.  By  the  same  act,  authorizing  the  appoint- 
ment of  this  commission,  a fund  of  $10,000  was  placed  in  the  hands 
of  the  governor,  to  be  paid  out  upon  his  approval  of  the  contracts. 
Two  days  later  a supplementary  act  fixed  the  site  of  the  prison  in 
the  center  of  the  penitentiary  square  at  Milledgeville,  and,  after 


6— III 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


82 

reserving  grounds  for  a garden  and  the  necessary  streets,  the  com- 
missioners were  directed  to  lay  out  the  remainder  of  the  land  in 
lots  of  a half  acre  each,  which  were  to  be  sold  and  the  proceeds  used 
for  the  benefit  of  the  institution.  The  prison  was  opened  about 
two  years  later  and  an  appropriation  of  $10,000  was  made  by  the 
act  of  Dec.  22,  1832,  for  the  erection  of  a hospital  and  seventy-five 
new  cells.  White,  in  his  Historical  Collections,  published  in  1854, 
describes  the  penitentiary  of  that  day  as  follows : “The  outer  walls 
of  the  penitentiary  are  made  of  brick,  averaging  twenty  feet  in 
height,  by  two  and  a half  feet  thick,  containing  within  the  walls 
two  and  a half  acres.  The  cells,  or  prison  proper,  are  contained 
in  a three  story  granite  building,  two  hundred  feet  long  by  thirty 
feet  broad.  They  are  on  each  side,  and  divided  into  four  wards, 
designated  by  the  letters  A,  B,  C,  and  D.  These  cells  are  num- 
bered on  the  doors,  beginning  in  each  ward  at  No.  1,  and  rising 
until  all  are  numbered  in  each  respective  ward.  The  occupants  are 
also  numbered,  corresponding  with  the  letter  of  the  ward  to  which 
they  belong.  The  present  workshops  were  constructed  in  1844. 
They  are  built  of  brick,  one  story  high,  of  nine  feet  pitch,  with 
jointed  sheathing,  and  covered  with  shingles.  The  form  at  its 
common  center  is  that  of  an  octagon,  with  three  of  its  angles  cut 
to  a straight  line,  leaving  five  angles  of  thirty  feet  each,  which 
angles  being  all  open,  they  present  so  many  openings  into  as  many 
shops,  each  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long,  by  thirty  broad.  There 
is  in  the  enclosure  a two  story  building  of  brick,  forty  feet  square, 
in  which  are  apartments  for  the  sick,  female  convicts,  &c.” 

The  legislature  of  1858,  soon  after  the  above  description  was 
written,  appropriated  $30,000  for  repairs  and  the  institution  was 
brought  up  to  a higher  standard  than  ever  before.  During  the 
war  from  1861  to  1865  the  penitentiary  suffered  from  the  neglect 
shared  by  all  the  state  institutions,  and  when  the  constitutional 
convention  of  1865  was  in  session  a resolution  was  introduced  to 
abolish  the  prison  entirely  and  adopt  some  other  mode  of  punish- 
ment. Another  resolution  proposed  to  lease  Stone  Mountain  and 
put  the  convicts  to  quarrying  paving  stones.  Both  these  resolu- 
tions were  indefinitely  postponed  and  the  penitentiary  continued 
under  the  old  regime  until  the  passage  of  an  act  on  March  3,  1874, 
authorizing  the  governor  to  farm  or  lease  out  the  convicts  “to  per- 
sons or  companies  of  persons,”  and  giving  him  power  to  cancel  or 
annul  all  contracts  or  leases,  when  the  provisions  of  the  agreement 
were  not  properly  observed  by  the  lessees.  On  Dec.  21,  1897,  the 
general  assembly  passed  an  act  practically  abandoning  the  old  lease 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


S3 


system  and  creating  a prison  commission,  to  be  composed  of  “three 
intelligent  and  upright  citizens  from  different  parts  of  the  state,” 
to  be  appointed  by  the  governor.  The  board  thus  appointed  drew 
lots  for  the  expiration  of  their  terms  and  since  then  one  commis- 
sioner is  elected  by  the  people  at  each  general  election,  the  term  of 
office  being  six  years.  The  prison  commission  has  full  and  com- 
plete power  over  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  convicts,  the  making 
of  contracts  for  their  labor,  regulating  the  hours  that  they  shall 
work  daily,  the  supplies  of  food,  clothing,  etc.,  and  has  also  the 
power  of  a pardoning  board  to  investigate  all  applications  for  exec- 
utive clemency  and  to  recommend  action  by  the  governor  in  deserv- 
ing cases.  The  commission  was  authorized  to  buy  a tract  of  land, 
or  more  than  one  tract  if  their  judgment  deemed  best,  the  entire 
purchase  not  to  exceed  5,000  acres,  upon  which  a farm  was  to  be 
established,  stockades  and  buildings  erected  for  the  confinement  and 
accommodation  of  the  female  convicts,  boys  under  the  age  of  fif- 
teen years,  and  the  old  and  infirm  men,  who  were  not  able  to  be 
hired  out,  the  surplus  products  of  the  farm  to  be  supplied  to  the 
other  state  institutions.  An  appropriation  of  $50,000  was  made  to 
carry  out  this  provision.  The  farm  was  located  near  Milledgeville 
and  it  is  one  of  the  largest  agricultural  undertakings  in  the  state. 
Upon  it  have  been  erected  large,  durable  buildings  for  men,  women 
and  boys,  separately,  also  a ginnery,  a mill  for  grinding  corn,  a 
depot,  warehouse,  and  a system  of  waterworks.  The  idea  of  this 
institution  was  prompted  by  humane  motives,  to  get  women,  old 
men  and  boys  away  from  the  convict  camps,  to  a place  where  they 
could  be  better  cared  for  in  a physical  way,  and  where  they  would 
be  surrounded  by  a more  moral  atmosphere.  But,  aside  from  these 
objects,  the  farm  has  been  self  supporting  from  the  start.  This 
general  penitentiary  system  has  proven  to  be  a financial  as  well  as 
humanitarian  success.  By  the  act  of  1897,  and  subsequent  acts, 
the  old  lease  system  was  abolished  and  the  state  resumed  control 
of  the  convicts.  The  act  of  1903  again  atuhorized  the  commissioners 
to  make  contracts  with  individuals  or  corporations  for  the  labor  of 
convicts,  under  the  supervision  and  control  of  the  commission,  and 
also  provided  that  counties  might  receive  a pro  rata  number  of  the 
inmates  of  the  penitentiary,  to  be  employed  in  the  improvement  of 
the  public  highways.  In  the  report  of  the  commissioners  for  the 
year  ending  on  May  31,  1904,  they  announce  that  1,500  convicts  had 
been  contracted  for,  at  an  average  annual  wage  of  $225.52,  and  that 
573  had  been  employed  during  the  year  in  twenty-nine  counties  on 
the  public  roads.  The  value  of  the  crops  on  the  state  farm  were 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


84- 

given  in  that  report  as  being  over  $25,000.  In  the  establishment  of 
the  state  farm  and  the  employment  of  the  convicts  on  the  public 
highways,  Georgia  has  laid  down  a precedent  in  the  convict  labor 
question  thatwill  doubtless  be  watched  with  interest  by  other  states. 

Pennick,  a post  village  of  Glynn  county,  with  a population  of  75, 
is  on  the  Macon  & Brunswick  division  of  the  Southern  railroad, 
about  six  miles  southeast  of  Everett  City. 

Pennington,  a post-village  of  Morgan  county,  is  about  ten  miles 
southwest  of  Madison  and  not  far  from  the  Jasper  county  line.  The 
nearest  railroad  station  is  Godfrey,  on  the  Macon  & Athens  division 
of  the  Central  of  Georgia. 

Pensions. — In  the  formation  of  the  constitution  of  1877  provision 
was  made  for  providing  artificial  limbs  for  all  Confederate  soldiers 
who  had  lost  an  arm  or  leg  in  the  war.  Pursuant  to  that  provision 
the  legislature  passed  an  act  on  Sept.  20,  1879,  granting  to  every 
such  soldier  from  $40  to  $60  for  an  arm  and  from  $75  to  $100  for  a 
leg,  the  amount  to  be  payable  every  five  years.  In  1883  the  act  was 
amended  so  as  to  make  the  sum  payable  every  three  years.  Subse- 
quently the  constitution  was  amended  to  make  suitable  provisions 
for  such  Confederate  soldiers  as  had  received  permanent  injuries 
in  the  service,  and  for  widows  of  soldiers  who  died  in  the  service  or 
since  from  wounds  received  or  diseases  contracted  therein.  On  Dec. 
19,  1893,  the  general  assembly  approved  an  amendment  granting  a 
pension  to  all  ex-Confederate  soldiers,  who,  “by  reason  of  age  and 
poverty,  infirmity  and  poverty,  or  blindness  and  poverty,  are  unable 
to  provide  a living  for  themselves.”  This  amendment  was  ratified 
by  a vote  of  the  people  at  the  general  election  in  October,  1894,  and 
on  December  15th  an  act  was  passed,  granting  a pension  of  $60  a 
year  to  every  ex-Confederate  soldier  who  was  a bona  fide  resident 
of  the  state  on  the  first  day  of  January  preceding  the  passage  of  the 
act,  and  who  could  prove  that  he  was  in  the  regulate  Confederate 
service,  or  in  the  Georgia  militia  and  show  that  he  was  unable  to 
support  himself  by  his  own  exertions.  Payments  under  this  act 
were  to  begin  on  May  15,  1895,  and  to  be  made  annually  in  the 
month  of  May  thereafter.  In  1904,  according  to  the  report  of  the 
treasurer  of  state  the  amount  paid  in  pensions  was  $862,215.  This 
included  the  amounts  paid  to  disabled  soldiers  under  the  original 
act,  the  pensions  to  indigent  soldiers,  and  the  relief  given  to  sol- 
diers’ widows. 

Perhaps,  a post-hamlet  of  Troup  county,  is  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Chattahoochee  river  and  about  eight  miles  northwest  of  La 
Grange,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


85 


Perkins,  a town  in  the  northern  part  of  Jenkins  county,  is  on  the 
Augusta  & Millen  division  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway  sys- 
tem and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  217.  It  has  a money  order 
postoffice,  express  and  telegraph  service,  some  good  stores  and  does 
some  shipping. 

Perry,  the  county  seat  of  Houston  county,  and  the  terminus  of 
a branch  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway  to  Fort  Valley,  is  sit- 
uated partly  in  Lower  Town  and  partly  in  Upper  Town  militia  dis- 
tricts, the  former  having  a population  of  1,592,  and  the  latter  of 
1,208,  according  to  the  census  of  1900.  In  the  corporate  limits  of 
the  town  were  650  people.  Perry  has  express  .and  telegraph  offices, 
a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  two  banks,  a cot- 
ton and  oil  mill  and  several  prosperous  business  houses.  The 
court  house  and  other  public  buildings  are  valued  at  $20,000.  There 
is  a good  system  of  schools  and  the  churches  are  well  represented. 

Perry,  Edwin  John,  cashier  of  the  Bain- 
bridge  State  bank,  and  a member  of  the 
bar  of  Decatur  county,  was  born  near 
Bainbridge,  on  Sept.  14,  1864,  and  is  a 
son  of  John  O.  and  Sarah  A.  (Cole) 
Perry,  the  former  born  in  Crawford 
county,  Ga.,  and  the  latter  in  Clayton, 
Ala.  William  A.  Perry,  a brother  of 
John  Perry,  was  a soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  John  Perry,  father  of  John  O.,  was 
a prominent  citizen  of  Crawford,  where 
he  was  called  to  serve  in  public  offices, 
including  that  of  tax  collector.  John  O. 
Perry  has  been  a public  officer  during  practically  his  entire  career 
since  attaining  his  legal  majority.  He  was  marshal  of  the  town  of 
Bainbridge  from  1858  to  1861 ; was  deputy  clerk  of  the  superior 
court  for  six  months,  in  1862,  while  at  home  from  service  in  the 
Civil  war,  having  been  incapacitated  by  rheumatism.  In  1866  he 
removed  to  Mitchell  county,  and  in  1870  located  in  Baker  county, 
where  he  has  since  maintained  his  home.  On  April  1,  1876,  he  was 
appointed  judge  of  the  county  court  of  Baker  county  by  Gov.  James 
M.  Smith,  and  he  has  held  commissions  under  every  governor 
since  that  time,  having  thus  been  in  office  for  nearly  thirty  consec- 
utive years.  His  record  on  the  bench  has  been  a signally  creditable 
one.  He  has  never  failed  to  hold  court  at  the  stated  time,  has 
never  been  reversed  in  any  of  his  decisions,  though  he  is  not  a 
lawyer.  He  was  president  of  the  county  board  of  education  for  fif- 


86 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


teen  years ; has  been  an  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  church  for  thirty- 
five  years,  and  for  the  past  quarter  of  a century  he  has  been  presi- 
dent of  the  Baker  county  Sunday-school  association.  On  March 
18,  1861,  John  O.  Perry  manifested  his  loyalty  to  the  Confederacy 
by  enlisting  as  a private  in  Company  G,  First  Georgia  volunteer  in- 
fantry, and  in  the  autumn  of  1862  he  became  a member  of  Abell’s 
battery.  He  took  part  in  the  engagements  at  Green  Briar  River,  W. 
Va.,  Ocean  Pond  or  Olustee,  Fla.;  Pocataligo,  and  Salkahatchie,  S. 
C.,  in  January,  1865,  and  also  in  several  engagements  on  the  retreat 
from  Savannah  to  Greensboro,  N.  C.  He  rose  to  the  rank  of  gun- 
sergeant  in  the  battery,  and  was  mustered  out  under  parole  at 
Greensboro,  N.  C.,  April  26,  1865,  after  Johnston’s  surrender.  Ed- 
win J.  Perry  attended  the  common  schools  in  his  boyhood  and  sup- 
plemented this  training  by  a course  in  the  North  Georgia  agricul- 
tural college,  at  Dahlonega,  after  which  he  took  up  the  study  of  law 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Bainbridge  in  1889.  In  May,  1891, 
upon  the  organization  of  the  Bainbridge  State  bank,  he  was  elected 
its  cashier,  and  has  since  retained  this  position,  his  ability  as  an 
executive  having  done  much  to  conserve  the  upbuilding  of  the 
fine  business  controlled  by  the  bank.  Mr.  Perry  is  a stanch  Demo- 
crat, is  a Presbyterian  in  his  religious  faith  and  is  affiliated  with 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  On  Feb.  14,  1895, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Maude  Springer  Tompkins, 
daughter  of  William  Greene  Springer  and  Sallie  (Jackson)  Tomp- 
kins, of  Grantville,  Ga.  They  have  one  child,  Edwin  Jonathan,  Jr. 

Perrys  Mills,  a town  of  Tattnall  county,  is  about  eighteen  miles 
southwest  of  Reidsville  and  not  far  from  the  Altamaha  river.  The 
population  in  1900  was  300.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice  and  is 
a trading  center  for  that  part  of  the  county.  The  nearest  railroad 
station  is  Graham,  on  the  Macon  & Brunswick  division  of  the 
Southern. 

Persimmon,  a post-hamlet  of  Rabun  county,  is  in  a mountainous 
district,  about  eight  miles  northwest  of  Clayton,  which  is  the  most 
convenient  railroad  station. 

Persons,  Henry,  farmer,  soldier  and  member  of  Congress,  was 
born  in  Monroe  county  in  1834.  When  he  was  about  two  years  of 
age  the  family  removed  to  Taliaferro  county,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood.  In  1855  he  graduated  at  the  state  university,  and  then 
engaged  in  farming  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war.  In 
1861  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service  as  captain  of  a cavalry 
company  and  served  until  the  final  surrender.  After  the  war  he 
took  considerable  interest  in  public  questions,  and  in  1878  was 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


87 


elected  to  represent  his  district  in  the  lower  branch  of  Congress. 
He  served  but  one  term. 

Peters,  Richard,  was  one  of  the  found- 
ers and  upbuilders  of  the  present  capital 
city  of  Georgia  and  one  of  the  most  hon- 
ored citizens  and  pioneers  of  the  state. 
He  achieved  notable  success  in  temporal 
affairs,  but  all  this  was  subordinate  to 
the  personal  integrity  and  nobility  of  the 
man,  whose  life  was  one  of  signal  useful- 
ness and  honor  in  all  its  relations.  A 
cyclopedic  compilation  can  not  properly 
enter  into  exhaustive  details,  but  in  this 
work  on  the  state  of  Georgia  it  is  imper- 
ative that  more  than  cursory  considera- 
tion be  given  to  the  subject  of  this  memoir.  Mr.  Peters  was  born 
in  Germantown,  Pa.,  now  a suburb  of  Philadelphia,  Nov.  10,  1810, 
and  was  a son  of  Ralph  and  Catherine  (Couyughan)  Peters.  In 
Burke’s  Encyclopedia  of  Heraldy  are  indicated  twenty  different 
Peters  families  having  coats  of  arms.  In  Burke’s  Landed  Gentry 
the  motto  of  the  Peter,  Petre  and  Peters  families  is  the  same. 
Burke  inclines  to  the  opinion  that  all  sprang  from  the  noble  house 
of  Petre,  which  was  prominent  in  England  prior  to  1472.  The 
coat  of  arms  found  in  the  home  of  William  Peters,  great-grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  virtually  that  of  the  present 
Baron  Petre,  of  Essex,  England.  The  name  William  was  borne  by 
Sir  William  Petre,  LL.  D.,  in  the  days  of  Henry  VIII.  In  a most 
interesting  and  carefully  compiled  history  of  the  ancestors  and 
descendants  of  her  father,  Richard  Peters,  Mrs.  Nellie  (Peters) 
Black  covers  the  field  with  almost  reverent  devotion.  She  traces 
the  ancestral  line  to  Ralph  Peters,  a clerk  of  the  council,  who  died 
in  Liverpool,  England,  in  1776.  His  two  sons,  Rev.  Richard  and 
William  Peters,  immigrated  to  America  in  the  early  part  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  taking  up  their  residence  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  Richard  followed  the  work  of  the  ministry  and  attained  to 
venerable  age,  but  left  no  descendants.  William  had  married  in 
England,  where  his  wife  died,  and  after  coming  to  America  he 
married  Mary  Brientnall,  of  a well  known  family  near  Philadelphia. 
Of  this  union  were  born  three  sons — Thomas,  William  and  Richard. 
Thomas  became  a resident  of  Baltimore,  Md. ; William  died  young; 
and  Richard,  grandfather  of  him  to  whom  this  memoir  is  dedicated, 
became  a man  of  distinction  in  Pennsylvania  and  in  the  history  of 


88 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


the  nation.  He  was  secretary  of  war  under  General  Washington 
and  was  judge  of  the  United  States  district  court  in  Philadelphia 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1828.  It  has  been  said  that  “His 
services  to  the  struggling  confederation  of  colonies  were  of  the 
highest  and  most  unselfish  order,”  and  that  “perhaps  to  him  and 
Robert  Morris,  who  was  his  friend  and  fellow  townsman,  the  suc- 
cess of  the  war  was  more  indebted  than  to  any  other  two  men 
among  the  civilians.”  He  inherited  from  his  father  the  valuable 
estate  known  as  Belmont,  just  outside  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 
His  son  Ralph,  father  of  Richard,  subject  of  this  review,  was  not 
successful  in  financial  affairs,  and  of  him  the  son  has  said  that  while 
he  married  into  the  Couyughan  family,  which  was  at  one  time  a 
prominent  and  wealthy  one,  his  financial  resources  remained  so 
meager  that  he  was  finally  compelled  to  remove  to  what  was  then 
the  backwoods  country  of  Pennsylvania.  George  G.  Smith,  of 
Macon,  Georgia,  has  written  in  regard  to  Richard  Peters  in  prac- 
tically the  following  words ; apropos  in  connection  with  the  fore- 
going statement:  “Mr.  Peters  as  a boy  became  fond  of  this  wild 

life,  but  his  kinsfolk  were  not  willing  for  him  to  grow  up  under 
such  conditions,  and,  against  his  will,  he  was  sent  to  Philadelphia 
to  grandparents,  in  order  that  he  might  attend  school.  He  was  not 
classically  educated,  but  was  fitted  to  enter  the  office  of  an  archi- 
tect. Pie  became  satisfied  that  the  work  of  this  profession  would 
not  suit  him,  and  when  the  era  of  railroad  building  was  ushered 
in  he  went  into  the  field  as  a rodman,  at  one  and  one-half  dollars  a 
day.  Among  his  friends  in  the  engineer  corps  was  J.  Edgar 
Thompson.  When  Mr.  Thompson  came  to  Georgia  as  chief  engi- 
neer of  the  projected  Georgia  railroad  he  offered  Mr.  Peters,  who 
was  then  about  twenty-six  years  old,  a place  in  the  corps,  with  a 
salary  of  $1,000  per  annum.  Having  saved  no  money,  Mr.  Peters 
borrowed  $100  and  through  this  means  was  enabled  to  come  to 
Georgia.  He  located  the  line  of  the  Georgia  railroad  and  always 
considered  this  one  of  his  best  pieces  of  work.  It  was  nearly  eight 
years  from  the  time  the  first  engine  rolled  out  of  Augusta  to  the 
time  it  reached  the  terminus,  now  the  city  of  Atlanta,  and  he  was  in 
the  field  from  the  start  to  the  finish.  The  road  reached  Atlanta, 
which  was  then  known  as  Marthasville,  and  Mr.  Thompson  said  the 
name  of  the  terminus  should  be  Atlanta.  None  of  the  chiefs  of  the 
corps  had  had  any  hope  for  the  upbuilding  of  Atlanta  except  Mr. 
Peters.  He  thought  there  was  a future  for  the  village,  and  what 
money  he  had  to  spare  he  invested  in  real  estate.  He  married  and 
bought  a home,  one  of  the  best  in  the  town  at  that  time.  Then,  as 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


89 


he  had  established  a line  of  stages  to  Montgomery,  he  bought  all 
that  land  stretching  from  Forsyth  street  down  to  South  Broad,  for  a 
stable  lot.  He  had  never  lost  his  taste  for  farming,  and  when  on  a 
visit  up  the  state  road  at  Oothcaloga  station,  he  found  a body  of 
limestone  land  to  be  purchasable  and  bought  a large  estate  there, 
having  determined  to  establish  a stock  farm.  He  had  rich  friends 
who  reposed  implicit  confidence  in  him,  and  his  paper  was  gilt- 
edge,  so  he  made  many  ventures  and  ran  very  narrow  risks  of 
failure,  but  he  never  failed.  He  did  not  make  money  farming.  He 
spent  it  lavishly  and  did  a vast  deal  for  the  up-country  and  the  state 
by  his  experiments.  He  built  a large  flour  mill,  and  to  keep  the 
fires  roaring  he  bought  400  acres  of  land  at  five  dollars  an  acre, 
more  than  a mile  from  the  center  of  the  little  city.  He  said  to  me : 
‘Mr.  Smith,  few  make  fortunes  by  good  judgment  or  hard  work. 
Something  they  never  foresaw  takes  place  in  their  favor.  Now 
here  am  I.  I bought  400  acres  of  land  merely  to  get  wood  from  it, 
and  it  is  in  the  heart  of  Atlanta.’  He  was  always  enterprising,  and, 
associated  with  George  Adair,  he  secured  the  charter  and  built  the 
first  street  railroad  in  the  city.  He  brought  in  Short-horns,  Devons, 
Brahmin  and  Jerseys.  He  brought  in  Chester  Whites,  Berkshires 
and  Essex  swine.  He  brought  in  the  Chinese  sugar  cane.  He 
established  nurseries,  brought  in  fine  dogs,  planted  clover  and  tim- 
othy, and  had  all  that  was  rare  and  beautiful  in  floriculture.  He 
spent  no  time  on  the  streets.  With  his  favorite  servant  man  and 
his  modest  carriage  he  drove  to  the  postoffice  and  the  bank  and 
back  to  his  cosy,  unpretentious  home  and  his  desk.  From  his  study 
he  attended  to  the  work  demanded.  He  was  an  Episcopalian  of 
long  descent.  The  bishops  of  that  church  made  his  house  their 
home,  and  two  of  them,  Quintard  and  Elliott,  were  so  esteemed  by 
him  that  he  named  his  sons  in  their  honor.  Fie  was  my  ideal  of  an 
old-time  English  gentleman.  His  mill  venture  did  not  prove  a suc- 
cess, but  was  the  real  cause  of  his  leaving  an  estate  of  nearly  $1,000,- 
000,  since  it  led  to  the  purchase  of  the  land  whose  appreciation  in 
value  brought  him  a fortune.  His  family  life,  of  which  we  have  a 
beautiful  picture  in  the  book  so  lovingly  compiled  by  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Black,  was  ideal.  Idis  home  was  his  paradise.  He  spent  his 
leisure  among  his  flowers  and  fruits  and  pigeons  and  poultry  and 
fine  cattle,  and  in  his  home  he  found  all  he  wished  for — realized  his 
heart’s  desire.  He  was  a slaveholder  and  true  southerner  in  senti- 
ment, but  was  opposed  to  secession.  He  was  a blockade  runner  on 
a large  scale,  and  nearly  gained  a fortune  through  his  operations 
in  this  line.  Mr.  Peters  was  united  in  marriage  Feb.  18,  1848,  to 


DO 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Miss  Mary  Jane  Thompson,  daughter  of  Dr.  Joseph  Thompson, 
of  Atlanta.  Living  within  six  miles  of  where  she  was  born,  she 
has  but  one  woe  to  fear  in  her  honored  age — ‘Woe  be  unto  you  when 
all  men  speak  well  of  you.’  Mr.  Peters  made  by  force  and  integrity 
his  merits  known.  He  never  wrecked  any  railroads  or  turned 
any  ‘corners’  in  stocks.  He  modestly  disclaimed  any  credit  for 
his  sucess,  but  he  deserved  much.  He  was  as  far  removed  from  a 
snob  as  any  rich  and  well  born  man  I ever  knew.  He  was  really 
a great  man  and  would  have  been  a statesmen  of  no  low  order. 
He  left  seven  children,  of  whom  he  was  justly  proud.  Although 
not  a Georgian  by  birth,  much  the  larger  part  of  his  life  was  spent 
here,  and  he  did  as  much  for  his  adopted  state  as  any  man  of  his 
day.  Mrs.  Black,  who  edited  and  compiled  the  delightful  volume 
from  which  these  data  are  principally  gleaned,  is  his  second  child. 
She  was  much  noted  during  her  young  life  for  her  tender  care  of 
the  poor  and  for  her  strong  individuality.  She  married  General 
Black,  of  Screven  county,  who  was  in  the  legislature.  He  died 
and  left  her  with  three  children.  She  is  manager,  and  a capital 
manager,  of  the  farm  which  was  Mr.  Peters’  pride.”  Mr.  Peters 
was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  Feb.  6,  1889,  and  was  laid  to 
rest  in  Oakland  cemetery,  Atlanta.  His  widow,  Mary  Jane  (Thomp- 
son) Peters,  was  born  Dec.  31,  1830,  a daughter  of  Dr.  Joseph  and 
Mary  Ann  Tomlinson  (Young)  Thompson,  of  Decatur,  Ga.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Peters  became  the  parents  of  the  following  named  chil- 
dren : Richard,  Mary  Ellen,  Ralph,  Edward  Couyughan,  Catherine 
Couyughan,  Joseph  Thompson,  Stephen  Elliott,  Quintard,  and  Anna 
May.  Richard  is  an  influential  citizen  of  Philadelphia.  Mary 
Ellen  (called  Nellie)  was  born  Feb.  9,  1851,  and  on  April  17,  1877, 
married  George  Robison  Black,  who  died  Nov.  3,  1886,  and  who  is 
survived  by  three  children— Nita  Hughes,  Louise  King,  and  Ralph 
Peters.  Mrs.  Nellie  (Peters)  Black  is  president  of  the  Free  Kinder- 
garten association,  and  is  a member  of  the  Colonial  Dames,  the 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  the  United  Daughters 
of  the  Confederacy.  Ralph  Peters,  second  son  of  the  subject  of  this, 
memoir,  is  a resident  of  New  York  and  president  of  the  Long  Island 
railroad.  Edward  C.  resides  in  Atlanta,  is  president  of  the  Atlanta 
Savings  bank  and  has  the  management  of  the  Peters  estate.  Cath- 
erine C.  is  unmarried  and  resides  in  Atlanta.  Joseph  T.  and  Stephen 
E.  died  in  infancy.  Quintard  was  born  in  1866  and  died  in  1894. 
Anna  May  is  the  wife  of  Henry  M.  Atkinson,  one  of  Atlanta’s  lead- 
ing capitalists. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


91 


Petersburg. — On  Feb.  3,  1786,  the  legislature  of  Georgia  passed 
an  act  authorizing  Dionysius  Oliver  “to  erect  a warehouse  on  his 
land,  lying  in  the  fork  between  the  Savannah  and  Broad  rivers,  for 
the  inspection  and  storage  of  tobacco.”  The  settlement  that  grew 
up  about  this  warehouse  in  time  came  to  be  called  Petersburg.  In 
1800  Sibbald,  in  his  “Notes  and  Observations  on  the  Pine  Lands  of 
Georgia,”  says  of  Petersburg:  “In  point  of  situation  and  commer- 
cial consequence  it  is  second  only  to  Augusta.  It  is  a handsome, 
well  built  town,  and  presents  to  the  view  of  the  astonished  traveller 
a town  which  has  risen  out  of  the  woods  in  a few  years  as  if  by 
enchantment.”  In  November,  1802,  by  an  act  of  the  legislature, 
eighteen  of  the  leading  citizens  were  incorporated  into  a society 
known  as  the  “Petersburg  Union  Society,”  the  objects  of  which 
were  the  diffusion  of  knowledge  and  the  alleviation  of  want.  On 
Dec.  1,  1802,  commissioners  were  appointed  for  the  better  regula- 
tion and  government  of  the  town.  Petersburg  was  regularly  laid 
off  in  lots,  with  streets  running  at  right  angles,  the  warehouses 
being  located  near  the  river  and  the  residences  farther  back.  While 
the  tobacco  industry  flourished  the  town  prospered,  but  when  the 
planters  ceased  the  cultivation  of  the  “weed”  Petersburg  shared  the 
fate  of  all  towns  whose  perpetuity  depend  upon  a certain  line  of 
occupation.  The  old  cemetery,  on  the  left  bank  of  Broad  river,  is 
all  that  is  left  to  mark  the  place  where  this  busy  community  once 
existed.  (See  Dartmouth  and  Fort  James). 

Petersburg,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Gordon 
county,  is  not  far  from  the  Coosawattee  river.  The  nearest  rail- 
road station  is  Talona,  on  the  Atlanta,  Knoxville  & Northern  road. 

Peterson,  J.  Eugene,  one  of  the  promi- 
nent citizens  and  business  men  of  Fort 
Gaines,  Clay  county,  was  born  in  that  at- 
tractive little  city,  Dec.  30,  1858,  a son  of 
Robert  B.  and  Amanda  C.  (Henderson) 
Peterson,  the  former  born  in  Hancock 
county,  Ga.,  and  the  latter  in  Greenville, 
Butler  county,  Ala.  The  maternal  great- 
grandfather, who  was  a patriot  soldier  in 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  was  born  in 
Virginia,  near  the  eastern  shore  of  Mary- 
land, and  was  related  to  the  distinguished 
Lee  and  Herndon  families.  He  and  his 
brother  removed  to  North  Carolina  and  founded  the  town  of  Hen- 
derson, giving  their  own  name  to  the  place.  The  next  in  line  of 


92 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


descent  to  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  Major  Henderson,  who 
removed  to  Randolph  county,  where  he  passed  the  residue  of  his 
life.  Peter  Strozier,  a maternal  great-uncle  of  Mr.  Peterson,  was 
born  in  Holland,  whence  he  came  to  America  in  the  colonial  era, 
located  in  South  Carolina,  and  served  under  Gen.  Francis  Marion  in 
the  war  of  the  Revolution.  By  reason  of  his  daring  and  courage  he 
gained  from  the  British  and  Tories  the  designation  of  “Devil  Pete,” 
and  his  maneuvers  caused  much  trouble  and  anxiety  for  Colonel 
Tarleton,  the  British  officer.  J.  E.  Peterson  was  reared  to  man- 
hood in  Fort  Gaines,  and  has  gained  recognition  as  one  of  its  most 
progressive  business  men  and  public-spirited  citizens,  having  been 
identified  with  leading  mercantile,  banking  and  manufacturing  in- 
terests. Flis  political  allegiance  is  given  to  the  Republican  party, 
on  whose  ticket  he  was  a candidate  for  Congress,  from  the  second 
district  of  Georgia,  in  1896,  and  he  was  on  the  ticket  as  presidential 
elector  in  1900  and  1904.  He  has  been  continuously  a member  of 
the  city  council  of  Fort  Gaines  since  1886,  was  one  of  the  leaders  in 
the  vigorous  fight  for  the  adoption  of  the  present  effective  system 
of  public  city  schools,  and  for  the  erection  and  equipment  of  a mod- 
ern school  building.  He  is  at  the  present  time  chairman  of  the  board 
of  education.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  prominent  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  In  December,  1882,  Mr.  Peterson  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Terrell  Speight,  daughter  of  Thomas  E.  and 
Theresa  F.  (Hudnall)  Speight,  of  Fort  Gaines. 

Petrel,  a post-hamlet  of  Cherokee  county,  is  five  miles  east  of 
Keithsburg,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Pettett,  a post-hamlet  of  Pickens  county,  is  about  five  miles 
southwest  of  Jasper,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Petty,  a post-village  in  the  northern  part  of  Murray  county,  is  a 
short  distance  west  of  Cohutta  Springs.  VarneH’s  Station,  on  the 
Southern  railroad,  is  the  nearest  railway  town. 

Peyton,  a post-village  of  Appling  county,  is  twelve  miles  north- 
east of  Baxley  and  not  far  from  the  Wayne  county  line.  Surrency, 
on  the  Macon  & Brunswick  division  of  the  Southern  railroad  is  the 
nearest  station. 

Pfeiffer,  a post-village  of  Screven  county,  is  located  on  Brier 
creek,  about  three  miles  above  its  confluence  with  the  Savannah 
river.  The  population  in  1900  was  100.  It  is  a trading  cen- 
ter for  that  part  of  the  county  and  is  ten  miles  from  Sylvania,  which 
is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Pharr,  a post-hamlet  of  Pickens,  is  seven  miles  almost  due  west 
of  Jasper. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


93 


Phelps,  a post-hamlet  of  Whitfield  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Southern  railroad,  five  miles  south  of  Dalton. 

Philema,  a village  of  Lee  county,  is  on  the  Albany  Northern 
railroad,  at  the  point  where  it  crosses  the  Flint  river.  It  has  a 
money  order  postoffice,  telegraph  and  express  offices,  and  is  a trad- 
ing center  for  that  part  of  the  county. 

Philips  Mill,  a post-village  in  the  western  part  of  Coffee  county, 
is  about  two  miles  southeast  of  Marion,  which  is  the  nearest  rail- 
road station. 

Phillips,  John  R.,  junior  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Phillips  & 
Phillips,  of  Louisville,  Jefferson  county,  was  born  Dec.  25,  1869, 
in  the  city  which  is  now  his  home.  He  is  a son  of  the  late  Rev. 
David  G.  Phillips,  D.  D.,  who  was  one  of  the  influential  members  of 
the  clergy  of  the  Associate  Reformed  Presbyterian  church  in 
Georgia,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death.  After  duly 
availing  himself  of  the  advantages  of  the  schools  of  Jefferson 
county  John  R.  Phillips  was  matriculated  in  Erskine  college  at  Due- 
west,  S.  C.,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1892,  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts.  His  technical  discipline  in  the  law  was  gained 
under  the  preceptorship  of  his  brother  and  present  partner,  William 
L.  Phillips,  concerning  whom  individual  mention  is  made  in  this 
work,  and  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1892,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  associated  in  practice  with  his  brother,  under  the  firm 
name  noted  above.  He  is  well  fortified  in  the  learning  of  his  pro- 
fession, has  proved  an  able  coadjutor  to  his  brother,  and  is  known 
as  a skilled  trial  lawyer  and  conservative  counsellor.  In  politics  he 
accords  an  unwavering  allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  rep- 
resented his  native  county  in  the  state  legislature  for  three  years — 
1902-4.  He  is  a member  of  the  Georgia  state  bar  association,  is 
affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  a member  of  the  Asso- 
ciate Reformed  Presbyterian  church,  in  whose  faith  he  was  reared. 
On  Dec.  12,  1896,  Mr.  Phillips  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Emily 
Frances  Clark,  daughter  of  Samuel  M.  Clark,  of  Louisville,  and  they 
have  three  children — Helen,  John  Robert,  Jr.,  and  Frances. 

Phillips,  Col.  William,  a native  of  South  Carolina,  removed  to 
Georgia  in  early  life  and  settled  in  Cobb  county,  where  he  prac- 
ticed law  and  was  at  one  time  solicitor  for  his  circuit.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  convention  which  nominated  the  first  time  Joseph  E. 
Brown  to  be  governor  of  Georgia.  At  the  time  of  the  secession  of 
the  state  he  was  on  the  staff  of  Governor  Brown  and  as  such  assisted 
in  the  negotiations  which  led  to  the  surrender  of  the  Augusta  arse- 
nal to  the  Georgia  state  forces.  He  organized  Phillips’  Legion,  con- 


94 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


sisting  of  fifteen  companies  of  infantry,  six  of  cavalry,  and  one  of 
artillery,  a command  which  served  first  in  West  Virginia,  then  on 
the  Georgia  coast,  and  from  the  Seven  Days  battles  to  Appomattox. 
The  infantry  companies  shared  the  fortunes  of  the  army  of  North- 
ern Virginia,  while  the  cavalry  companies  followed  Stuart  and  then 
Hampton,  ending  their  military  career  near  Goldsboro,  N.  C.  It 
was  while  serving  on  the  Georgia  coast  that  Colonel  Phillips  lost 
an  eye  in  a combat  near  Pocotaligo,  S.  C.  Resigning  command 
of  the  Legion,  each  section  of  which  continued  to  bear  his  name  to 
the  end,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Brown  brigadier-general  of 
state  troops,  and  served  in  that  capacity  to  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  has  ever  since  the  return  of  peace  resided  at  Marietta,  pursuing 
the  practice  of  law,  and  conducting  farming  operations. 

Phillips,  William  L.,  of  Louisville,  a 
lawyer  who  has  gained  high  standing  at 
the  bar  of  his  native  county  and  state 
and  who  is  engaged  in  active  practice  at 
the  present  time,  was  born  on  a planta- 
tion in  Jefferson  county,  Ga.,  June  3, 
1857.  He  is  a son  of  Rev.  David  G. 
Phillips,  D.  D.,  a native  of  North  Caro- 
lina, and  a distinguished  clergyman  of 
the  Associate  Reformed  Presbyterian 
church.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Julia  E.  W.  A.  Little,  was  born  in 
Jefferson  county,  Ga.,  both  being  now 
deceased.  William  L.  Phillips  gained  his  preliminary  educational 
training  in  the  schools  of  Jefferson  county,  after  which  he  entered 
Erskine  college  at  Duewest,  S.  C.,  where  he  was  graduated  as  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1877,  receiving  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Arts.  He  then  studied  law  under  the  able  preceptorship  of  the  firm 
of  Cain  & Polhill,  of  Louisville,  showing  marked  power  of  assimila- 
tion in  his  technical  studies  and  making  rapid  advancement  in  his 
knowledge  of  the  science  of  jurisprudence.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  May,  1879,  and  has  since  been  successfully  established  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Louisville,  having  been  concerned  in 
much  important  litigation  and  retaining  a representative  clientage. 
He  is  now  senior  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Phillips  & Phillips,  his 
partner  being  his  brother,  John  R.  He  is  a member  of  the  Georgia 
state  bar  association,  is  a stanch  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party  and  has  held  various  offices  of  public  trust.  He 
served  four  years  as  chairman  of  the  board  of  county  commis- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


95 


sioners,  two  terms  as  mayor  of  Louisville,  and  ten  years  as  county 
solicitor.  Mr.  Phillips  is  held  in  high  esteem  professionally  and  as 
a liberal  and  loyal  citizen,  progressive  in  his  ideas  and  public-spir- 
ited in  his  attitude.  He  is  vice-president  of  the  Bank  of  Louisville, 
president  of  the  Bank  of  Wrens,  at  Wrens,  Jefferson  county,  and 
is.  a director  of  the  Louisville  & Wadley  railroad.  He  and  his 
wife  are  devoted  and  zealous  members  of  the  Associate  Reformed 
Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he  is  an  elder.  In  December,  1881, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ella  Dora  Skinner,  who  died  in 
1890,  survived  by  one  son,  James  Gardner  Phillips,  who  was  born 
Oct.  22,  1882.  In  1891  Mr.  Phillips  married  Miss  Lena  Everitt,  of 
Thomas  county,  a cousin  of  his  first  wife,  and  they  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Mary. 

Philomath,  a village  in  the  southeast  corner  of  Oglethorpe  county, 
reported  a population  of  40  in  1900.  It  has  a money  order  post- 
office  and  is  a trading  center  for  that  part  of  the  county.  Bairds- 
town,  eight  miles  west  on  the  Georgia  railroad,  is  the  nearest  sta- 
tion. 

Phinizy,  Ferdinand. — A true,  noble  and 
altogether  worthy  citizen  was  lost  to  the 
city  of  Athens  and  the  State  of  Georgia 
when  the  mortal  life  of  Ferdinand  Phin- 
izy merged  into  the  immortal,  Oct.  20, 
1889.  He  was  a member  of  one  of  the 
honored  and  distinguished  families  of 
Georgia,  and  this  compilation  exercises 
a consistent  function  when  it  enters  trib- 
ute to  such  a man.  The  memoir  here  ap- 
pearing is  an  abridgement  of  one  issued 
in  a private  way  shortly  after  his  death, 
slight  changes  in  phraseology  being  made, 
in  order  that  the  sketch  may  be  brought  to  the  compass  de- 
manded in  a work  of  this  nature.  “Ferdinand  Phinizy,  the  eldest 
child  of  Jacob  and  Matilda  (Stewart)  Phinizy,  was  born  at  Bowling 
Green,  Oglethorpe  county,  Ga.,  Jan.  20,  1819.  Bowling  Green  was 
the  home  of  his  father  and  grandfather.  Here  they  had  lived  honor- 
able and  useful  lives  and  here,  in  time  and  season,  were  gathered  to 
their  fathers.  At  Bowling  Green  the  subject  of  this  sketch  spent 
his  boyhood  days,  attending  the  schools  of  his  native  county.  Llere 
he  imbibed  that  love  of  nature  and  its  works  that  ever  remained 
with  him,  and  here,  amid  the  rural  scenes  of  that  simple  country 
neighborhood,  enjoying  the  innocent  pastimes  of  that  old-fashioned 


96 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


southern  society  that  is  gone  and  can  never  be  replaced  or  equaled, 
he  laid  the  foundation  for  that  healthful  and  robust  constitution 
that  made  in  after  life  sickness  a stranger  to  him.  While  he  was 
still  a mere  lad  his  father  removed  to  Athens,  where  Ferdinand  was 
entered  as  a student  in  Franklin  college,  now  the  University  of 
Georgia.  For  three  years  he  pursued  his  studies  in  this  venerable 
institution,  his  career  as  a student  being  marked  by  diligence  and 
honor,  and  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1838.  He 
thereafter  passed  a few  years  on  his  father’s  plantation,  at  Bowling 
Green,  but  the  Georgia  railroad  being  then  in  process  of  construc- 
tion from  Augusta  to  Athens,  he  obtained  the  contract  to  grade  the 
first  eleven  miles  of  the  road  from  Athens.  This  work  he  prose- 
cuted to  a successful  completion,  and  he  may  be  said  to  have  here 
achieved  his  first  business  success.  Soon  afterward  he  moved  to  the 
city  of  Augusta,  where  he  had  numerous  relatives,  and  formed  a co- 
partnership with  the  late  Edward  P.  Clayton,  an  old  college  class- 
mate, and  engaged  in  the  cotton  trade.  The  firm  of  Phinizy  & Clay- 
ton soon  became  one  of  the  largest  and  best  known  houses  in  the 
south.  This  firm  being  finally  dissolved  after  some  years  of  pros- 
perous life,  he  took  with  him  as  partners  his  two  kinsmen,  Charles 
H.  Phinizy  and  Joseph  M.  Burdell,  establishing  the  cotton  house 
of  F.  Phinizy  & Co.  This  was  the  name  of  the  firm  when  he  re- 
tired from  business,  but  up  to  the  day  of  his  death  he  was  con- 
nected in  some  way  with  the  cotton  houses  of  C.  H.  Phinizy  & Co., 
F.  B.  Phinizy,  and  Phinizy  & Co.  He  was  for  many  years  a direc- 
tor and  leading  spirit  in  the  Georgia  Railroad  & Banking  Company, 
an  organization  he  always  loved  and  one  in  whose  safety  he  had 
absolute  reliance.  He  was  a director  also  in  the  Atlanta  & West 
Point  railroad,  the  Augusta  & Savannah  railroad,  the  Northeastern 
railroad  of  Georgia,  the  Augusta  factory,  the  Bank  of  the  Uni- 
versity, the  Southern  Mutual  Insurance  Company,  and  the  Uni- 
versity of  Georgia.  For  a long  period  he  was  the  resident  agent  of 
the  Southern  Mutual  Insurance  Company  in  Augusta,  and  even  at 
his  death  the  business  of  the  agency  was  conducted  in  his  name. 
Some  years  before  his  death  he  retired  from  the  directorship  of  the 
various  companies,  retaining  only  his  seat  at  the  council  board  of 
the  Southern  Mutual.  Ferdinand  Phinizy  did  not  enter  the  Con- 
federate armies  in  the  struggle  of  1861-5,  but  served  the  cause  he 
loved  well,  ably  and  honorably,  as  a financial  agent  of  the  Confed- 
erate government.  As  such  he  successfully  handled  large  amounts 
of  cotton  that  ran  the  blockade  of  Union  war  vessels,  and  succeed- 
ed in  floating  large  blocks  of  Confederate  bonds.  He  lost  heavily 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


97 


by  the  failure  of  the  Confederate  arms.  He  was  married  on  Feb.  22, 
1849,  to  Harriet  H.,  the  only  child  of  Hayes  Bowdre,  a well  known 
citizen  of  Augusta.  On  Feb.  7,  1863,  his  wife  died,  leaving  to  the 
care  of  her  husband  eight  children,  all  of  whom  survive  their  par- 
ents except  the  eldest,  Ferdinand  Bowdre.  The  others  are  Stew- 
art, Leonard,  Mary  Louise  (wife  of  Dr.  A.  W.  Calhoun,  of  At- 
lanta), Jacob,  Marion  Daniel,  Billups,  and  Harry  Hayes.  On  Aug. 
11,  1865,  he  was  married  the  second  time — to  Anne  S.,  the  second 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Savannah  (Glascock)  Barrett,  of  Augusta. 
This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three  children,  Savannah  B.,  de- 
ceased, Barrett,  and  Charles  Henry.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that 
eight  sons  and  a daughter,  together  with  the  sorrowing  widow,  were 
left  to  mourn  the  loss  of  the  kindest  and  most  generous  of  men, 
the  most  affectionate  father  a family  ever  had ; and  they  cherish  as 
the  richest  of  their  possessions  the  unsullied  life  and  untarnished 
name  of  him  who  in  life  was  honored  and  respected  of  men  and  in 
death  was  sincerely  mourned  by  rich  and  poor,  high  and  low. 
* * * * He  loved  the  name  he  bore  and  he  loved  and  respected 

his  ancestry.  He  was  a gentleman  by  birth  and  training  and  in  all 
his  long  life  he  never  forgot  that  fact.  He  was  proud  of  his  paternal 
grandfather,  the  Italian  refugee,  who  landed  penniless  on  American 
shores  and  by  indomitable  will  and  persevering  industry  built  up  a 
large  fortune.  On  both  his  paternal  and  maternal  sides  he  belonged 
to  the  best  families  in  Virgina  and  Georgia.  He  loved  his  home 
as  men  rarely  love  their  domestic  habitations.  He  was  happiest 
there.  Generous,  hospitable,  cordial  and,  above  all,  sincere,  no 
guest  ever  crossed  his  threshold  who  was  not  genuinely  welcome. 
No  man  living  or  dead  can  or  could  say  that  Ferdinand  Phinizy  ever 
deceived  him  in  word  or  deed,  and  no  one,  be  he  prince  or  peasant, 
who  ever  enjoyed  his  hospitality  was  ever  welcomed  for  formality’s 
sake.  Though  for  many  years  actively  engaged  in  business,  his 
standard  of  commercial  ethics  was  high,  his  hands  were  ever  clean. 
He  was  never  known  to  say  aught  against  any  man,  even  his  most 
intimate  friends  can  not  recall  one  hard  expression  he  ever  uttered 
against  his  fellow  man.  His  charity  and  generosity  were  bound- 
less, known  only  to  his  God,  for  he  literally  allowed  his  right  hand 
to  be  in  ignorance  of  what  his  left  bestowed.”  At  the  time  of  his 
death  words  of  high  appreciation  and  of  definite  regret  found  place 
in  leading  newspapers  in  all  parts  of  the  state,  and  to  his  wide  and 
cherished  circle  of  personal  friends  his  death  brought  the  fullest 
sense  of  bereavement  and  loss.  His  name  merits  enduring  place  on 
the  pages  of  Georgia  history. 


7— III 


98 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Pickard,  a post-hamlet  of  Upson  county,  is  a station  on  the  Macon 
& Birmingham  railroad,  five  miles  west  of  Thomaston. 

Pickens  County  was  created  in  1853,  from  territory  taken  from 
Gilmer  and  Cherokee  counties,  and  was  named  in  honor  of  Gen. 
Andrew  Pickens,  of  South  Carolina.  It  lies  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Gilmer  county,  on  the  east 
by  Dawson,  on  the  south  by  Cherokee  and  on  the  west  by  Gordon. 
The  climate  is  bracing  and  the  land  well  watered.  Along  the 
streams  the  soil  is  fertile,  corn,  wheat,  oats,  barley,  sorghum,  to- 
bacco and  potatoes  being  raised  in  large  quantities.  Fruits  and 
vegetables  are  becoming  important  articles  in  the  export  list  of  the 
county.  Marble  is  the  principal  mineral  product.  The  quarries 
are  among  the  richest  in  the  United  States  and  the  stone  is  of  unusu- 
ally fine  quality.  Much  of  it  is  cut  into  blocks  at  the  quarries  and 
then  transported  to  Marietta,  where  it  is  dressed  and  polished  for 
the  market.  The  forests  contain  various  kinds  of  oaks,  poplar, 
hickory,  chestnut  and  short  leaf  pine,  from  which  a considerable 
supply  of  lumber  is  obtained.  The  only  railroad  is  the  Atlanta, 
Knoxville  & Northern,  which  traverses  the  county  from  north  to 
south,  connecting  it  with  the  Western  & Atlantic  at  Marietta  and 
through  that  line  with  Atlanta  and  other  important  cities  of  the 
state.  Jasper  is  the  county  seat.  Alice,  Burnt  Mountain,  Talking 
Rock  and  Tate  are  the  other  towns  of  note  in  the  county.  The 
population  in  1900  was  8,641,  an  increase  of  459  in  ten  years. 

Pickett’s  Mill  is  a neighborhood  settlement  of  Paulding  county, 
a little  to  the  northeast  of  Dallas,  where  an  engagement  occurred  on 
May  27,  1864.  (See  Dallas). 

Pickren,  a post-village  in  the  western  part  of  Jeff  Davis  county, 
reported  a population  of  50  in  1900.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is 
Hazlehurst. 

Pidcock,  a town  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Brooks  county,  is  at 
the  junction  of  the  Albany  Northern  and  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line 
railroads,  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  200.  It  has  a money 
order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  express  and  telegraph 
service,  some  good  mercantile  establishments  and  handles  a large 
volume  of  frei  ght. 

Piedmont,  a post-village  in  the  southern  part  of  Pike  county,  is  a 
station  on  the  Atlanta  & Fort  Valley  division  of  the  Southern 
railway  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  49.  It  has  some  stores, 
an  express  office,  and  does  some  shipping. 

Piedmont  College. — The  full  name  of  this  institution  is  Piedmont 
College  and  Jesse  S.  Green  Institute.  It  is  located  at  Demorest, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


99 


Habersham  county,  was  established  in  1897  and  reorganized  in 
1903,  at  which  time  the  scope  of  its  work  was  greatly  enlarged. 
The  buildings  and  equipment  are  valued  at  $20,000.  It  is  a co- 
educational school,  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church,  and  confers  the  Bachelors  degree  in  Arts,  Sciences 
and  Laws.  The  attendance  in  1904  was  330. 

Pierce  County  was  created  from  Appling  and  Ware  counties  in 
1857  and  was  named  for  Franklin  Pierce,  fourteenth  president  of 
the  United  States.  It  is  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  state  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Appling  county,  on  the  east  by  Wayne 
and  Charlton,  on  the  south  by  Charlton,  on  the  west  by  Ware,  and 
on  the  northwest  by  Appling.  The  Little  Satilla  river  flows  along 
the  northern  and  part  of  the  eastern  boundary  and  with  its  tribu- 
taries drains  the  surface.  The  soil  is  especially  adapted  to  the  pro- 
duction of  sugar-cane.  Sea-island  cotton,  the  cereals  and  sorghum 
are  the  other  productions.  Peaches,  pears,  and  tomatoes  are  raised 
and  give  employment  to  a number  of  people  in  the  canning  fac- 
tories. Many  people  are  engaged  in  truck  farming.  Two  or  three 
crops  may  be  raised  on  the  same  land  in  a year,  and  the  excellent 
transportation  facilities  make  it  easy  to  ship  vegetables,  fruits, 
melons  and  berries  to  Savannah,  Brunswick  and  Jacksonville.  Three 
divisions  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  railway  and  the  Atlantic  & 
Birmingham  cross  the  county,  while  another  division  of  the  latter 
runs  for  some  distance  just  outside  the  western  boundary.  There 
is  abundant  growth  of  timber  in  the  county,  and  rosin,  turpentine 
and  lumber  are  shipped  in  great  quantities  every  year.  Blackshear 
is  the  county  seat  and  trade  center.  Offerman  and  Patterson  are 
other  towns.  The  population  in  1900  was  8,100,  an  increase  of  1,721 
since  1890.  The  schools  are 'excellent. 

Pierce,  George  Foster,  clergyman  and  educator,  was  born  in 
Green  county,  Ga.,  Feb.  3,  1811.  He  was  a son  of  the  celebrated 
Dr.  Lovick  Pierce;  graduated  at  Franklin  college  (now  the  Uni- 
versity of  Georgia)  in  1829;  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of 
his  uncle,  but  abandoned  it  for  the  ministry  and  was  licensed  to 
preach  in  1830.  From  that  time  until  1839  he  served  as  pastor  of 
various  dutches  and  as  presiding  elder,  and  then  took  charge  of  the 
Georgia  (now  the  Wesleyan)  female  college  at  Macon.  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  general  conference  in  1844  at  New  York,  and  while 
in  that  city  delivered  an  address  to  the  American  Bible  Society, 
which  it  is  said  Lord  Macaulay  pronounced  “the  best  specimen  of 
English  diction  that  the  American  continent  has  produced.”  Dr. 
Pierce  was  a delegate  to  the  convention  which  met  at  Louisville  and 


100 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


organized  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  and  in  1818  was 
elected  president  of  Emory  college,  where  he  served  with  great  ef- 
ficiency for  six  years.  In  May,  1854,  he  was  elected  one  of  the 
bishops  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  in  which  exalted 
position  he  continued  until  his  death.  In  recognition  of  his  dis- 
tinguished labors  in  the  cause  of  education  and  the  church,  Transyl- 
vania university  honored  him  with  the  degree  of  D.  D.,  and  Ran- 
dolph-Macon  college  conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  Such 
men  as  Judge  Lamar,  Governor  Colquitt,  Robert  Toombs  and  Rich- 
ard Malcolm  Johnston  paid  him  high  tributes  as  a man  of  great 
strength  of  character,  genius,  eloquence  and  probity.  He  died  on 
Sept.  3,  1884. 

Pierce,  Lovick,  clergyman,  was  born  in  Halifax  county,  N.  C., 
March  17,  1785.  While  still  in  his  childhood  his  parents  removed  to 
Barnwell  district,  S.  C.,  where  he  received  his  education,  consisting 
of  six  months  in  an  “old  field  school.”  He  continued  to  study,  how- 
ever, and  in  1804  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
conference.  In  1809  he  located  in  Greene  county,  Ga. ; was  a chap- 
lain in  the  War  of  1812,  after  which  he  practiced  medicine  and 
preached  for  several  years  at  Greensboro.  He  then  gave  up  medi- 
cine and  devoted  himself  to  the  ministry,  being  several  times  elected 
a delegate  to  the  general  conference  and  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South.  In  1843  he  was  honored 
by  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  from  Randolph-Macon  college,  of  which 
institution  he  was  one  of  the  trustees  from  1835  to  1879.  He  con- 
tinued to  preach  until  he  had  passed  his  ninety-fourth  birthday, 
which  was  but  a few  months  before  his  death.  He  died  at  the  home 
of  his  son,  George  Foster  Pierce,  near  Sparta,  Nov.  9,  1879. 

Pierce,  William,  member  of  the  Continental  Congress,  is  said 
to  have  been  born  in  Georgia  about  1740,  but  the  fact  is  not  definite- 
ly established.  It  is  known,  however,  that  he  received  a liberal 
education  and  was  one  of  the  early  exponents  of  the  cause  of  the 
colonies.  His  first  service  was  an  an  aide-de-camp  to  General 
Greene.  At  the  battle  of  Eutaw  Springs  he  distinguished  himself 
by  his  bravery,  for  which  he  was  given  a sword  by  Congress  and 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  major.  In  the  years  1786-87  he  served  as  a 
delegate  to  the  Continental  Congress,  and  was  a member  of  the 
Philadelphia  convention  in  1787  to  revise  the  Federal  constitution. 
He  died  at  Savannah  on  Dec.  10,  1789. 

Pierceville,  a post-hamlet  of  Fannin  county,  is  ten  miles  north- 
west of  Blueridge  and  not  far  from  the  Tennessee  line.  The  nearest 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


101 


railway  station  is  McKays,  on  the  Atlanta,  Knoxville  & Northern 

Pigman,  William  A.,  conducts  a pros- 
perous retail  drug  business  in  Savannah, 
his  store  being  located  on  the  corner  of 
West  Broad  and  Berrien  streets,  oppo- 
site the  Union  passenger  station.  He 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
May  12,  1855,  a son  of  William  P.  and 
Mary  Teresa  (Sprigman)  Pigman,  the 
former  born  in  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  and 
the  latter  in  Springfield,  Ohio.  William 
Penn  Pigman  was  a loyal  soldier  of  the 
Confederacy  in  the  Civil  war,  as  first 
lieutenant  of  a company  in  the  Eighth 
Florida  volunteer  infantry.  He  died  in  May,  1877,  and  his  widow 
now  resides  in  the  home  of  her  son  William  A.,  subject  of  this 
sketch.  She  is  a daughter  of  Peter  Augustus  and  Martha  Elizabeth 
(Cooper)  Sprigman,  the  former  born  in  Ohio  and  the  latter  in 
Pennsylvania.  Her  father  was  a pioneer  of  both  Cincinnati  and 
Springfield,  Ohio.  William  A.  Pigman  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Macon  and  Savannah,  Ga.,  and  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  drug  business  since  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age, 
having  been  employed  as  a clerk  in  Macon  until  1883,  in  July 
of  which  year  he  assumed  a similar  position  in  Savannah,  be- 
coming a clerk  in  the  drug  store  of  the  late  Peter  B.  Reid. 
In  September,  1886,  he  engaged  in  the  same  line  of  enterprise 
on  his  own  responsibility.  His  store  at  the  present  time  con- 
trols an  excellent  trade  and  is  a sub-station  of  the  Savannah 
postoffice.  He  is  identified  with  the  Georgia  state  pharmaceutical 
association ; is  vice-president  of  the  Savannah  retail  druggists’  asso- 
ciation; is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Beavers; 
gives  his  support  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  While  a resident  of  Macon 
he  was  for  several  years  a member  of  Company  B,  Macon  Volun- 
teers, having  served  a portion  of  the  time  as  corporal.  On  Nov.  23, 
1892,  Mr.  Pigman  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Edna  Alice 
Breeze,  daughter  of  John  H.  Breeze,  of  Rome,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have 
three  children : Augustus  Penn,  born  July  13,  1896 ; Marjorie 

Carmen,  born  June  23,  1902;  and  Edward  William,  born  Jan.  29, 
1904. 


102 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Pike  County  was  created  in  1822  and  was  named  for  Gen.  Zebulon 
M.  Pike,  of  New  Jersey,  who  was  mortally  wounded  during  a suc- 
cessful assault  upon  York,  (now  Toronto),  Canada,  in  the  war  of 
1812.  It  is  in  the  western  part  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Spalding  county,  on  the  east  by  Monroe,  on  the  south  by 
Upson,  and  on  the  west  by  Meriwether.  The  Flint  river  flows 
along  the  western  border  and  many  other  streams  flow  across  the 
county.  The  lands  are  rolling,  and  produce  good  crops  of  sugar- 
cane, sweet  and  Irish  potatoes,  and  the  cereals.  All  the  grasses  and 
forage  crops  thrive,  and  vegetables  are  raised.  Many  acres  of  land 
are  planted  to  apples,  peaches  and  melons.  There  are  several  hun- 
dred vineyards  and  much  wine  is  made.  The  forests  contain  the 
usual  varieties  of  hardwood,  and  a number  of  saw-mills  are  Tusy 
cutting  the  timber  into  lumber.  From  the  pine  mountains  in  the 
southern  portion  of  the  county,  come  great  quantities  of  shingles. 
There  is  fine  water-power  along  the  Flint  and  its  tributaries,  but 
little  of  it  is  utilized.  Barnesville  is  well  known  as  a manufacturing 
center.  Zebulon  is  the  county  seat.  Williamson,  Molina,  Concord, 
Neal  and  Meansville  are  other  thriving  towns.  The  transportation 
facilities  furnished  by  two  divisions  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  and 
two  of  the  Southern  railway  are  excellent.  The  public  schools  are 
good  and  at  Barnesville  there  is  a fine  school  called  the  Gordon 
Institute.  The  population  of  the  county  in  1900  was  18,761,  a gain 

Pike,  William  I.,  is  one  of  the  leading 
members  of  the  bar  of  Jackson  county, 
having  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  Jefferson,  the  county 
seat,  for  the  past  forty  years.  He  has 
held  various  positions  of  distinctive  pub- 
lic trust  and  responsibility,  is  a veteran 
of  the  Confederate  service  in  the  Civil 
war  and  a citizen  of  utmost  loyalty  and 
public  spirit.  Captain  Pike  was  born  in 
the  city  of  Macon,  Bibb  county,  Ga.,  Jan. 
17,  1842,  a son  of  Henry  and  Ann 
(Stevens)  Pike,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  Edgefield,  S.  C.,  Feb.  28,  1804,  and  the  latter  in  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  in  1806.  His  paternal  great-grandfather  was  a sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  in  which  he  served  under  Gen- 
eral Greene.  The  maternal  grandfather  Stevens  also  did  valiant 
service  in  the  cause  of  independence,  having  taken  part  in  the  bat- 


of  2,461  since  1890. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


103 


tie  of  Bunker  Hill  and  other  engagements.  William  I.  Pike  com- 
pleted his  academic  or  literary  training  in  the  Martin  institute, 
Jefferson,  Ga.,  and  was  still  a student  at  the  time  when  the  Civil 
war  was  precipitated  on  a divided  nation.  On  May  8,  1862,  he  en- 
listed as  a private  in  Company  E,  First  Georgia  regiment  of  Par- 
tisan Rangers,  afterward  known  as  the  Sixteenth  Georgia  battalion 
of  cavalry  and  still  later  as  the  Thirteenth  Georgia  regiment  of 
cavalry.  His  service  in  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy  was  long 
and  arduous  and  was  marked  by  unwavering  loyalty  to  duty.  He 
was  with  Gen.  John  H.  Morgan  in  his  memorable  raid  in  1862,  and 
in  this  connection  he  took  part  in  the  following  important  engage- 
ments : Tompkinsville,  Russellville,  Lebanon,  Cynthiana,  Paris 

and  Richmond,  Ky.  Later  he  was  in  the  command  of  Gen.  William 
E.  Jones  and  took  part  in  the  engagements  at  Knoxville,  Bull’s  Gap, 
Morristown,  Blue  Springs  and  Limestone,  Tenn.  Thereafter  he 
was  with  Gen.  Jubal  A.  Early  in  the  campaign  in  Virginia,  in  1864, 
and  later  served  under  Gen.  John  C.  Breckenridge  in  southern  West 
Virginia  and  eastern  Tennessee.  In  1862  Captain  Pike  was  made 
assistant  adjutant,  in  the  following  year  ordnance  sergeant  of  his 
regiment,  and  was  finally  promoted  to  the  office  of  captain,  at  Char- 
lotte, N.  C.,  by  Gen.  John  C.  Breckenridge,  secretary  of  war.  His 
regiment  first  surrendered  with  General  Lee,  at  Appomattox,  being 
at  the  time  at  Christiansburg,  Va.  He  and  a number  of  the  mem- 
bers of  his  regiment  went  across  to  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  and  joined  the 
forces  of  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  thereafter  having  the  distinction 
of  being  a portion  of  the  body  guard  of  President  Davis  and  his 
cabinet,  who  were  making  their  way  into  Georgia.  When  the  final 
disbanding  came  only  four  of  the  members  of  his  command  were 
with  Captain  Pike.  The  ultimate  surrender  was  made  under  the 
terms  of  agreement  entered  into  by  Generals  Johnston  and  Sher- 
man, calling  for  the  surrender  of  all  Confederate  troops  east  of  the 
Mississippi  river.  After  the  close  of  the  war,  which  had  brought 
devastation  and  depression  to  the  beautiful  southland,  Captain  Pike 
returned  home  and  took  up  the  practice  of  law,  having  been  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  in  February,  1862,  prior  to  his  enlistment.  In  the 
latter  part  of  1866  he  established  himself  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Jefferson,  where  he  has  since  maintained  his  home  and 
where  he  is  now  a veritable  Nestor  of  the  Jackson  county  bar. 
Shortly  after  initiating  his  practice  he  was  elected  solicitor  of  the 
county  court,  and  retained  this  position  until  the  reconstruction  acts 
went  into  operation  and  the  constitution  of  1868  was  adopted.  He 
was  a member  of  the  house  of  representatives  in  the  state  legisla- 


104 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


ture  in  1878-9  and  again  in  1892-3,  and  he  served  his  city  as  mayor 
in  1880-81-82.  In  1882-3  he  was  a member  of  the  state  senate.  His 
record  as  a legislator  is  one  which  stands  to  his  credit  as  a loyal 
citizen  and  a man  of  broad  and  liberal  views  and  mature  judgment. 
Captain  Pike  has  been  an  influential  factor  in  the  councils  of  the 
Democratic  party  in  his  state ; was  a delegate  to  the  national  con- 
vention of  1884,  when  Cleveland  was  first  nominated  for  the  presi- 
dency ; and  was  a Democratic  elector  for  the  ninth  congressional 
district  at  the  time  of  Bryan’s  first  campaign  for  the  presidency. 
He  is  a Royal  Arch  Mason  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South.  He  has  been  a member 
of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Martin  institute  since  1870  and  is  a val- 
ued and  appreciative  member  of  the  United  Confederate  Veterans. 
On  Oct.  26,  1860,  Captain  Pike  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Lucy  A.  Thompson,  daughter  of  the  late  William  S.  and  Eliza 
(Bailey)  Thompson,  of  Jefferson,  and  the  names,  with  respective 
dates  of  birth,  of  the  six  children  of  this  union  are  as  follows:  Jef- 
ferson D.,  July,  1861 ; Gertrude,  1864 ; Cora,  1866  ; Lena,  1868  ; Neva, 
1870;  and  Lucy,  1874.  Gertrude  is  the  wife  of  W.  A.  Adams,  of 
Jackson  county;  Cora  is  the  wife  of  Oscar  M.  Hyman,  of  Texas; 
Neva  is  the  widow  of  Dr.  John  A.  Tuck,  also  of  Texas;  and  Lucy 
is  the  wife  of  R.  E.  Whelchel,  of  Jackson  county. 

Pinargo,  a post-liamlet  of  Wilcox  county,  is  about  three  miles 
west  of  Bowens  Mill,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Pine  Barren  Speculation. — This  was  a piece  of  land  swindling  on 
a par  with  the  Yazoo  frauds,  though  it  never  acquired  the  wide  noto- 
riety of  the  latter.  When  Montgomery  county  was  created  in 
1793  it  embraced  all  the  territory  between  the  Ogeechee  river  on 
one  side  and  the  Oconee  and  Altamaha  on  the  other,  extending 
down  to  Liberty  county.  The  greater  part  of  it  was  a sterile  pine 
forest,  which  had  but  little  attraction  for  actual  settlers  under  the 
old  head  right  system  then  in  vogue.  But  it  presented  to  a coterie 
of  unscrupulous  speculators  an  opportunity  to  reap  a rich  reward. 
Their  plan,  which  was  successfully  carried  out,  was  to  elect  mag- 
istrates, who  would  open  what  were  known  as  “land  courts”  at 
various  points  in  the  new  county,  where  they  would  issue,  or  pre- 
tend to  issue,  land  warrants,  which  was  the  first  step  toward  ac- 
quiring title  under  the  head  right  system.  Next,  surveyors  were 
elected,  who  were  to  profess  to  locate  the  lands  described  in  the 
warrants.  Under  their  fraudulent  surveys  some  6,000,000  acres — 
or  even  more — were  reported  to  the  surveyor-general’s  office  than 
really  existed,  and  false  land-marks  were  shown  on  the  maps  and 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


105 


plats  of  the  surveys.  By  naming  as  witness  trees  walnut,  hickory, 
buckeye,  etc. — -trees  indicating  a rich  soil — they  created  the  im- 
pression that  there  were  many  rich  tracts  of  land  in  the  pine  bar- 
rens, thus  drawing  the  attention  of  innocent  but  ignorant  pur- 
chasers to  the  region  as  a desirable  place  in  which  to  locate. 

The  fraudulent  surveys  were  filed  with  the  surveyor-general, 
after  which  certified  copies  of  the  same  were  presented  to  the  treas- 
urer’s office,  where  the  grant  fees  were  paid  and  a receipt  taken 
therefor.  Upon  this  evidence  of  a bona  fine  transaction  grants  were 
issued.  Having  laid  the  foundation  for  their  huge  swindle  the 
schemers  now  transferred  their  field  of  operations  to  distant  parts 
of  the  country,  where  by  exhibiting  their  genuine  grants  bearing 
the  great  seal  of  state  and  the  governor’s  signature,  they  had  no 
difficulty  in  working  off  upon  unsuspecting  purchasers  their  barren 
and  fictitious  lands.  The  extent  of  their  villany  or  the  amount  of 
wealth  realized  by  this  nefarious  scheme  will  never  be  known. 
Numerous  persons  who  fell  victims  to  their  wiles  came  and  exam- 
ined the  lands,  after  it  was  too  late,  and  finding  them  worthless- 
returned  to  their  homes  poorer  in  purse,  but  richer  in  experience. 

Pinebloom,  a town  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Coffee  county,  is 
at  the  junction  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  and  the  Ocilla,  Pine- 
bloom  & Valdosta  railroads.  The  population  in  1900  was  137.  It 
has  some  mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  a money  order  post- 
office,  a telegraph  office,  an  express  office,  schools,  churches,  etc. 

Pine  Grove,  a town  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Jeff  Davis  county, 
is  on  the  Macon  & Brunswick  division  of  the  Southern  railway  and 
in  1900  reported  a population  of  156.  It  is  a commercial  center  and 
shipping  point  for  the  neighborhood  in  which  it  is  situated.. 

Pinehurst,  a town  in  Dooly  county,  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the 
legislature  on  Dec.  16,  1895.  It  is  located  on  the  Georgia  Southern 
& Florida  railroad,  about  seven  or  eight  miles  north  of  Vienna,  and 
in  1900  had  a population  of  330.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice, 
from  which  several  rural  delivery  routes  emanate,  express  and  tele- 
graph offices,  mercantile  and  manufacturing  interests,  schools, 
churches,  etc.,  and  is  an  important  shipping  point. 

Pine  Knob,  an  elevation  in  Cobb  county,  was  the  scene  of  some 
sharp  skirminishing  on  June  19,  1864,  as  the  Confederate  army  was 
taking  a new  position  around  Kennesaw  mountain. 

Pine  Log,  a village  of  Bartow  county,  is  about  fifteen  miles  north 
of  Cartersville  and  ten  miles  east  of  Adairsville,  the  latter  being  the 
nearest  railroad  station. 

Pine  Log  Creek,  a small  stream  in  northwestern  Georgia,  rises- 


106 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


in  Bartow  county  and  flows  north  until  it  empties  into  the  Coosa- 
wattee  river  a few  miles  east  of  Resaca.  On  May  18,  1864,  a slight 
skirmish  occurred  on  the  banks  of  this  stream  between  two  scouting 
parties  of  cavalry. 

Pine  Mountain,  sometimes  called  Pine  Hill,  is  an  elevation  in 
Cobb  county,  a little  northwest  of  Marietta.  Gen.  Leonidas  Polk 
was  killed  on  this  mountain  on  June  14,  1864,  while  reconnoitering 
the  Federal  position,  a shot  from  one  of  the  enemy’s  batteries  pass- 
ing entirely  through  his  body. 

Pine  Mountain,  a little  village  of  Rabun  county,  is  the  most 
northeasttern  postoffice  in  the  state.  It  is  located  on  a tributary  of 
the  Chattooga  river,  about  thirteen  miles  northeast  of  Clayton 
which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Pineora,  a post-village  of  Effingham  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  about  six  miles  southwest  of  Spring- 
field.  The  population  in  1900  was  46. 

Pine  Park,  a post-hamlet  in  the  western  part  of  Thomas  county, 
is  a station  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  railway. 

Pinetta,  a post-hamlet  of  Irwin  county,  is  a station  on  the  Fitz- 
gerald & Thomasville  division  of  the  Atlantic  & Birmingham  rail- 
road, about  three  miles  southwest  of  Mystic. 

Pine  View,  a town  in  the  northern  part  of  Wilcox  county,  was 
incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  on  Dec.  10,  1902.  It  is  on  the 
Hawkinsville  & Florida  Southern  railway,  has  a money  order  post- 
office,  some  mercantile  establishments  and  large  shipping  interests. 

Pina,  a village  of  Crisp  county,  with  a population  of  43,  is  on  the 
Seaboard  Air  Line  railroad,  five  miles  east  of  Cordele.  It  has  a 
money  order  postoffice,  a few  stores  and  does  some  shipping. 

Pink,  a post-hamlet  of  White  county,  is  about  five  miles  east  of 
Cleveland.  Clarkesville  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Pineopolis,  a town  of  Colquitt  county,  is  about  ten  miles  east  of 
Moultrie,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station.  It  has  a money 
order  postoffice,  and  is  a trading  center  for  that  section  of  the 
county.  The  population  in  1900  was  130. 

Pio  Nono  College. — (See  St.  Stanislaus). 

Piscola,  a post-hamlet  of  Brooks  county,  is  about  seven  miles 
southwest  of  Quitman,  and  not  far  from  the  Florida  state  line.  The 
nearest  railroad  station  is  Empress,  on  the  South  Georgia  & West 
Coast  road. 

Pisgah,  a post-village  of  Gilmer  county,  with  a population  of  42, 
is  about  eight  miles  east  of  Whitepath,  which  is  the  nearest  rail- 
road station. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


107 


Pistol,  a post-village  in  Wilkes  county,  is  about  fifteen  miles 
northeast  of  Washington,  on  a little  stream  that  flows  into  the  Sa- 
vannah river.  Mt.  Carmel,  S.  C.,  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Pitner,  James  M.,  is  successfully  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  law  in  Washing- 
ton, Wilkes  county,  and  is  also  the  able 
incumbent  of  the  office  of  county  school 
commissioner.  He  was  born  in  Lumpkin 
county,  Ga.,  Oct.  20,  1873,  and  is  a son 
of  Elijah  S.  and  Martha  (Simmons)  Pit- 
ner, the  former  born  in  Tennessee,  in 
1842,  and  the  latter  in  Lumpkin  county 
in  1847.  The  father  was  a loyal  soldier 
of  the  Confederacy  during  the  Civil  war, 
having  been  a member  of  a Georgia  regi- 
ment, under  Captain  Asbury.  After  at- 
tending the  schools  of  his  native  county,  James  M.  Pitner  entered 
the  North  Georgia  agricultural  college,  at  Dahlonega,  Lumpkin 
county,  where  he  effectively  supplemented  his  earlier  educational 
training.  He  was  a successful  teacher  in  the  public  schools  for  a 
period  of  six  years,  and  in  the  meanwhile  took  up  the  study  of 
law,  well  fortifying  himself  in  the  learning  of  the  same  and  being 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1900.  In  the  same  year  he  established  him- 
self in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Washington,  succeeding 
from  the  very  beginning,  and  now  has  an  excellent  practice,  which 
is  constantly  expanding  in  scope  and  importance.  In  1904  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  county  school  commissioner  and  gives  effec- 
tive administration  to  the  duties  of  this  position,  in  addition  to  his 
unabating  devotion  to  the  work  of  his  profession.  He  is  an  unwav- 
ering supporter  of  the  Democratic  party  and  is  a member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  On  June  5,  1900,  Mr.  Pitner  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Annie  West,  daughter  of  Rev.  Thomas  B.  and 
Mildred  W est,  of  Thomson,  Ga.  Of  this  union  have  been  born  two 
children,  Marion,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Mildred,  who  is  the  liv- 
ing child. 

Pittman,  a post-village  of  Gwinnett  county,  is  a station  on  the 
main  line  of  the  Southern  railway,  about  four  miles  southwest  of 
Duluth. 

Pitts,  a town  in  the  western  part  of  Wilcox  county,  located  at 
the  junction  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  and  the  Hawkinsville  & Flor- 
ida Southern  railroads.  In  1900  the  population  was  454.  It  has  ex- 
press and  telegraph  offices,  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free 


108 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


delivery,  stores,  schools  and  churches,  and  an  extensive  business 
in  lumber,  rosin  and  turpentine. 

Plains,  formerly  called  “Plains  of  Dura,”  a town  in  the  western 
part  of  Sumter  county,  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  general 
assembly  on  Dec.  17,  1896.  The  population  in  1900  was  346.  It  is 
located  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railway,  eight  miles  from  Ameri- 
cus,  has  a tannery,  a shoe  factory,  some  other  manufactories,  several 
good  mercantile  establishments,  a bank,  schools,  churches,  express 
and  telegraph  offices,  and  a money  order  postoffice  which  supplies 
mail  to  the  surrounding  rural  districts  by  means  of  several  free  de- 
livery routes. 

Plainville,  a town  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Gordon  county,  is 
on  the  Southern  railway,  not  far  from  the  Floyd  county  line.  It 
was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  on  July  30,  1903,  the 
population  three  years  before  being  117.  It  has  a money  order 
postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  telegraph  and  express  offices, 
mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  schools,  churches,  etc. 

Platt,  W.  Edward,  a representative  un- 
dertaker and  funeral  director  of  Augusta, 
was  born  in  that  city,  Jan.  21,  1853,  a son 
of  Col.  Charles  A.  and  Elizabeth  Platt, 
the  former  born  in  New  York  city  and 
the  latter  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  in 
which  commonwealth  their  marriage  was 
solemnized.  A few  years  after  their  mar- 
riage, about  the  year  1840,  they  removed 
from  New  York  City  to  Augusta,  Ga.,  and 
in  that  city  they  passed  the  remainder  of 
their  lives.  The  father  was  a cabinet- 
maker by  trade  and  upon  locating  in 
Augusta  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  furniture,  operating  a 
well  equipped  furniture  factory  and  also  having  a furniture  store, 
both  enterprises  being  conducted  under  his  name.  In  1849  he  added 
an  undertaking  department  to  his  business,  and  from  this  beginning 
has  been  built  up  the  business  now  conducted  by  his  son,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review,  the  concern  thus  standing  as  one  of  the  oldest  of 
the  kind  in  the  city.  In  1856  Colonel  Platt  admitted  to  partnership 
his  brother,  Jacob  B.  Platt,  and  Horton  B.  Adams,  and  the  firm 
title  of  Charles  A.  Platt  & Co.  was  then  adopted.  In  1865  the  firm 
name  became  Platt  Bros.,  and  thus  continued  until  May,  1887,  when 
the  business  was  sold  to  the  subject  of  this  review,  who  has  since 
conducted  the  enterprise  individually.  The  furniture  manufactory 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


109 


and  store  were  abandoned  a number  of  years  ago  and  the  under- 
taking business  represented  the  enterpris  at  the  time  the  present 
proprietor  assumed  control.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  Col. 
Charles  A.  Platt  entered  the  Confederate  service,  as  captain  of 
Company  A,  Clinch  Rifles,  which  was  assigned  to  the  Fifth  Georgia 
volunteer  infantry,  and  became  a part  of  the  command  of  General 
Bragg.  Captain  Platt  was  soon  promoted  Colonel  of  his  regiment, 
but  later  was  detailed  to  return  to  Augusta  and  manufacture  sup- 
plies for  the  Confederate  government..  He  was  thus  engaged  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  passed  to  his  reward  on  July  21,  1887, 
having  been  one  of  the  prominent  business  men  and  honored  citi- 
zens of  Augusta.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Platt,  mother  of  him  whose  name 
initiates  this  article,  died  when  he  was  about  three  years  of  age. 
Mr.  Platt  completed  a course  of  study  in  Richmond  academy,  one 
of  the  old  and  popular  educational  institutions  of  Augusta,  and 
then  passed  three  years — 1870-73 — in  Europe,  continuing  his  studies 
in  Stuttgart,  Germany.  He  then  returned  home  and  was  associated 
in  the  business  of  his  father,  as  an  employe,  until  1887,  when  he 
purchased  the  business,  as  already  noted.  Mr.  Platt  was  the  prac- 
tical framer  of  the  present  Georgia  state  law  regulating  the  system 
of  embalming,  having  drafted  the  bill  in  1899.  In  that  year  he  was 
appointed,  by  Gov.  Allen  D.  Candler,  a member  of  the  Georgia 
state  board  of  embalmers,  was  elected  first  president  of  the  newly 
established  board  and  served  as  such  for  five  years.  He  was  re- 
appointed a member  of  the  board  by  Governor  Terrell,  and  is  still 
serving  on  the  same.  He  is  an  ex-president  of  the  National  asso- 
ciation of  embalmers ; was  the  organizer  of  the  Georgia  funeral 
directors’  association,  on  Aug.  15,  1887 ; was  elected  the  first  presi- 
dent of  the  organization  and  served  in  that  capacity  for  several 
years.  Mr.  Platt  is  a loyal  supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  with  which  he  has  been  identified  from  the  time  of  at- 
taining his  legal  majority;  is  a member  of  the  city  council  of  Augus- 
ta at  the  time  of  this  writing;  and  for  five  years  was  chief  of  the 
old  volunteer  fire  department,  now  superceded  by  an  efficient  paid 
department.  He  and  his  wife  are  communicants  of  the  Church  of 
the  Atonement,  Protestant  Episcopal,  in  which  he  is  a member 
of  the  vestry.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  and  the  Beavers. 
On  Sept.  25,  1887,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Platt  to  Miss 
Esther  Davids,  of  New  York  City.  She  is  the  daughter  of  the  late 


110 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Thaddeus  Davids,  who  was  well  known  in  his  day  as  one  of  the 
leading  manufacturers  of  writing  ink  in  the  Union. 

Pleasant  Hill,  a post-village  of  Talbot  county,  is  about  ten  miles 
north  of  Talbotton,  which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 
It  is  the  principal  trading  point  in  that  section  of  the  county  and  in 
1900  reported  a population  of  91.  As  an  incident  of  Wilson’s  raid 
in  the  spring  of  1865  Lieut. -Col.  B.  D.  Pritchard  was  sent  with  the 
Fourth  Michigan  cavalry  to  capture  what  was  known  as  the  double 
bridges  on  the  Flint  river.  He  left  Columbus  on  April  17th  with 
instructions  to  strike  the  bridges  about  daylight  the  following 
morning.  When  he  reached  Pleasant  Hill,  about  four  miles  from 
the  river,  he  came  upon  a refugee  train  with  a small  escort.  His 
superior  force  soon  compelled  the  Confederates  to  surrender,  after 
which  he  made  a charge  upon  the  bridge  with  such  impetuosity 
that  the  small  guard  there  was  unable  to  offer  any  resistance, 
though  they  managed  to  escape  capture,  leaving  15  wagons  and 
150  mules  in  the  hands  of  the  Federals. 

Pleasant  Retreat,  a post-hamlet  of  White  county,  is  about  five 
miles  southwest  of  Cleveland.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Alto. 

Plumb,  a post-village  of  Franklin  county,  is  two  miles  northwest 
of  Carnesville.  The  population  in  1900  was  46.  Lavonia  is  the 
most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Poe,  John  W.,  president  of  the  Bank  of  Vidalia,  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial and  ably  managed  financial  institutions  of  Toombs  county, 
is  one  of  the  popular  and  influential  citizens  of  the  thriving  town 
with  whose  business  interests  he  is  thus  closely  identified.  He  was 
born  in  Chatham  county,  N.  C.,  March  9,  1864,  a son  of  Alois  James 
and  Eliza  (Riddle)  Poe,  both  natives  of  North  Carolina,  the  former 
born  in  1826  and  the  latter  in  Moore  county  in  1836.  Her  father 
was  a soldier  of  the  Confederacy  in  the  Civil  war.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a large  landholder  and 
slave  owner  prior  to  the  Civil  war,  during  the  progress  of  which  he 
served  as  sheriff  of  Chatham  county,  N.  C.  Alois  J.  Poe  was  a con- 
tractor for  the  Confederate  government  during  the  war  between  the 
states.  John  William  Poe,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  review, 
received  his  early  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
state,  supplementing  this  dicipline  by  a course  in  the  Mount  Ver- 
non Springs  academy  in  his  home  county,  where  he  remained  a stu- 
dent about  two  years.  Fie  then  took  a position  as  bookkeeper  in  the 
naval-stores  establishment  of  his  uncle,  was  later  promoted  general 
manager  of  the  business  and  remained  in  this  position  for  four 
years.  He  then  became  associated  with  his  brother  William  J.  in 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


111 


purchasing  the  business,  which  they  thereafter  conducted  under  the 
firm  name  of  J.  W.  Poe  & Bro.,  for  a period  of  ten  years,  closing 
out  the  enterprise  in  1894.  In  1900  John  W.  Poe  became  an  inter- 
ested principal  in  the  Swift  Creek  Lumber  Company,  but  disposed 
of  his  interest  in  the  same  a year  later,  since  which  time  he  has 
given  his  attention  to  banking,  real  estate  and  plantation  enter- 
prises. Upon  the  organization  of  the  Citizens’  bank,  of  Vidalia,  in 
1900,  he  became  a stockholder  and  director,  continuing  thus  until 
the  organization  and  incorporation  of  the  Bank  of  Vidalia  on  Jan. 
1,  1906,  when  he  became  one  of  its  heaviest  stockholders  and  was 
elected  its  president.  The  bank  is  capitalized  for  $25,000;  $150,000 
stand  for  insurance  on  deposits  left  in  the  institution ; its  capitalistic 
backing  is  represented  in  the  sum  of  $675,000,  making  it  a solid  in- 
stitution ; while  the  high  character  of  the  interested  principals  offers 
assurance  of  correct  management  and  the  employment  of  conserva- 
tive methods,  the  facilities  of  the  bank  being  of  the  best  in  all  de- 
partments. Mr.  Poe  is  a man  of  stanch  integrity,  has  won  advance- 
ment through  well  directed  effort  along  legitimate  lines  of  enter- 
prise, and  is  held  in  high  esteem  in  the  business  and  social  circles  of 
Toombs  country.  He  is  a stanch  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party, 
is  identified  with  the  local  lodges  of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons 
and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  their  home  city. 
In  February,  1896,  Mr.  Poe  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary 
Eugenia  Dickert,  daughter  of  C.  P.  Dickert,  of  South  Carolina,  in 
which  state  she  was  reared  and  educated.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Poe  have 
three  children — Worth,  Leland  and  Eugene. 

Poe,  Washington,  was  elected  to  Congress  on  the  Whig  ticket  in 
1844,  but  resigned  without  taking  his  seat.  But  little  is  recorded  of 
him  aside  from  this  fact. 

Point  Peter,  a village  of  Oglethorpe  county,  with  a population  of 
125,  is  on  a tributary  of  the  Broad  river,  twelve  miles  northeast  of 
Lexington.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  several  free  de- 
livery routes  to  the  surrounding  rural  districts,  and  is  a trading 
center  for  the  neighborhood.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Carl- 
ton, on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line. 

Point  Petre. — (See  War  of  1812). 

Pole,  a post-village  of  Habersham  county,  reported  a population 
of  43  in  1900.  It  is  about  five  miles  northwest  of  Clarkesville. 

Polk  County  was  laid  out  in  1851,  chiefly  from  Paulding,  and  was 
named  for  James  K.  Polk,  of  Tennessee,  eleventh  president  of  the 
Lhiited  States.  The  first  superior  court  in  the  county  was  held  in 


112 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


September,  1852.  It  is  bounded  by  the  following  counties : Bartow 
and  Floyd  on  the  north,  Pauling  on  the  east,  and  also  on  the  south 
of  a small  part  of  it,  Haralson  on  the  south  and  the  State  of  Ala- 
bama on  the  west.  Many  streams  cross  the  surface  of  the  county, 
the  most  important  of  which  is  Cedar  Creek.  The  lands  along  this 
creek  are  exceedingly  fertile,  equalling  the  celebrated  blue-grass 
region  of  Kentucky.  The  principal  productions  are  wheat,  corn, 
cotton,  rye,  barley,  sweet  and  Irish  potatoes,  and  sorghum.  The 
woods  are  hardwoods  and  some  short-leaf  pine.  The  county  fur- 
nishes an  almost  inexhaustible  supply  of  roofing  slate  of  good  qual- 
ity. Cedartown  is  the  county  seat.  Other  towns  are  Esom  Hill, 
Etna,  Hamlet,  Priors,  Rockmart  and  Seney.  Cedartown  is  a manu- 
facturing town  and  furnishes  a market  for  the  cotton  and  other 
produce  of  the  surrounding  plantations.  One  of  the  finest  limestone 
springs  in  the  state  is  located  here.  It  is  surrounded  by  a fine  cedar 
grove  and  affords  good  water-power.  The  public  schools  are  good 
and  at  Rockmart  there  is  a fine  school,  called  the  Piedmont  Insti- 
tute, which  is  accomplishing  much  for  the  boys  and  girls  of  that 
section.  The  population,  according  to  the  census  of  1900  was 
17,856,  a gain  of  2,911  since  1890.  Fine  opportunities  for  travel 
and  transportation  are  furnished  by  the  Central  of  Georgia,  the 
Southern,  and  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railroads. 

Pomona,  a village  of  Spalding  county,  is  on  the  Central  of  Georgia 
railway,  eight  miles  north  of  Griffin.  The  population  in  1900  was 
50.  It  has  some  mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  an  express  of- 
fice, a money  order  postoffice,  school  and  church  privileges,  etc. 

Ponder,  a post-hamlet  of  Union  county,  is  in  a mountainous  dis- 
trict, twelve  miles  southeast  of  Blairsville.  Clarkesville  is  the 
most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Pond  Spring,  a post-village  of  Walker  county,  reported  a popu- 
lation of  75  in  1900.  It  is  near  the  western  base  of  Pidgeon  moun- 
tain and  about  four  miles  east  of  Henry’s,  which  is  the  nearest  rail- 
road station. 

Pope,  David  H.,  attained  prestige  as  one  of  the  able  jurists  of 
Georgia  and  was  long  and  successfully  engaged  in  practice  at 
Albany,  Dougherty  county,  where  his  death  occurred  on  June  7, 
1904.  He  was  born  near  Marietta,  Cobb  county,  Ga.,  March  12, 
1840,  and  was  a child  at  the  time  of  his  parents’  removal  to  Walker 
county,  where  he  was  afforded  the  advantages  of  a course  of  study 
in  Villanow  academy.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he  removed 
to  Albany  and  in  this  city  was  solemnized  his  marriage  to  Miss 
Martha  W.  Hodges,  whose  parents  came  to  Georgia  from  South 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


113 


Carolina.  Here  he  read  law  under  the  preceptorship  of  General 
Slaughter  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  in  Clinch  county,  in  1860, 
having  previously  been  retained  in  a case  whose  trial  occurred  as 

soon  as  he  secured  admission  to  practice. 
Shortly  afterward  he  removed  to  Isabella, 
Worth  county,  where  he  formed  a profes- 
sional partnership  with  Col.  William  A. 
Harris,  under  the  firm  name  of  Harris  & 
Pope.  He  was  a resident  of  that  place  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  and  forth- 
with made  subordinate  all  private  inter- 
ests to  tender  his  services  in  defense  of 
the  cause  of  the  Confederacy.  He  en- 
tered a Georgia  regiment  of  volunteers, 
in  the  capacity  of  private,  remaining 
in  service  until  the  close  of  the  war 
and  hawing  risen  to  the  rank  of  captain.  In  1866  Judge  Pope 
removed  from  Isabella  to  Albany,  and  shortly  afterward  was  called 
to  the  office  of  solicitor-general  of  the  southwestern  circuit.  He 
was  judge  of  the  county  court  of  Dougherty  county  in  1872,  when 
he  resigned  the  office  and  removed  to  Sherman,  Tex.  Although 
he  was  eminently  successful  in  his  professional  work  in  the  Lone 
Star  State,  he  found  the  conditions  unsatisfactory  and  returned  to 
Georgia  within  the  same  year.  His  own  statement  in  explanation 
of  his  action  at  this  time  was  as  follows : “I  would  rather  plow  a 

no  horned  ox  on  the  red  hills  of  Georgia  and  enjoy  good  health 
than  to  be  governor  of  Texas  and  be  compelled  to  live  there.”  He 
resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Albany,  and  in  1879  en- 
tered into  partnership  with  Gen.  Gibb  J.  Wright,  this  professional 
alliance  continuing  until  his  son,  John  D.,  was  graduated  at  the 
University  of  Georgia  and  admitted  to  the  bar,  in  November,  1882, 
at  Camilla,  Ga.,  when  a partnership  was  formed  under  the  title  of 
D.  H.  Pope  & Son,  this  association  continuing  until  his  death. 
Judge  Pope  was  a stalwart  Democrat  of  the  Jeffersonian  school 
and  took  a deep  interest  in  party  affairs,  but  he  never  sought  or 
held  office  after  resigning  his  position  on  the  county  bench  of 
Dougherty  county,  as  noted,  though  he  was  several  times  urged 
to  accept  judicial  and  other  offices  of  trust.  He  devoted  his  ener- 
gies and  profound  ability  to  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession, 
in  which  he  attained  distinction  and  which  he  dignified  by  his  life 
and  services.  He  was  upright  and  conscientious  in  all  the  relations 


8— III 


114 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


of  life  and  his  name  and  memory  are  honored  by  all  who  knew  him. 
He  is  survived  by  his  wife  and  seven  children. 

Pope’s  Ferry,  (railroad  name  Pope  Station)  is  a post-village  in 
the  Southeast  corner  of  Monroe  county.  It  is  on  the  west  bank 
of  the  Ocmulgee  river  and  is  a station  on  the  Southern  railroad. 
The  population  in  1900  was  60. 

Poplar,  a post-village  of  Talbot  county,  is  ten  miles  northeast  of 
Talbotton,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station.  It  had  a popula- 
tion of  81  in  1900  and  is  a trading  center  for  that  section  of  the 
county. 

Poplar  Springs,  a post-village  of  Haralson  county,  is  about  six 
miles  northwest  of  Buchanan,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 
The  population  in  1900  was  46. 

Portal,  a town  in  Bulloch  county,  is  about  fifteen  miles  north- 
west of  Statesboro  and  is  the  southern  terminus  of  the  Foy  rail- 
road. The  population  in  1900  was  130.  It  has  some  important 
mercantile  establishments,  shipping  interests,  etc. 

Porter,  Oliver  S.,  is  to  be  considered 
as  the  virtual  founder  of  the  village  of 
Porterdale,  where  he  has  been  engaged 
in  the  manufacturing  of  cotton  goods 
about  forty  years,  being  one  of  the  best 
known  and  most  honored  citizens  of 
Newton  county  and  a member  of  old  and 
distinguished  families  of  this  common- 
wealth. He  was  born  near  Penfield, 
Greene  county,  Ga.,  June  18,  1836,  a son 
of  James  M.  Porter,  who  was  born  on 
the  same  family  homestead,  and  of  Al- 
fiah  J.  (Cox)  Porter,  who  was  born  in 
Morgan  county,  Ga.  The  paternal  great-grandparents  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review  were  John  and  Mary  (Anthony)  Porter,  who 
came  to  America  from  Belfast,  Ireland,  in  1745,  and  settled  in 
Prince  Edward  county,  Va.  At  the  inception  of  the  war  of  the 
Revolution  four  of  their  sons  became  valiant  soldiers  in  the  Con- 
tinental line,  in  which  they  served  until  the  cause  of  independence 
was  crowned  with  triumph.  The  youngest  of  the  four  sons  men- 
tioned was  Oliver  Porter,  grandfather  of  him  whose  name  initiates 
this  article,  all  four  having  been  present  at  the  surrender  of  Corn- 
wallis at  Yorktown.  Oliver  Porter  chose  as  his  wife  Margaret 
Watson  and  immediately  after  the  close  of  the  revolution  removed 
with  his  family  to  Georgia,  being  among  the  first  settlers  of  Greene 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


115 


county,  where  he  became  seized  of  a large  tract  of  land — the  plan- 
tation on  which  his  son  James  M.  and  his  grandson,  Oliver  S., 
were  born.  James  Hyde,  maternal  grandfather  of  Mr.  Porter,  was 
likewise  a patriot  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution  and  died 
from  the  effects  of  wounds  received  while  in  the  service.  The 
Hydes  and  Coxes,  of  the  family  line  on  the  maternal  side,  were 
from  Surrey  county,  England,  whence  the  original  American  pro- 
genitors came  in  1725  and  took  up  residence  in  Dinwiddie  county, 
Va.  In  1790  representatives  removed  from  the  Old  Dominion  state 
to  Wilkes  county,  Ga.  After  due  preparatory  discipline  Oliver  S. 
Porter  entered  Mercer  university,  which  was  then  located  at  Pen- 
field,  Greene  county,  where  he  continued  his  studies  for  some  time. 
Thereafter  he  was  successfully  engaged  in  teaching  for  two  years, 
and  two  years  in  civil  engineering,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time 
he  laid  aside  all  other  personal  consideration  to  go  forth  in  defense 
of  the  Confederate  cause.  In  July,  1861,  he  enlisted  as  a private 
in  the  Panola  Guards,  which  became  Company  G of  Cobb’s  Geor- 
gia Legion  of  infantry.  With  his  command  he  took  part  in  many 
important  engagements,  including  the  battles  of  Malvern  Hill, 
South  Mountain,  Sharpsburg,  Fredericksburg,  the  Wilderness, 
Salem  Church,  Gettysburg,  Knoxville,  second  Wilderness,  Spott- 
sylvania  Court  House  and  Cold  Harbor.  He  was  wounded  in  the 
conflict  at  Knoxville  and  in  an  engagement  in  the  Poge  valley,  Va. 
In  August,  1864,  he  was  captured  and  was  thereafter  held  as  a 
prisoner  of  war,  at  Fort  Delaware,  until  the  close  of  the  war,  re- 
ceiving his  parole  in  July,  1865.  In  January,  1863,  he  was  promoted 
to  the  office  of  adjutant,  in  which  he  served  until  his  capture. 
After  the  war  Mr.  Porter  was  engaged  in  teaching  for  three  years 
at  Covington,  Ga.,  and  then  located  at  Porterdale,  where  he  has 
since  been  actively  identified  with  the  handling  and  manufacturing 
of  cotton,  having  built  up  a large  and  important  enterprise  in  con- 
nection with  this  great  staple  product  and  gained  the  highest  rep- 
utation as  a reliable  business  man  and  loyal  and  public-spirited 
citizen.  Mr.  Porter  is  a member  of  the  American  society  of  me- 
chanical engineers  and  the  National  geographical  society,  and  is 
also  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Royal  Arcanum  and 
the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  gives  an  uncompromising  allegiance 
to  the  Democratic  party  and  has  been  influential  in  its  local  coun- 
cils, though  never  a seeker  of  office.  He  was  a member  of  the  state 
constitutional  convention  of  1877  and  a member  of  the  board  of 
commissioners  which  had  charge  of  the  organization  of  the  Geor- 
gia school  of  technology,  of  whose  board  of  trustees  he  is  now  a 


116 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


member.  Mr.  Porter  married  Mrs.  Julia  A.  (McCracken)  Camp, 
daughter  of  William  D.  and  Olivia  (Hayden)  McCracken,  of  Cov- 
ington, Ga.,  and  of  their  four  children  three  are  living,  namely: 
John  A.,  James  H.,  and  Oliver  W.  May  E.  died  in  childhood. 

Porterdale,  a little  village  in  the  central  part  of  Newton  county, 
is  on  the  yellow  river  and  is  the  terminus  of  a short  branch  of  the 
Central  of  Georgia  railway  that  runs  to  Covington.  It  has  a post- 
office,  a telegraph  office,  some  stores,  and  does  considerable  ship- 
ping. 

Porter  Springs,  a post-hamlet  and  noted  summer  resort  of  Lump- 
kin county,  is  about  eight  miles  north  of  Dahlonega.  Lula  is  the 
most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Posco,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northeast  corner  of  Polk  county,  is 
a station  on  the  division  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railway  that 
runs  from  Cartersville  to  Rockmart. 

Pots  Mountain,  a post-village  in  the  western  part  of  Dawson 
county,  reported  a population  of  110  in  1900.  It  is  a trading  cen- 
ter for  that  part  of  the  county.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is 
Jasper,  the  county  seat  of  Pickens  county. 

Potterville,  a post-town  in  the  eastern  part  of  Taylor  county,  is 
about  four  miles  southwest  of  Reynolds,  which  is  the  nearest  rail- 
road station.  The  population  in  1900  was  288.  It  has  several 
stores,  with  a good  local  trade,  school  and  church  advantages,  etc. 

Pottle,  Edward  H.,  lawyer  and.  soldier,  was  born  at  St.  Mary’s, 
Camden  county,  August  1,  1823,  and  was  of  Irish  lineage,  his  father 
being  a native  of  Cork,  but  came  to  the  United  States  about  1800. 
Edward  H.  graduated  at  the  University  of  Georgia  in  1844,  and 
soon  afterward  began  the  practice  of  law  at  Warrenton.  In  1846 
he  was  elected  to  the  legislature  and  reelected  two  years  later.  He 
then  served  two  terms  in  the  state  senate  and  in  1861,  when  the 
mutterings  of  war  were  heard  through  the  land,  he  organized  a 
company  known  as  the  “McDuffie  Rifles,”  which  later  became  part 
of  the  Fifth  Georgia.  Mr.  Pottle  was  elected  colonel  of  the  regi- 
ment when  it  was  organized  and  served  through  the  entire  war, 
taking  part  in  some  of  the  hottest  engagements  of  the  conflict. 
After  the  war  he  resumed  his  practice  at  Warrenton  ; was  again 
elected  to  the  state  senate  and  served  as  president  of  that  body ; 
became  judge  of  the  superior  court  in  the  northern  circuit  in  1872 
and  held  that  office  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  Jan.  20, 
1886.  He  was  a broad  minded,  liberal  man,  but  at  the  same  time 
was  positive  in  his  views,  and  even  his  enemies  respected  him  for 
his  strength  of  character. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


117 


Poulan,  a town  near  the  center  of  Worth  county,  on  the  branch 
of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  railway  which  connects  Albany  and 
Waycross,  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1899.  The 
population  in  1900  was  474.  It  has  express  and  telegraph  offices, 
a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  a bank,  a cotton 
mill,  several  business  houses  and  a good  trade  in  lumber,  turpen- 
'tine  and  rosin.  Thousands  of  pounds  of  grapes  are  shipped  from 
Poulan  every  season.  The  educational  and  religious  advantages 
are  good. 

Pound,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southern  part  of  Upson  county,  is 
not  far  from  the  Flint  river.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is 
Musella,  ten  miles  northeast. 

Powder  Springs,  an  incorporated  town  in  the  southwestern  part 
of  Cobb  county,  is  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railroad  and  in  1900 
reported  a population  of  280.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  from 
which  a number  of  free  delivery  routes  supply  mail  to  the  sur- 
rounding rural  districts,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  several  good 
mercantile  establishments,  good  schools  and  churches,  etc.  From 
June  10  to  July  4,  1864,  there  was  almost  constant  skirmishing  in 
the  vicinity  of  this  town.  Wheeler’s  and  Garrard’s  cavalry  being 
the  most  active  participants  on  the  Confederate  and  Federal  sides 
respectively. 

Powell,  Theophilus  Orgain,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  distinguished  mem- 
bers of  his  profession  in  the  state  and  the  incumbent  of  the  re- 
sponsible office  of  superintendent  of  the  Georgia  state  sanitarium, 
at  Milledgeville,  has  been  identified  with  this  noble  institution  for 
the  past  forty-four  years,  and  the  high  standard  of  its  functions  in 
all  departments  is  largely  due  to  the  able  guidance  he  has  main- 
tained during  this  long  period  of  faithful  service.  Doctor  Powell 
was  born  on  his  father’s  plantation,  in  Brunswick  county,  Va., 
March  21,  1838,  and  is  a scion  of  old  and  honored  families  of  the 
patrician  Old  Dominion.  In  the  same  county  were  born  his  par- 
ents, Col.  Marcus  D.  and  Eliza  (Orgain)  Powell.  In  1845  Colonel 
Powell  removed  with  his  family  to  Georgia,  locating  in  Sparta, 
Hancock  county,  where  both  he  and  his  wife  passed  the  remainder 
of  their  lives,  honored  as  folks  of  sterling  character  and  distinc- 
tive refinement,  the  colonel  having  been  an  officer  in  the  state  mili- 
tia of  Virginia.  Four  sons  of  Colonel  Powell  were  gallant  soldiers 
of  the  Confederacy  in  the  Civil  war, — Marcus  D.,  Jr.,  William  N., 
Theophilus  O.  and  James  M.,  of  whom  Marcus  D.,  now  a resi- 
dent of  Sparta,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  are  the  only  survivors. 
William  N.  met  his  death  in  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hill;  Dr.  James 


118 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Marcellus  Powell,  who  had  been  recently  graduated  in  a medical 
college  at  the  time  when  he  entered  the  military  service  of  the 
Confederate  States  of  America,  was  a private  in  a Georgia  regi- 
ment and  while  at  the  front  contracted  illness  which  resulted  in 
his  death,  soon  after  the  memorable  Seven  Days’  battle  in  the  im- 
mediate vicinity  of  the  city  of  Richmond,  Va. ; Dr.  Thomas  S. 
Powell,  the  eldest  of  the  family,  became  one  of  the  representative 
members  of  the  medical  profession  in  Georgia,  having  been  presi- 
dent of  the  Southern  medical  college  in  Atlanta,  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  a few  years  ago.  After  a due  academic  education  Dr.  The- 
ophilus  O.  Powell  was  matriculated  in  the  Medical  College  of  Geor- 
gia at  Augusta,  now  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of 
Georgia,  where  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of 
1859,  duly  receiving  his  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  He  at 
once  took  up  the  active  work  of  his  profession,  but  soon  came  the 
call  to  arms,  Civil  war  being  precipitated  on  a divided  nation. 
Early  in  1862  he  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  I,  Forty-ninth 
Georgia  volunteer  infantry,  and  shortly  afterward  he  was  tendered 
a choice  of  two  positions — that  of  surgeon  of  the  Fifty-ninth  regi- 
ment or  that  of  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Georgia  state  sanitarium. 
In  order  to  be  near  his  home  and  his  mother,  who  was  then  on  her 
death  bed,  he  chose  the  latter,  and  he  has  since  continued  to  be 
connected  with  the  institution, — during  practically  his  entire  adult 
life.  He  began  his  service  under  the  superintendency  of  Dr. 
Thomas  F.  Green,  of  revered  memory,  proving  a most  able  and 
valued  coadjutor,  and  upon  the  death  of  Doctor  Green,  in  1879, 
he  was  chosen  superintendent  of  the  sanitarium,  of  which  office 
he  has  since  remained  in  tenure.  Within  his  regime  of  more  than 
a quarter  of  a century  the  institution  has  advanced  to  a position 
of  distinctive  priority  among  similar  institutions  in  the  Union. 
When  he  assumed  his  original  position  as  assistant  surgeon  the 
number  of  inmates  in  the  sanitarium  was  about  325.  Now  there 
are  about  3,000.  This  great  state  institution  is  duly  described  un- 
der proper  heading  in  this  compilation,  so  that  further  details  con- 
cerning it  are  not  demanded  in  the  present  connection.  Doctor 
Powell  is  a recognized  authority  on  the  care  and  treatment  of  the 
insane,  and  is  ex-president  of  the  Psychological  association  of  the 
United  States  and  Canada  and  also  of  the  Southern  association  of 
insane  hospital  superintendents.  He  holds  membership  in  the 
American  medical  association  and  the  Medical  Association  of  Geor- 
gia, of  which  latter  he  was  formerly  president.  He  is  a Ivnight 
Templar  Mason  and  also  a member  of  the  Ancient  Arabic  Order 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


119 


of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  His  political  affiliation  is  with 
the  Democratic  party  and  he  and  his  wife  are  zealous  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  in  Milledgeville,  of  which 
he  is  a trustee  and  steward.  On  Dec.  12,  1860,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Doctor  Powell  to  Miss  Frances  Augusta  Birdsong, 
daughter  of  Edward  and  Harriet  (Clark)  Birdsong,  who  were  na- 
tives of  Virginia  but  were  residents  of  Hancock  county,  Ga.,  at 
that  time.  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Powell  have  one  daughter,  Julia,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Pope  West,  a resident  of  Baldwin  county. 

Powelton,  a post-town  in  the  northeast  corner  of  Hancock 
county,  reported  a population  of  162  in  1900.  It  is  the  principal 
trading  center  for  a large  agricultural  district  and  is  well  provided 
with  school  and  church  advantages.  Barnett  is  the  nearest  railroad 
station. 

Power,  William  R.,  is  one  of  the  prominent  members  of  the  bar 
of  Cobb  county,  having  been  established  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Marietta  for  nearly  thirty  years.  He  occupies  a place 
on  the  staff  of  Governor  Terrell,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant-col- 
onel, and  has  been  the  incumbent  of  the  office  of  county  superin- 
tendent of  schools  for  a quarter  of  a century.  He  was  born  in  Cobb 
county,  Ga.,  May  10,  1849,  a son  of  James  C.  and  Rosa  D.  (Austin) 
Power,  the  former  born  in  South  Carolina  in  1814  and  died  in  Cobb 
county  in  1901,  having  been  a farmer  and  mechanic;  the  mother 
was  born  in  South  Carolina,  in  1812,  and  she  likewise  passed  the 
closing  years  of  her  life  in  Cobb  county.  James  C.  Power  served 
as  a soldier  in  the  Cherokee  Indian  war  and  was  a government  pen- 
sioner at  the  time  of  his  death.  His  uncle,  James  Power,  was  at 
one  time  judge  of  the  inferior  court  of  Cobb  county.  Two  of  his 
sons,  John  J.  A.  and  Henry  C.,  were  loyal  soldiers  of  the  Confed- 
eracy in  the  Civil  war,  having  been  members  of  Phillips  Georgia 
legion,  commanded  by  Gen.  William  Phillips.  The  former  was 
wounded  while  participating  in  the  Maryland  campaign  and  died  of 
typhoid-pneumonia,  while  in  camp  near  Fredericksburg,  Va.  Henry 
C.  continued  in  the  service  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  is  still 
living.  Col.  William  R.  Power  secured  his  earlier  educational 
training  in  the  schools  of  his  native  county  and  then  entered  the 
University  of  Georgia,  in  which  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of 
the  class  of  1874,  receiving  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Science.  He 
immediately  went  to  Forsyth  county,  where  he  was  successfully 
engaged  in  teaching  in  the  common  schools  for  two  years,  at  the 
expiration  of  which  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Marietta,  where  he 
studied  law  under  the  preceptorship  of  Judge  George  N.  Lester, 


120 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  November,  1877.  Since  that  time  he 
has  been  engaged  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  in  this 
city  and  his  success  has  been  of  unequivocal  order.  In  politics  Col- 
onel Power  lends  his  influence  and  direct  support  to  the  cause  of 
the  Democratic  party,  and  he  takes  a specially  lively  interest  in 
public  affairs  of  a local  nature.  In  1881  he  was  elected  county  su- 
perintendent of  schools  for  Cobb  county  and  he  has  since  served 
consecutively  in  this  office,  a fact  that  not  only  indicates  the  able 
efforts  he  has  put  forth,  but  also  the  popular  appreciation  of  his 
services.  In  1894  he  was  appointed  aide-de-camp  on  the  staff  of 
Governor  Atkinson,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel,  and  was 
reappointed  to  this  office  by  Governors  Candler  and  Terrell,  being 
in  tenure  of  the  same  at  the  present  time.  He  is  affiliated  with  the 
lodge,  chapter  and  council  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  a past 
master  of  the  lodge  and  past  illustrious  master  of  the  council.  He 
is  also  identified  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows ; is 
president  of  the  Marietta  library  association ; a director  in  the  First 
National  bank,  and  is  a stockholder  in  the  Roswell  Manufacturing 
Company  and  the  Atlanta  Home  Insurance  Company.  He  is  con- 
nected with  the  state  bar  association  and  both  he  and  his  wife  hold 
membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  being  prom- 
inent in  the  best  social  life  of  their  home  city.  In  1881  was  sol- 
emnized the  marriage  of  Colonel  Power  to  Miss  Clara  Hamill 
Pearce,  daughter  of  Rev.  G.  J.  Pearce,  a distinguished  member  of 
the  clergy  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  and  at  one 
time  president  of  LaGrange  female  college  at  La  Grange,  Ga. 
Plis  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Eliza  A.  Glenn,  was  a daughter 
of  Rev.  John  W.  Glenn,  who  likewise  was  a prominent  minister 
of  the  Methodist  church  in  Georgia,  having  traversed  all  sections 
of  the  state  in  his  ministerial  labors.  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Power 
have  one  son,  James,  who  is  married  and  resides  in  the  city  of  At- 
lanta. 

Powers,  Frederick  F.,  commercial  agent  of  the  Central  of  Geor- 
gia railway,  was  born  in  Newcastle,  Province  of  Ontario,  Canada, 
Aug.  28,  1S55.  He  is  a son  of  Hon.  Calvin  S.  and  Mary  A.  (Bailey) 
Powers,  the  former  of  whom  was  likewise  born  in  Newcastle,  in 
1826,  and  the  latter  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  in  1824.  The  father,  who 
was  a marble  cutter  by  trade  and  later  a lecturer  on  scientific 
subjects,  removed  with  his  family  from  Ontario,  to  Fillmore  county, 
Minn.,  in  1S60.  Later  he  was  elected  to  represent  his  district 
in  the  state  senate,  and  served  in  this  capacity  for  several  years, 
having  been  a man  of  fine  intellectuality,  prominent  and  influential 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


121 


in  his  section  of  the  state.  He  continued  a resident  of  Fillmore 
county  until  his  death,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  His  widow 
continued  to  make  her  home  in  the  county  until  her  death,  in  1901, 

at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  has  one  brother  and 
one  sister  living:  Dr.  Albert  W.,  a suc- 
cessful physician  and  surgeon  of  Foun- 
tain, Fillmore  county,  Minn.,  and  Martha 
M.,  the  wife  of  Charles  W.  Greene,  of 
Spring  Valley,  that  county.  Frederick  F. 
Powers  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Fillmore  county  until  he  had  attained  the 
age  of  eighteen  years  and  remained  at  the 
parental  home  for  the  following  two 
years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  put 
into  active  requisition  his  skill  as  a tel- 
egrapher,' becoming  assistant  agent  in  the  office  of  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  & St.  Paul  railroad  at  Fountain.  He  continued  in  the 
service  of  that  company  as  agent  at  various  points  in  Minnesota 
and  Dakota  from  1875  to  1883.  Thereafter  he  was  in  the  employ 
of  the  Minneapolis  & St.  Louis  Railroad  Company  until  1897,  as 
junction  agent  at  various  points  and  for  differing  intervals  and  later 
as  commercial  agent.  He  thus  remained  resident  of  Minnesota 
until  1897,  when  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Central  of  Georgia 
Railway  Company,  with  which  he  has  since  continued,  having 
served  during  the  greater  portion  of  the  time  in  the  office  of  which 
he  is  now  the  incumbent,  having  in  charge  solicitation  and  traffic 
matters  covering  the  States  of  North  and  South  Carolina,  and  a 
small  portion  of  Georgia,  with  headquarters  in  Augusta,  Ga.,  where 
he  makes  his  home.  Mr.  Powers  is  an  advocate  of  the  principles 
and  policies  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  and  his  wife  and 
family  are  communicants  of  St.  Paul’s  Protestant  Episcopal  church, 
of  whose  vestry  he  is  a member.  On  May  6,  1877,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Wood,  born  in  Plainville,  Conn.,  Aug. 
4, 1856,  a daughter  of  George  and  Margaret  E.  Wood,  who  later  be- 
came resident  of  Juneau,  Dodge  county,  Wis.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Powers 
have  three  children : Eva  P.,  wife  of  Albert  S.  Edwards  of  the 

firm  of  H.  J.  Porter  & Co.,  Augusta ; Charles  S.,  soliciting  freight 
agent  in  the  traffic  office  of  the  Southern  railway,  Augusta ; and 
Frederick  F.,  Jr.,  who  is  now  attending  the  Richmond  academy  in 
that  city.. 


122 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Powersville,  a town  in  Houston  county,  is  on  the  Macon  & Co- 
lumbus division  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  and  is  about 
six  miles  northeast  of  Fort  Valley.  It  has  a money  order  post- 
office,  with  rural  free  delivery,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  some 
mercantile  establishments,  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  200. 

Prattsburg,  a post  village  of  Talbot  county,  is  twelve  miles  north- 
east of  Talbotton  and  not  far  from  the  Taylor  county  line.  How- 
ard is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Prescott,  a post-hamlet  of  Echols  county,  is  five  miles  west  of 
Statenville.  Lalcepark  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Presley,  a post-hamlet  in  the  central  part  of  Towns  county,  is  on 
the  headwaters  of  the  Hiawassee  river.  The  nearest  railroad  sta- 
tion is  Clayton. 

Press. — About  the  beginning  of  the  year  1763  the  first  printing- 
press  in  Georgia  was  set  up  at  Savannah  and  on  April  7th  the  first 
number  of  the  “Georgia  Gazette”  made  its  appearance.  This  was 
the  first  attempt  to  establish  a newspaper  in  the  colony  and  the 
Gazette  was  the  eighth  in  the  New  World.  It  was  published 
weekly,  James  Johnson  being  the  editor.  At  first  it  was  devoted  to 
general  news  and  took  no  notice  of  local  affairs  further  than  to 
publish  the  marriages,  deaths,  and  arrival  of  vessels  at  the  port  of 
Savannah.  By  1774  it  had  become  a political  organ  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  royal  governor,  but  later  it  showed  a tendency  to  fol- 
low the  fortunes  of  the  party  in  the  ascendant  until  1779,  when 
it  was  suspended. 

The  “Augusta  Chronicle,”  founded  in  1785  and  still  in  existence, 
is  the  oldest  paper  in  the  state.  It  was  edited  for  a number  of  years 
by  James  M.  Jones,  under  the  name  of  the  “Chroncle  and  Sentinel.” 
In  1799  “The  Constitutionalist”  was  started  at  Augusta,  but  was 
consolidated  with  the  Chronicle  some  years  after  the  Confederate 
war.  Complete  files  of  the  Chronicle,  extending  back  for  over  a 
century,  are  still  preserved  in  the  office  of  publication. 

On  March  16,  1823,  the  first  copy  of  the  “Messenger”  was  issued 
at  Fort  Hawkins.  The  old  oak  press  upon  which  it  was  printed 
was  made  in  England,  and  was  first  used  in  this  country  in  1796 
in  printing  the  “Louisville  Gazette,”  that  town  then  being  the 
capital  of  the  state.  In  1824  the  office  of  the  Messenger  was  re- 
moved to  Macon,  where  the  publication  of  the  paper  under  differ- 
ent names  was  kept  up  until  November,  1869,  when  it  was  consol- 
idated with  the  “Telegraph.”  The  Macon  Telegraph  was  founded 
in  December,  1826,  by  Dr.  Myrom  Bartlett,  who  remained  at  the 
head  of  the  paper  until  1844.  On  Oct.  1,  1831,  the  first  daily  paper 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


123 


in  Macon  was  issued  from  this  office  and  its  publication  continued 
for  about  two  years,  when  it  was  forced  to  suspend  for  want  of 
adequate  support.  In  February,  1860,  the  daily  issue  was  resumed 
and  since  the  war  the  Macon  Daily  Telegraph  has  been  one  of  the 
leading  papers  of  Central  Georgia. 

Other  early  newspapers  were  the  “Savannah  Georgian,”  started 
in  1818 ; the  “Savannah  Museum,”  in  1820 ; the  “Milledgeville  Re- 
corder,” in  1819;  the  “Federal  Union,”  also  of  Milledgeville, 
started  in  1825  and  subsequently  united  with  the  Recorder;  and 
the  “Columbus  Enquirer,”  which  was  started  in  1828.  The  “Union- 
Recorder”  is  still  published  as  a weekly  at  Milledgeville,  and  the 
“Enquirer-Sun,”  of  Columbus,  is  issued  daily  except  Monday.  The 
others  have  either  been  suspended  or  absorbed  by  other  publica- 
tions of  later  origin:  for  instance  the  “Morning  News”  of  Savan- 
nah is  the  successor  of  the  old  “Museum.” 

In  1900  there  were  24  dailies  in  the  state,  6 semi-weeklies,  274 
weeklies,  1 bi-weekly,  5 semi-monthlies,  29  monthlies,  and  1 quar- 
terly. The  daily,  weekly  and  semi-weekly  publications  were  gen- 
eral newspapers ; the  semi-monthlies  were  devoted  chiefly  to  church 
and  farm  interests ; the  monthlies  were  educational  or  professional 
in  character. 

In  the  work  entitled  “Georgia,  Historical  and  Industrial,”  issued 
by  the  department  of  agriculture  in  1901,  the  commissioner  says : 
“The  number  and  kind  of  newspapers  and  periodicals  published  in 
a state  afford  some  indication  of  the  character  of  the  people. 
Judged  by  this  standard  the  people  of  Georgia  are  entitled  to  rank 
among  the  most  progressive  of  the  populations  which  compose  the 
various  commonwealths  of  the  American  Union.  The  enterprise 
and  ability  of  some  of  the  great  daily  and  weekly  journals  of  the 
state,  both  secular  and  religious,  have  largely  increased  the  influ- 
ence of  Georgia  on  political  and  religious  lines,  and  combined  with 
the  ability  of  some  of  her  representatives  in  the  national  legisla- 
ture, have  given  to  our  state  high  rank  in  the  councils  of  the  repub- 
lic.” (See  Newspapers  and  periodicals). 

Preston,  the  county  seat  of  Webster  county,  is  located  on  a 
branch  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  connecting  Lumpkin,  Americus 
and  Savannah,  and  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in 
1857.  The  town  has  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a court  house, 
money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  good  business 
houses  and  attractive  homes.  Llere  most  of  the  products  of  Web- 
ster county  are  marketed.  There  are  churches  of  the  different  de- 


124 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


nominations  and  a good  system  of  public  schools.  The  population 
in  the  corporate  limits  by  the  census  of  1900  was  146. 

Preston,  Joseph  W.,  Sr.,  of  Macon, 
who  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
law  for  nearly  two  score  of  years,  is  an 
ex-member  of  the  state  senate  and  a vet- 
eran of  the  Confederate  service  in  the 
Civil  war.  He  was  born  in  Jasper  county, 
Ga.,  Dec.  19,  1839,  a son  of  William  H. 
and  Martha  Preston,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Brunswick  county,  Va.,  Jan. 
23,  1802,  and  the  latter  in  Jasper  county, 
Ga.,  in  1812.  Thomas  Preston,  grand- 
father of  Joseph  W.,  was  a soldier  in  the 
war  of  the  Revolution,  having  served  in 
a cavalry  company  of  young  men  which  constituted  a body  guard 
of  General  Washington  and  was  present  at  Yorktown  at  the  time 
of  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis.-  After  the  war  he  removed  to 
Georgia  and  settled  in  what  is  now  Jasper  county.  The  ancestry 
on  the  paternal  line  is  traced  to  William  Preston,  who  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  English  house  of  lords  in  the  sixteenth  century.  He  was 
the  owner  of  Beeston  Manor,  St.  Lawrence,  County  Suffolk.  Jacob, 
his  fourth  son,  died  in  1730,  having  been  knighted  by  King  Will- 
iam III,  in  1695,  and  having  resided  at  Preston,  England.  Thomas, 
one  of  the  four  sons,  is  the  ancestor  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
John  Preston,  another  descendant  of  this  house,  came  to  Augusta 
county,  Va.,  in  1735.  He  had  several  sons,  of  whom  were  Will- 
iam, Thomas  L.  and  John,  and  six  daughters : Elizabeth  married 

General  Carrington,  of  Halifax  county,  Va. ; Susan  married  James 
McDowell,  governor  of  Virginia,  1842-5,  and  member  of  Congress 
thereafter  until  his  death,  in  1851 ; Saphoriaba  became  the  wife  of 
Rev.  Robert  Jefferson  Breckenridge,  of  Kentucky;  Sarah  became 
the  wife  of  Gen.  John  B.  Floyd,  of  Virginia,  prominent  in  the  Con- 
federacy during  the  Civil  war;  Maria  married  her  cousin,  John  H. 
Preston.  Gen.  John  S.  Preston,  who  commanded  a division  of  the 
Confederate  army,  was  a member  of  the  faculty  of  the  University 
of  Virginia;  William  C.  represented  South  Carolina  in  Congress 
and  was  afterward  president  of  South  Carolina  college ; Margaret 
married  Gen.  Wade  Hampton,  of  South  Carolina.  Burke’s  Peer- 
age gives  full  data  regarding  the  family  genealogy,  three  branches 
being  represented  in  America  and  all  having  coats  of  arms  with 
mottos,  one  being  “Sui  Ipsius  Preastem.”  In  the  material  line  Mr. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


125 


Preston’s  grandfather  was  William  McDowell,  who  removed  from 
what  is  now  Rockbridge  county,  Va.,  to  Georgia  early  in  the  nine- 
teenth century  and  settled  in  Jasper  county.  His  wife  was  a Mc- 
Dade  and  both  were  of  Scotch  descent.  Many  representatives  of 
the  respective  families  settled  in  Virginia  prior  to  the  Revolution- 
ary war  and  figured  extensively  in  public  affairs,  both  in  war  and 
peace.  William  McDowell  became  a large  planter  in  Jasper  county, 
owning  many  slaves  and  having  a large  landed  estate  on  Murder 
and  Shoal  creeks — land  on  which  he  settled  when  it  was  a magnifi- 
cent primeval  forest.  He  reared  a large  family  of  children,  of 
whom  the  youngest  was  Martha,  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view. Two  of  the  sons,  Charles  and  Henry,  represented  their  re- 
spective counties  of  Pike  and  Spaulding  in  the  state  legislature,  in 
the  30’s.  Charles  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest  men  of  his 
day.  Another  son,  Daniel,  was  likewise  a wealthy  planter  in  Jas- 
per county.  Martha  McDowell  became  the  wife  of  William  H. 
Preston  in  the  year  1828,  and  of  this  union  nine  children  were  born, 
Joseph  W.  being  the  seventh  in  order  of  nativity.  His  brother, 
William  J.  M.  Preston,  is  now  living  at  Newborn,  Georgia.  Joseph 
W.  Preston  entered  the  junior  class  in  Mercer  university  in  1860, 
and  on  June  5,  1861,  he  withdrew  from  the  institution,  before  grad- 
uation, to  go  forth  as  a soldier  in  defense  of  the  Confederate  cause. 
On  the  7th  of  that  month  he  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  C, 
Eleventh  Georgia  regiment,  which  afterwards  became  the  Four- 
teenth Georgia  volunteer  infantry,  in  the  Confederate  service,  and 
with  this  command  he  at  once  started  for  Virginia.  He  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines,  the  Seven  Days’  fight  around  Rich- 
mond, the  engagements  at  Mine  Run,  Cedar  Mountain,  Gettys- 
burg, Williamsport  and  the  Wilderness,  being  under  fire  almost 
daily  from  the  third  day  of  May  to  the  fifth  day  of  June,  1862.  He 
fought  in  all  the  engagements  in  which  his  command  took  part 
around  Petersburg,  Va. ; was  captured  on  Sunday,  April  2,  1865, 
in  a hand-to-hand  battle  in  front  of  Battery  Grigg,  and  taken  to 
Fort  Delaware,  where  he  was  held  until  June  17th,  when  he  was 
paroled.  In  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines  he  was  wounded  in  the  neck 
by  a minie  ball,  but  was  not  long  incapacitated  for  duty.  In  No- 
vember, 1864,  Mr.  Preston  was  appointed  adjutant  of  the  Four- 
teenth Georgia  regiment,  at  the  request  of  his  colonel,  R.  Paul 
Lester,  and  he  served  as  such  until  the  time  of  his  capture,  though 
he  was  vigorously  fighting  with  a gun  when  taken  prisoner.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Preston  took  up  the  study  of  law,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  under  Judge  Augustus  Reese,  at  Monticello, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


126 


Ga.,  at  the  October  term  of  court  in  1867.  He  began  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Monticello  in  March,  1868,  and  there  contin- 
ued in  active  practice  as  an  attorney  and  counselor  for  eighteen 
years,  being  associated  with  Maj.  John  C.  Key,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Key  & Preston.  In  1873  he  was  appointed,  by  Gov.  James 
M.  Smith,  to  the  office  of  solicitor-general  of  the  Ocmulgee  circuit, 
and  was  reappointed  in  1876,  by  Gov.  Alfred  H.  Colquitt.  In 
1878-9  he  represented  the  twenty-eighth  district,  comprising  the 
counties  of  Morgan,  Putnam  and  Jasper,  in  the  state  senate,  but 
declined  to  become  a candidate  for  reelection.  He  was  chairman 
of  the  joint  committee  of  thirteen,  appointed  at  the  request  of  Gov- 
ernor Colquitt,  to  investigate  his  conduct  and  motives  in  signing 
what  was  known  as  the  Northeastern  railroad  bonds — an  investi- 
gation which  created  great  excitement  at  the  time.  He  was  also 
chairman  of  the  first  committee  appointed  to  confer  with  the  mayor 
and  council  of  Atlanta  in  reference  to  the  selection  and  acceptance 
by  the  state  of  the  grounds  on  which  the  new  capitol  was  to  be 
located,  and  which  the  city  had  publicly  tendered  to  the  state  in 
the  event  of  the  removal  of  the  capital  from  Milledgeville  to  At- 
lanta. He  was  the  author  of  the  first  act — afterward  passed  by 
compromise  and  substitute — providing  for  the  classification  of 
convicts,  and  was  an  active  member  of  the  judiciary  committee. 
Mr.  Preston  has  ever  been  an  uncompromising  Democrat  of  the 
Jeffersonian  school,  and  he  was  a member  of  the  national  Demo- 
cratic convention  of  1876,  in  St.  Louis,  which  nominated  Samuel  J. 
Tilden  for  the  presidency.  In  1887  he  was  appointed,  by  President 
Cleveland,  to  the  office  of  land,  reservation  and  school  agent  in 
California.  He  resigned  this  position  upon  the  election  of  Presi- 
dent Harrison,  returned  to  Georgia  and  located  in  Macon,  where 
he  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  since  March, 
1890.  He  is  a member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  church,  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  and  the  United  Confederate  Veterans.  On  Oct. 
3,  1865,  Mr.  Preston  wedded  Miss  Victoria  V.  Leverett,  of  Shady 
Dale,  Ga.  She  died  five  months  later,  and  on  May  20,  1869,  he 
married  Miss  Carrie  Natalie  Green,  of  Columbia,  S.  C.,  who  died 
on  May  22,  1886,  the  mother  of  five  sons,  two  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. William  H.  was  accidentally  killed  by  his  brother,  Dec.  18, 
1886,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years;  Joseph  W.,  Jr.,  and  Charles  Mc- 
Dowell are  the  surviving  sons,  the  former  being  a resident  of 
Alexander  City,  Ala.,  where  he  is  manager  of  the  Dutch  Bend 
Mining  Company,  and  the  latter  is  general  manager  of  the  Macon 
Stone  & Tiling  Company,  of  Macon.  In  1892  Mr.  Preston  was 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


127 


united  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Katie  (Shorter)  Brown,  daughter  of 
Col.  Reuben  Shorter,  of  Columbus.  No  children  have  been  born 
of  this  union. 

Pretoria,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Dougherty 
county,  is  about  three  miles  south  of  Walker  Station  on  the  Cen- 
tral of  Georgia  railroad. 

Price,  a post-hamlet  of  Hall  county,  is  about  eight  miles  north- 
west of  Gainesville,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Price,  William  P.,  was  born  in  1835.  He  learned  the  printer’s 
trade  and  later  attended  the  Furman  university,  at  Greenville,  S.  C., 
but  did  not  graduate,  leaving  college  to  become  editor  of  a news- 
paper. He  then  studied  law,  was  admitted  to  practice  at  Green- 
ville in  1850,.  and  for  a time  was  a member  of  the  South  Carolina 
legislature  from  that  district.  Directly  after  the  war  he  removed 
to  Georgia  and  was  sent  to  Congress  from  that  state  as  a Demo- 
crat in  1868  and  again  in  1870. 

Pride,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northern  part  of  Hancock  county,  is 
not  far  from  the  Greene  county  line.  The  nearest  railroad  station 
is  White  Plains. 

Prince,  Charles  H.,  was  born  at  Buckfield,  Me.,  in  1837.  He  re- 
ceived a limited  education,  after  which  he  engagd  in  mercantile 
pursuits.  During  the  war  he  served  as  a captain  in  the  Federal 
army,  afterward  settling  at  Augusta,  Ga.,  where  he  became  cashier 
in  a bank.  He  was  elected  state  superintendent  of  education  ; was 
a delegate  to  the  constitutional  convention  of  1865,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  was  elected  to  the  lower  house  of  Congress  as  a Repub- 
lican. 

Prince,  Oliver  H.,  was  born  in  Connecticut  about  1787.  After 
studying  law  in  his  native  state  he  removed  to  Macon,  where  he  be- 
gan practice.  He  was  elected  United  States  senator,  to  fill  the 
vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  Thomas  W.  Cobb,  and  served 
from  Dec.  1,-1828,  until  March  3,  1829.  He  died  at  sea,  Oct.  9, 
1837. 

Princeton,  an  incorporated  town  in  the  northeast  corner  of  Rock- 
dale county,  is  seven  miles  from  Conyers,  which  is  the  most  con- 
venient railroad  station.  The  population  in  1900  was  244.  It  is  a 
trading  center  for  that  section  of  the  county,  is  well  supplied  with 
schools  and  churches,  etc. 

Priors,  a post-village  of  Polk  county,  with  a population  of  77, 
is  on  the  Southern  railway,  about  three  miles  from  the  Alabama 
state  line.  It  has  some  commercial  interests,  an  express  office, 
etc.,  and  does  some  shipping. 


128 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Protection,  a post-hamlet  of  Gilmer  county,  is  ten  miles  due  east 
of  Ellijay  and  six  miles  southeast  of  Whitepath,  which  is  the  near- 
est railroad  station. 

Provincial  Congress. — The  first  meeting  of  this  organization  was 
convened  at  Savannah  on  Jan.  18,  1775.  The  general  assembly  met 
at  the  same  time  and  place.  Governor  Wright  made  an  address  to 
the  latter  body,  cautioning  them  not  to  be  “led  away  by  the  voices 
and  opinions  of  men  of  overheated  ideas.”  The  council  stood  loy- 
ally by  the  governor  but  the  house  was  more  independent  and  was 
open  in  its  expressions  of  sympathy  for  the  cause  represented  by 
the  Provincial  Congress.  When  the  governor  learned  that  the 
house  intended  to  elect  delegates  to  the  Continental  Congress, 
which  was  to  meet  at  Philadelphia  in  May,  he  adjourned  the  as- 
sembly to  May  9th.  This  action  did  not  prevent  the  Provincial 
Congress  from  taking  a hand  in  the  matter,  however,  and  that 
body  elected  Noble  W.  Jones,  Archibald  Bulloch  and  John  Hous- 
ton as  delegates.  Owing  to  dissensions  they  did  not  attend,  but 
Lyman  Hall,  who  was  elected  by  a special  meeting  of  St.  John’s 
parish,  went  to  Philadelphia  and  was  enrolled  as  a member.  But 
little  of  importance  was  accomplished  by  this  first  Provincial  Con- 
gress as  it  remained  in  session  only  five  days. 

On  July  4,  1775,  the  second  Congress  assembled  in  Tondee’s  long 
room  at  Savannah,  and  remained  in  session  until  the  19th  of 
August.  Every  parish  was  represented,  only  three  of  the  one  hun- 
dred and  four  delegates  who  had  been  elected  declining  to  serve. 
Archibald  Bulloch  was  chosen  to  preside  over  the  deliberations 
and  George  Walton  was  elected  secretary.  Among  the  members 
were  John  Glen,  who  had  served  as  president  of  the  first  Provin- 
cial Congress,  Noble  W.  Jones,  Jonathan  Bryan,  Edward  Telfair, 
Joseph  Habersham,  James  Screven,  the  Houstons,  John  and 
George,  four  of  the  Mclntoshes,  and  several  others  who  were 
destined  to  occupy  prominent  positions  in  the  annals  of  Georgia. 
Without  hesitation  or  apology  the  Congress  assumed  control  of 
colonial  affairs,  placed  the  legislature  and  executive  powers  in  the 
Council  of  Safety,  approved  the  Bill  of  Rights  adopted  by  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  issued  addresses  to  the  governor  and  the  people 
of  Georgia,  indicted  a petition  to  the  king,  and  elected  John  Hous- 
ton. Archibald  Bulloch,  J.  J.  Zubly,  Noble  W.  Jones  and  Lyman 
Hall  delegates  to  the  Continental  Congress.  But  perhaps  the  most 
important  act  was  the  formation  of  an  association  and  the  annun- 
ciation of  certain  principles  that  amounted  virtually  to  a declara- 
tion of  independence. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


129 


A third  session  of  the  Congress  was  held  in  January,  1776.  At 
that  meeting  Archibald  Bulloch,  John  Houston,  George  Walton, 
Lyman  Hall  and  Button  Gwinnett  were  elected  delegates  to  the 
Continental  congress.  Bulloch  and  Houston  did  not  attend.  When 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  adopted  it  was  signed  by 
Walton,  Hall  and  Gwinnett  as  Georgia’s  representatives. 

Fruit,  a post-village  of  Banks  county,  is  on  the  headwaters  of 
one  fork  of  Broad  river,  eight  miles  southeast  of  Cornelia,  which 
is  the  nearest  railroad  station.  It  had  a population  of  45  in  1900 
and  is  a trading  center  for  the  neighborhood  in  which  it  is  located. 

Public  School  System. — For  many  years  the  state  had  no  public 
or  free  schools,  though  the  legislature  made  provision  for  paying 
the  tuition  of  those  who  were  not  able  to  do  so.  The  fund  for  this 
purpose  was  derived  from  stock  held  by  the  state  in  various  banks, 
but  it  was  swept  away  by  the  destruction  of  the  banks  during  the 
war.  On  Dec.  11,  1858,  an  act  was  passed  setting  apart  $100,000 
annually  from  the  earnings  of  the  Western  & Atlantic  railroad  for 
educational  purposes.  The  act  also  provided  that,  when  any  por- 
tion of  the  state  debt  was  paid,  bonds  to  a like  amount  should  be 
executed  and  held  in  trust  by  the  secretary  of  state,  the  interest  at 
six  per  cent  to  go  to  the  educational  fund.  The  first  free  schools 
were  established  in  Forsyth  county  in  1860.  The  constitution  of 
1868  provided  that  the  legislature  should,  at  the  first  session  after 
the  adoption  of  the  constitution,  provide  “a  thorough  system  of 
general  education  to  be  forever  free  to  all  the  children  of  the 
state.”  The  matter  was  taken  up  in  a meeting  of  the  State 
Teachers’  Association  at  Atlanta  in  August,  1869,  and  a committee 
appointed  to  report  upon  a school  system  adapted  to  the  needs 
of  the  state.  This  committee  reported  to  another  meeting  of  the 
association  at  Macon  in  November  following,  and  that  report  forms 
the  main  provisions  of  the  law  enacted  by  the  legislature  and  ap- 
proved by  the  governor  Oct.  13,  1870.  That  act  established  a state 
board  of  education  composed  of  the  governor,  attorney-general, 
secretary  of  state,  comptroller-general  and  state  school  commis- 
sioner. An  educational  fund  was  established  by  the  revenues  de- 
rived from  the  poll  tax,  a special  tax  on  all  shows  and  exhibitions, 
from  the  sale  of  spirituous  and  malt  liquors  and  the  proceeds  from 
the  commutation  for  military  service,  and  if  these  sources  should 
prove  insufficient  the  legislature  should  “levy  such  general  tax 
upon  the  property  of  the  state  as  may  be  necessary.”  The  school 
system  inaugurated  by  the  constitution  and  the  act  of  1870  did  not 
really  go  into  successful  operation  until  1873  for  want  of  sufficient 


9— hi 


130 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


funds.  But  since  that  time  there  has  been  a steady  growth  both  in 
the  number  and  character  of  the  free  schools.  According  to  the 
report  of  the  treasurer  of  the  state,  the  amount  disbursed  during 
the  year  1904,  in  the  redemption  of  school  warrants,  was  $1,559,- 
958.27.  (See  also  the  article  on  Education). 

Pulaski,  a town  of  Bulloch  county,  is  on  the  Dover  & Brewton 
division  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  five  miles  west  of  Reg- 
ister. It  has  some  mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  schools, 
churches,  a money  order  postoffice,  etc. 

Pulaski,  Count  Casimir,  who  fell  mortally  wounded  at  the  battle 
of  Savannah,  Oct.  9,  1779,  was  a Polish  nobleman  and  was  born 
on  March  4,  1748.  His  father,  Joseph  Pulaski,  who  was  active  in 
the  Polish  opposition  to  Russia  growing  out  of  the  election  of 
Poniatowski  as  king  of  Poland  in  1764,  was  arrested  and  died  in  a 
Russian  prison.  Casimir  and  his  brothers  continued  the  partisan 
warfare  and  he  was  finally  chosen  commander-in-chief  of  the  Polish 
forces.  The  failure  of  the  movement  led  to  the  confiscation  of  his 
property  and  a price  being  set  on  his  head.  He  left  Poland  and 
at  the  time  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  signed  was  in 
France.  Being  a natural  lover  of  liberty  he  came  to  America, 
joined  the  Revolutionists,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Brandy- 
wine as  his  first  engagement  in  the  American  cause.  Soon  after- 
ward he  was  commissioned  brigadier-general  and  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  American  cavalry.  He  distinguished  himself  in  a 
number  of  battles  and  in  the  spring  of  1778  was  ordered  south. 
At  Charleston,  when  the  city  was  invested  by  the  British  in  May, 
1779,  he  held  out  against  a superior  force  for  nearly  a week,  until 
reinforcements  came  to  his  relief,  although  the  city  authorities 
urged  him  to  surrender.  At  Savannah,  in  the  following  October, 
he  was  in  command  of  the  cavalry  of  both  Lincoln  and  D’Estaing’s 
armies  and  while  leading  a charge  received  a mortal  wound  in  the 
upper  part  of  his  thigh.  Pie  was  at  once  taken  on  board  the  brig 
Wasp,  where  he  died  on  October  lltli,  two  days  after  being 
wounded.  Some  say  he  was  buried  at  Greenwich,  about  three 
miles  from  Savannah,  others  maintain  that  his  grave  is  on  an  isl- 
and between  Savannah  and  Charleston,  and  there  is  an  account 
that  Captain  Bentalou,  who  was  on  the  Wasp  at  the  time,  said  his 
body  was  cast  into  the  sea. 

Pulaski  County  was  laid  out  from  Laurens  in  1808  and  was 
named  for  the  Polish  nobleman,  Count  Pulaski,  who  fell  in  de- 
fense of  American  liberty  at  Savannah,  Oct.  9,  1779.  The  county 
is  very  irregular  in  shape  and  cannot  be  bounded  in  the  ordinary 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


131 


manner.  Laurens  county  borders  ' it  on  the  northeast,  Twiggs  on 
the  northwest,  Dodge  on  the  southeast  and  east,  Wilcox  on  the 
south,  Dooly  on  the  west  and  Houston  partly  on  the  west  and 
northwest.  The  Ocmulgee  river  enters  the  county  on  the  western 
side  and  crosses  it  in  a southeasterly  direction,  after  which  it  forms 
part  of  the  eastern  boundary.  The  soil  is  generally  fertile  but  that 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Ocmulgee  is  the  best.  Irish  and  sweet  pota- 
toes, cotton,  field  and  ground  peas,  hay  and  the  various  cereals  are 
the  principal  agricultural  productions.  The  forest  growth  in  the 
northern  part  is  mainly  oak  and  hickory,  in  the  south  it  is  pine. 
The  annual  output  of  lumber  is  great  and  turpentine  and  rosin  are 
exported.  Clay,  suitable  for  brick  making,  and  limestone  are  found 
in  abundance,  but  neither  is  worked  to  any  extent.  The  rocks  in 
this  vicinity  are  filled  with  fossils  and  are  especially  interesting  to 
the  geologist.  Along  the  Ocmulgee  is  fine  water-power,  some  of 
which  is  utilized  by  grist  mills,  and  other  factories  are  rapidly 
springing  up  in  the  principal  towns.  Hawkinsville  is  the  county 
seat.  Cochran,  Finleyson  and  Frazier  are  important  towns.  The 
county  is  well  supplied  with  transportation  facilities  by  two 
branches  of  the  Southern,  the  Wrightsville  & Tennille  and  the 
Hawkinsville  & Florida  Southern  railways,  and  the  steamboats  on 
the  Ocmulgee  and  Altamaha  rivers.  Much  of  the  produce  of  the 
farms  and  factories  finds  its  way  to  Macon,  Augusta  and  Brunswick. 
The  population  in  1900  was  18,489,  an  increase  of  1,930  in  ten  years. 
In  addition  to  the  public  schools  there  are  numerous  private 
schools  of  a high  grade  throughout  the  county. 

Pulaski  Monument,  at  Savannah,  was  erected  by  the  citizens  of 
that  city  to  commemorate  the  bravery  and  patriotism  of  Count 
Pulaski.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  by  LaFayette  on  March  21, 
1825,  in  Chippewa  square.  On  Oct.  12,  1855,  it  was  removed  to 
Monterey  square  and  relaid  with  appropriate  ceremonies.  The 
supposed  remains  of  Count  Pulaski  were  taken  from  the  grave  at 
Greenwich  and  deposited  in  the  granite  plinth  next  to  the  corner- 
stone. Robert  G.  Launitz,  of  New  York,  designed  the  monument, 
which  is  a chaste  and  imposing  shaft  of  pure  Italian  marble,  stand- 
ing on  a massive  granite  base,  surmounted  by  a statute  of  Liberty, 
the  total  height  being  fifty-five  feet.  In  the  pedestal  are  tablets 
showing  a soldier  falling  from  his  horse  and  the  coats  of  arms  of 
Georgia  and  Poland.  The  monument  is  considered  one  of  the  fin- 
est works  of  its  kind  in  this  country,  if  not  in  the  world. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


132 


Pund,  Charles  T.,  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  C.  T.  Pund  & Co.,  wholesale 
dealers  in  grocers’  specialities,  Augusta, 
was  born  in  that  city,  Jan.  20,  1859,  a son 
of  Henry  and  Amelia  E.  H.  (Knick- 
meyer)  Pund,  both  of  whom  were  born 
and  reared  in  Germany.  The  death  of 
the  father  occurred  on  Aug.  9,  1863, 
when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but 
four  years  of  age.  The  mother,  who  is 
now  the  wife  of  George  Evers,  still  re- 
sides in  Augusta,  being  sixty-nine  years 
of  'age  at  the  time  of  this  writing  in  1906. 
Three  children  of  her  first  marriage  are  living:  Charles  T.,  sub- 

ject of  this  sketch;  Henry  R.,  who  is  his  partner  in  business;  and 
Amelia  C.,  wife  of  Walter  C.  Prentiss,  of  New  Haven,  Conn. 
Charles  T.  Pund  left  school  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  to  serve 
an  apprenticeship  at  the  trade  of  marble  cutting  at  the  works  of 
T.  Markwalter,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  took  a posi- 
tion as  salesman  in  the  wholesale  and  retail  grocery  establishment 
of  Oetjen  & Doscher.  Upon  attaining  his  legal  majority  he  en- 
gaged in  the  same  line  of  trade,  associating  himself  with  C.  H. 
Oetjen,  under  the  firm  name  of  C.  H.  Oetjen  & Co.  In  1891  this 
alliance  was  severed,  Mr.  Pund  formed  a partnership  with  his 
brother  and  they  have  conducted  an  exclusively  wholesale  busi- 
ness, as  dealers  in  grocers’  specialties,  the  concern  having  gained 
a high  reputation  and  built  up  a fine  business,  under  the  firm  title 
of  C.  T.  Pund  & Co.  The  firm  is  located  at  971  Broad  street,  where 
they  erected  the  present  substantial  two-story  brick  business  block 
in  1899.  The  building  is  30  by  180  feet  in  dimensions,  two  stories 
and  basement,  and  is  one  of  the  fine  blocks  of  this  section  of  the 
city.  The  business  is  differentiated  from  the  general  wholesale 
grocery  trade,  in  that  greater  attention  is  given  to  the  handling  of 
special  lines.  Charles  T.  Pund  is  a stanch  supporter  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  and  its  principles,  is  a Royal-Arch  Mason,  a member 
of  the  Augusta  Schuetzen  club  and  a director  of  the  Merchants’ 
bank.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  St.  Matthew’s  Lutheran 
church,  in  which  he  is  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees.  On  Oct. 
10,  1894,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Meyer,  daughter  of 
Charles  Id.  R.  and  Martha  (Evers)  Meyer,  and  they  have  six  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Charles  T.,  Jr.,  Ernest  E.,  Adelaide  M.,  Florence  C., 

Ruth  M.,  and  Dorothy  A. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


133 


Purse,  Daniel  G.,  one  of  Georgia’s  most 
prominent  and  influential  business  men 
and  most  loyal  and  progressive  citizens, 
has  given  valued  aid  and  influence  to  the 
promotion  of  many  of  the  most  impor- 
tant enterprises  affecting  his  home  city 
of  Savannah  and  other  sections  of  the 
state.  He  was  an  officer  in  the  Confed- 
erate service  during  the  Civil  war,  is  a 
man  of  rare  capacity  for  the  handling  of 
affairs  of  great  scope  and  importance, 
and  has  made  an  indelible  impress  upon 
upon  the  economic  and  civic  history  of 
He  was  born  in  Savannah,  Nov.  14,  1839, 
a son  of  Thomas  and  Eliza  Jane  (Gugle)  Purse,  the  former  born 
in  Winchester,  Va.,  and  the  latter  in  Savannah,  Ga.  Thomas  Purse 
was  one  of  the  original  projectors  and  promoters  of  the  Central  of 
Georgia  railroad ; was  its  first  superintendent  and  during  his  con- 
nection therewith  invented  the  first  time-table  ever  employed  in 
the  operation  of  railroad  trains,  the  equated  principle  which  he 
thus  formulated  being  now  utilized  on  railroads  throughout  the 
world.  He  was  state  senator  in  1849-50 ; mayor  of  Savannah  in 
1862 ; was  for  many  years  before  and  after  that  period  a member 
of  the  Savannah  board  of  aldermen,  and  filled  many  civil  and  politi- 
cal positions  of  distinction  and  honor.  He  was  an  ardent  supporter 
of  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy,  but  physical  infirmities  prevented 
him  from  entering  the  ranks'.  For  many  years  prior  to  1861  he 
had  been  a martyr  to  inflamatory  rheumatism.  He  passed  to  his- 
reward  at  the  age  of  seventy  years,  honored  by  all  who  knew  him 
or  had  recognition  of  his  character  and  services.  Daniel  G.  Purse 
secured  his  preliminary  educational  training  in  private  schools  in 
Savannah  and  Sandersville,  Ga.,  then  entered  Emory  college  at 
Oxford,  Ga.,  but  left  the  institution  in  1857,  at  the  end  of  his  junior 
year  and  thereafter  took  a commercial  course  in  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
under  the  direction  of  Peter  Duff,  a celebrated  accountant  of  his  day. 
After  his  return  to  Savannah  he  took  charge  of  Monteith  academy, 
in  which  he  was  preceptor  one  year,  at  the  close  of  which  he  re- 
signed this  position  and  took  a clerkship  in  Savannah.  Subse- 
quently he  bought  out  a paint  and  oil  business,  which  he  was  suc- 
cessfully conducting  at  the  inception  of  the  Civil  war.  Prior  to  this 
he  had  connected  himself  with  the  Oglethorpe  light  infantry,  and 
when  hostilities  began,  not  being  able  to  leave  with  Company  A 


his  native  city  and  state. 


134 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


of  that  organization,  which  went  to  Virginia,  he  took  an  active 
part  in  recruiting  and  organizing  Company  B,  which  was  attached 
to  the  First  Georgia  volunteer  infantry,  and  of  which  he  became 
third  sergeant.  He  was  serving  as  sergeant-major  at  Fort  Pulaski 
when  he  was  transferred  to  the  ordnance  department  at  Savannah, 
and  served  most  acceptably  in  this  department  from  November, 
1861  until  November  1864.  Within  this  period  he  was  tendered 
and  declined  a second  lieutenancy  in  a camp  of  instruction  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  state  and  was  offered  the  captaincy  of  a com- 
pany in  the  field,  but  his  services  in  the  ordnance  department  were 
considered  so  valuable  that  it  declined  to  release  him  at  the  time, 
with  an  understanding  that  he  was  to  be  commissioned  and  as- 
signed to  duty  in  the  field  as  soon  as  he  could  be  spared.  In  No- 
vember 1864,  he  was  ordered  to  Augusta,  Ga.,  where  he  organized 
an  engineers’  supply  station  for  the  military  department  of  Geor- 
gia, South  Carolina  and  Florida,  with  a commission  as  military 
storekeeper  of  the  corps  of  engineers  and  the  pay  and  allowance  of 
captain  of  infantry.  He  was  always  under  the  direct  command  of 
Gen.  J.  F.  Gilmer,  chief  of  engineers  in  the  Confederate  service. 
In  1862,  while  in  the  ordnance  department,  as  the  result  of  a severe 
illness,  Captain  Purse  was  rendered  unfit  for  field  service.  He 
served  in  the  engineer’s  corps  until  the  close  of  the  war,  receiving 
a parole  at  Athens,  Ga.,  Aug.  16,  1865,  at  the  hands  of  Maj.  M.  A. 
Ewen,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-Sixth  New  York  volunteers 
and  provost  marshal.  Returning  to  Savannah,  he  has  continuously 
resided  in  this  beautiful  old  city,  and  the  impress  of  his  enterprise, 
vigor  and  zeal  is  stamped  upon  every  material  undertaking  that 
has  fostered  the  growth  and  prestige  of  the  progressive  city  of  his 
birth.  As  alderman  and  chairman  of  the  finance  committee  in  1877, 
after  Savannah  had  been  scourged  and  rendered  almost  bankrupt 
through  the  yellow  fever  epidemic  of  the  preceding  year,  he  suc- 
ceeded in  funding  an  oppressive  bonded  indebtedness  upon  terms 
much  more  favorable  to  the  city  than  the  most  optimistic  thought 
possible,  maintaining,  meanwhile,  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the 
city’s  creditors  and  his  fellow  citizens.  When  he  advanced  the 
idea  that  a railway  could  be  constructed  across  nearly  twenty  miles 
of  salt  marsh  to  Tybee  island,  it  was  received  with  doubt  and  its 
author  was  pronounced  a visionary;  yet  he  built  it,  and  the  island 
is  now  the  favorite  summer  resort  of  many  Savannah  and  Georgia 
people.  He  was  president  of  the  road  until  it  passed  into  the  con- 
trol of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway,  on  terms  most  favorable  to 
the  original  owners.  The  domestic  water  supply  of  Savannah  was 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


135 


drawn  from  a muddy  river  and  unsanitary  surface  wells.  Captain 
Purse  put  down  the  first  artesian  well  in  Savannah  and  the  second 
in  the  state,  demonstrating  the  fact  that  unfailing  crystal  waters 
flow  in  subterranean  channels  to  the  sea,  and  as  the  result  of  his 
experimentation  the  towns,  cities  and  islands  of  the  South  Atlantic 
coast  have  a pure  water  supply,  drawn  from  depths  ranging  from 
200  to  1,500  feet.  Savannah’s  entire  water  supply  is  now  derived 
from  artesian  wells.  Upon  the  very  beach  at  Tybee  island,  where 
the  salt  waves  wash  its  white  sands.  Captain  Purse  sunk  artesian 
wells,  and  fresh  water  was  found  for  the  thirsty  pleasure  seekers. 
He  was  the  leader  in  the  project  for  the  deepening  of  the  chan- 
nel in  the  river  from  Savannah  to  the  sea.  With  unparalleled 
energy  he  instituted  a campaign  of  education,  enlisting  the  inter- 
est and  support  of  Congressmen  in  every  state  in  the  Union,  at  a 
time  when  there  was  a growing  tendency  to  curtail  river  and  har- 
bor appropriations.  By  his  pen  and  voice,  by  his  visits  to  state 
governors  and  to  commercial  bodies  in  the  principal  cities  of  the 
West  and  South,  and  by  attending  meetings  of  state  agricultural 
societies,  he  marshalled  a corps  of  auxiliaries  that  made  the  way 
easy  for  the  generous  appropriations  which  resulted  in  the  deepen- 
ing of  the  channel  of  the  Savannah  river  so  that  vessels  drawing 
twenty-five  feet  can  now  enter  and  depart  from  the  harbor,  the 
result  being  that  Savannah  has  stupendous  shipping  interests,  rank- 
ing her  as  the  first  seaport  of  the  South  Atlantic  coast.  Captain 
Purse  was  elected  president  of  the  Savannah  board  of  trade  for 
fourteen  successive  years,  resiging  in  his  fourteenth  term,  on  ac- 
count of  the  pressure  of  his  private  business  interests.  During  the 
five  years  the  Savannah  bureau  of  freight  and  transportation  was 
in  operation,  he  was  its  able  and  zealous  commissioner,  the  organ- 
ization doing  a wonderful  work  for  Savannah  in  the  way  of  regu- 
lating freight  rates  and  adjusting  other  matters  touching  the  com- 
mercial welfare  of  the  city.  In  purely  local  enterprises  he  has  been 
repeatedly  chosen  the  leader.  In  securing  the  Camp  for  Lee’s 
army  corps  at  Savannah  in  1898 ; in  bringing  President  McKinley 
and  his  cabinet  to  the  city  in  1899,  and  Admiral  and  Mrs.  Dewey 
in  1900 ; in  securing  to  Savannah  its  massive  Georgia  marble  gov- 
ernment building,  and  in  securing  the  site  for  the  DeSoto  hotel 
he  was  a conspicuous  factor.  He  is  now  giving  his  attention  to 
the  real  estate  business  and  to  promoting  various  industrial  and 
manufacturing  interests  of  distinctive  importance,  particularly  in 
the  matter  of  the  cultivation  of  sugar-cane  and  the  manufacture  of 
its  products.  As  an  auxilliary  thereto,  he  published  a book  upon 


136 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


the  subject,  “Sugar-Cane”,  and  it  at  once  took  rank  as  a text  book, 
being  adopted  by  the  Federal  and  state  boards  of  agriculture  and 
chemistry  as  an  authority  upon  the  subject.  From  1881  to  1885  he 
served  as  president  of  the  Savannah  Bank  & Trust  Company,  re- 
signing in  the  latter  year  to  devote  his  time  to  his  private  inter- 
ests. He  is  president  of  the  Inter-state  sugar-cane  growers’  asso- 
ciation, which  is  accomplishing  a magnificent  work  in  promoting 
the  sugar  industry  in  the  South.  He  has  taken  great  interest  in 
legislation  for  the  prevention  of  adulterated  foods,  and  has  con- 
tributed earnest  and  logical  essays  to  the  press  of  the  country  in 
advocacy  of  Federal  legislation  in  this  direction.  The  pure  syrup 
law  of  Georgia  owes  its  passage  largely  to  the  public  sentiment 
created  by  him  by  his  public  letters  and  personal  efforts  through- 
out the  state  and  at  the  capital.  In  every  enterprise  in  which  he 
interests  himself,  he  manifests  unflagging  zeal  and  tireless  energy 
and  any  principle  he  advocates  is  strengthened  by  patient  research, 
logical  reasoning,  magnetic  and  enthusiastic  vigor,  by  forceful  and 
convincing  presentation  of  accumulated  facts  to  sustain  his  con- 
tention. In  politics  he  is  a stanch  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
party.  He  has  completed  the  circle  of  both  the  York  and  Scottish 
Rites  of  Masonry,  having  taken  the  thirty-second  degree  in  the 
latter.  He  has  long  been  a leading  member  and  communicant  of 
St.  John  church,  Protestant  Episcopal,  in  which  he.,  has  served  as 
secretary,  treasurer  and  vestryman,  retiring  as  senior  warden  of 
the  church,  from  parochial  offices,  in  1895.  On  Dec.  20,  1865,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Laura  Ashby,  daughter  of  Mar- 
shall and  Lucy  (Cooke)  Ashby,  of  Fauquier  county,  Va.,  and  of 
the  children  of  this  union  four  sons  are  living,  namely : Dr.  Mar- 

shall Ashby  Purse,  a successful  practicing  physician  of  Atlanta, 
Ga. ; Daniel  G.,  associated  in  business  with  his  father;  Thomas,  an 
accountant,  and  Clayton,  both  of  whom  are  employed  in  Savan- 
nah. The  third  child,  Henry  Ashby,  died  of  pneumonia  in  his  sec- 
ond year  as  a cadet  in  the  LTnited  States  naval  academy  at  An- 
napolis, Md.,  and  one  child  died  in  infancy. 

Putnam,  a post-village  of  Marion  county,  is  on  the  Columbus  & 
Americus  division  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway  system,  not 
far  from  the  Schley  county  line.  It  has  an  express  office,  some  mer- 
cantile concerns,  does  some  shipping,  and  in  1900  reported  a popu- 
lation of  107. 

Putnam  County  was  laid  out  in  1807  and  was  named  for  Gen. 
Israel  Putnam,  of  Massachusetts,  the  Revolutionary  hero.  It  lies 
in  the  central  part  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


137 


Morgan  county,  on  the  northeast  by  Greene,  on  the  southeast  by 
Hancock,  on  the  south  by  Baldwin  and  Jones,  and  on  the  west  by 
Jasper.  The  Oconee  river  flows  along  the  entire  eastern  border 
and  the  Little  river  crosses  the  western  part  of  the  county.  These, 
with  their  tributaries  drain  the  land.  The  soil  is  quite  fertile  and 
with  proper  cultivation  will  yield  good  crops  of  cotton,  sorghum, 
sugar-cane,  sweet  and  Irish  potatoes  and  all  the  cereals.  Dairy 
farming  and  cattle  raising  are  attracting  much  attention.  Peaches, 
plums,  apples  and  pears  are  raised  in  abundance  and  several 
canning  factories  do  a good  business.  There  are  a number  of  vine- 
yards in  the  county  and  much  of  their  produce  is  made  into  wine. 
Although  thousands  of  acres  of  the  original  forest  remain,  con- 
sisting of  short-leaf  pine,  oak,  hickory,  gum  and  poplar,  but  little 
lumber  is  made.  Several  varieties  of  granite  of  a good  quality  are 
found.  The  water-power  is  excellent,  but  little  used.  Eatonton  is 
the  county  seat;  Clopton,  Nona,  Spivey,  Stanfordville  and  Willard 
are  the  principal  towns.  The  Milledgeville  & Covington  branch  of 
the  Central  of  Georgia  crosses  the  county.  The  country  roads  are 
kept  in  fine  condition.  The  population  of  the  county  in  1900  was 
13,436,  a loss  of  1,406  in  ten  years.  On  the  Oconee  river  near 
Eatonton,  are  the  Oconee  Springs,  the  waters  of  which  are  strongly 
impregnated  with  iron,  magnesia  and  arsenic,  and  are  much  used 
by  invalids.  In  this  vicinity  there  is  also  a mound  composed  en- 
tirely of  quartz  of  different  varieties.  Upon  it  there  is  the  rem- 
nant of  an  ancient  wall,  nearly  circular  and  about  110  feet  in 
diameter.  This  county  was  the  home  of  James  Meriwether,  who 
was  prominent  in  Georgia  affairs. 

Putney,  a village  of  Dougherty  county,  with  a population  of  96, 
is  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  railway,  eight  miles  south  of  Albany. 
It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  some  stores,  and  is  an  important 
shipping  point  for  that  part  of  the  county. 

Putney,  Francis  F. — To  not  recognize  at  once  the  name  of  this 
sterling  and  influential  citizen  is  to  argue  yourself  unknown  in 
Dougherty  and  adjoining  counties,  where  his  magnificent  planta- 
tion interests  are  located,  and  where  the  postoffice  of  Putney  was 
named  in  his  honor.  He  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  planters  and 
land  owners  in  his  section  of  the  state  and  is  a man  who  com- 
mands the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  who  know  him.  Mr.  Put- 
ney is  a scion  of  old  colonial  stock  in  New  England,  of  which 
section  he  himself  is  native,  having  been  born  at  Fitzwilliam, 
Cheshire  county,  N.  H.,  Aug.  11,  1837,  a son  of  John  K.  and  Phoebe 
(Flagg)  Putney,  the  former  born  in  Fitzwilliam  in  1802,  and  the 


13S 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


latter  in  Littleton,  Middlesex  county,  Mass.,  in  1808.  Both  passed 
their  entire  lives  in  New  England,  where  the  father  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits  during  the  greater  portion  of  his  active  career. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  afforded 
the  advantages  of  the  common  schools 
and  the  New  London  academy  at  New 
London,  N.  H.,  where  he  gained  a good 
practical  education.  His  business  ex- 
periences were  varied  up  to  the  time  of 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  and  in 
April,  1862,  true  to  the  principles  and  in- 
stitutions under  whose  influence  he  had 
been  reared,  he  tendered  his  services  in 
defense  of  the  Union,  enlisting  as  a priv- 
ate in  Company  F,  First  Oregon  cavalry, 
with  which  he  continued  in  active  service 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  having  been  promoted  sergeant  of  his 
company.  He  received  his  honorable  discharge  in  April,  1865.  Con- 
cerning his  career  in  Georgia  no  better  epitome  can,  perhaps,  be 
given  than  that  which  appears  in  an  attractive  brochure  recently 
published  for  the  purpose  of  exploiting  the  attractions  and  advan- 
tages of  Dougherty  county:  “Dougherty  county  is  the  center  of  the 
richest  agricultural  belt  of  the  south,  and  her  farms,  naturally,  are 
the  principal  source  of  her  wealth.  The  logic  of  facts  is  potent  wher- 
ever applied.  In  line  with  this  idea  the  achievement  of  one  Dough- 
erty county  farmer  is  valuable  as  an  agricultural  object  lesson,  and 
is  here  set  forth  as  an  example  of  what  may  be  accomplished  in  a 
region  where  natural  conditions  leave  nothing  to  be  desired  and 
where  the  soil  returns  rich  dividends  on  the  investment  of  indus- 
try. Mr.  F.  F.  Putney  came  to  Dougherty  county  in  1865.  He  was 
then  a man  of  modest  means,  abundant  energy  and  far  reaching 
ambition.  Moreover,  he  believed  in  the  south.  He  saw,  through 
the  lifting  clouds  born  of  our  great  civil  conflict,  the  unlimited  pos- 
sibilities of  this  section,  and  boldly  cast  in  his  fortune  with  what 
then  appeared  to  him,  as  it  appears  to-day,  to  be  the  fairest  and 
richest  region  of  the  whole  southland.  While  to-day  Mr.  Putney’s 
business  interests  are  varied,  his  prosperity  having  drawn  him  into 
many  more  or  less  important  enterprises,  he  is  still  a farmer. 
Farming  was  the  beginning  of  his  success.  It  has  been  the  sub- 
ject of  his  best  thought  and  closest  attention  from  then  till  now, 
and  as  a farmer  he  still  purposes  to  live  and  labor.  Mr.  Putney’s 
home  is  eight  miles  south  of  Albany.  The  Savannah,  Florida  & 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


139 


Western  division  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  runs  through  his 
lands,  and  the  road  has  a station  within  about  two  hundred  yards 
of  his  dwelling.  The  station  is  known  as  Hardaway,  but  the  post- 
office  is  Putney.  Quite  a busy  little  village  has  grown  up  around 
the  station,  but  everything  in  the  settlement  is  associated  with  the 
Putney  interests.  There  is  a big  two-story  brick  store  filled  with 
merchandise,  but  most  of  its  customers  are  renters,  ‘croppers’  or 
employes  on  the  Putney  farms.  There  is  a big  gin  and  grist  mill 
near  the  store,  but  it  gins  cotton  and  mills  grain  grown  principally 
on  the  Putney  lands.  A cotton  warehouse  contains  none  but  Put- 
ney cotton — 2,500  bales  after  a season’s  crop  is  all  in.  Huge  barns 
and  storehouses  are  overflowing  with  fruits  of  the  Putney  fields; 
neat  cottages  are  occupied  by  Putney  overseers,  clerks  and  ac- 
countants ; a well  equipped  saw  mill  turns  out  lumber  from  logs  cut 
in  the  Putney  forests ; and  the  cattle  seen  in  the  pastures  have  the 
letter  P branded  on  their  flanks.  The  little  town  is  a busy  place, 
but  it  is  all  the  outgrowth  of  Mr.  Putney’s  successful  farming  oper- 
ations. The  farms  alone  serve  to  keep  the  village  busy.  Mr.  Put- 
ney owns,  either  exclusively  or  in  part,  27,000  acres  of  land.  This 
immense  tract  extends  in  every  direction  from  Hardaway.  It  em- 
braces splendid  pastures,  many  heavily  timbered  lots  and  some  of 
the  finest  farming  land  that  the  sun  shines  on.  It  extends  into 
Mitchell  and  Worth  counties  on  the  south  and  east  and  constitutes 
an  estate  which  a prince  might  envy.  Mr.  Putney’s  fortune  is 
ample,  but  in  superintending  the  planting  and  harvesting  of  his 
abundant  crops  he  finds  relaxation  and  unfailing  pleasure,  consider- 
ations than  which  none  appear  more  tempting.  His  annual  cot- 
ton crop  ranges  from  2,000  to  2,500  bales,  worth  from  $125,000  to 
$175,000.  Other  crops— corn,  oats,  peas,  rye,  sweet  and  Irish 
potatoes,  sugar  cane,  hay,  ground  peas,  etc. — are  of  proportionate 
size.”  Mr.  Putney  is  a Republican  in  his  political  adherency,  and  in 
1870-72  he  represented  Dougherty  county  in  the  state  legislature. 
He  is  loyal  and  public-spirited  and  has  unbounded  faith  in  the  ever 
increasing  prosperity  of  his  county  and  state.  He  is  affiliated  with 
the  lodge  of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  in  Albany.  On  Oct.  18, 
1866,  Mr.  Putney  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Harriet  Whitford, 
daughter  of  Hiram  and  Bethiah  Whitford,  of  Woburn,  Mass.,  and 
she  died  in  September,  1867,  her  only  child  having  died  soon  after 
birth.  On  July  20,  1897,  Mr.  Putney  married  Mrs.  Ella  Whitford, 
daughter  of  Mrs.  Abbie  Dimick,  and  they  have  no  children.  Mrs. 
Putney  is  a member  of  the  Congregational  church. 


140 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Pye,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Wayne  county, 
is  about  three  miles  from  Odum,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad 
station. 

Pyrites. — In  mineralogy  pyrites  are  described  as  being  an  isome- 
tric mineral,  occuring  either  crystallized  or  massive,  in  mammillary 
forms  with  fibrous  structure,  or  of  stalactitic  origin  with  crystalline 
surface.  Iron  pyrite  is  composed  of  sulphur  and  iron,  its  principle 
economic  use  being  in  the  manufacture  of  sulphuric  acid.  It  is 
found  in  large  quantities  and  at  various  localities  in  Georgia,  sev- 
eral veins  having  been  opened  before  the  war  by  people  who  were 
prospecting  for  copper.  The  largest  deposits  are  in  Lumpkin  coun- 
ty, on  the  Chestatee  river,  about  six  miles  from  Dahlonega.  The 
ore  here  is  of  fine  quality  and  easily  mined,  but  the  nearest  railway 
station  being  twenty  miles  distant  the  deposit  is  not  worked  because 
the  ore  can  not  be  placed  in  the  market  except  at  great  expense. 
Other  valuable  deposits  have  been  found  in  Fannin,  Cherokee, 
Paulding,  Floyd,  Haralson,  Carroll  and  Fulton  counties.  It  has  been 
worked  near  Dallas,  in  Paulding  county,  and  the  ore  shipped  to 
Atlanta  whete  it  was  used  in  making  sulphuric  acid.  The  ore  from 
this  vein  contains  about  forty  per  cent  sulphur,  five  per  cent  copper, 
some  silver  and  a little  gold.  The  deposits  in  Fulton  county  have 
also  been  worked,  but  the  quantity  was  too  small  to  be  remunera- 
tive. 

Q 

Quartz,  a post-village  of  Rabun  county,  is  in  a picturesque  dis- 
trict, on  the  headwaters  of  the  Tallulah  river,  about  eight  miles 
northwest  of  Clayton,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Quebec,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southern  part  of  Union  county,  is 
near  the  base  of  Blood  mountain.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is 
Blueridge,  the  county  seat  of  Fannin  county. 

Queensbury. — DeBrahm,  in  his  History  of  the  Province  of 
Georgia,  mentions  a town  called  Queensbury  as  being  one  of  the 
early  settlements,  and  locates  it  in  the  fork  of  Lambert’s  river  and 
the  Great  Ogeechee,  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  from  the  sea. 
At  one  time  the  town  and  the  district  surrounding  it  had  a popula- 
tion of  two  hundred  and  seventy  families.  As  most  of  the  inhabi- 
tants were  Irish  the  place  was  generally  known  as  the  “Irish  Set- 
tlement.” In  his  Historical  Collections  White  speaks  of  a “Queens- 
borough,”  two  miles  southeast  of  Louisville,  in  Jefferson  county. 
By  comparing  this  with  DeBrahm’s  account  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
two  names  evidently  refer  to  the  same  place.  Descending  the  Ogee- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


141 


chee  river  from  Louisville  for  two  miles  brings  one  near  the  mouth 
of  Duhart’s  creek,  which  is  probably  the  Lambert’s  river  spoken  of 
by  DeBrahm.  All  traces  of  the  old  town  of  Queensbury  have  long 
since  disappeared. 

Quillian,  John  Wylie,  M.  D.,  holds 
prestige  afs  one  of  the  representative  phy- 
sicians and  surgeons  of  Gwinnett  county, 
being  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Buford,  where  he  also  conducts 
a drug  store.  He  is  a Confederate  vet- 
eran and  one  of  the  well  known  and  hon- 
ored citizens  of  his  native  state,  and  was 
born  in  that  portion  of  Union  county, 
Ga.,  which  is  now  included  in  Fannin 
county,  Aug.  15,  1847.  His  father,  James 
Milton  Quillian,  was  born  in  Franklin 
county,  Ga.,  Jan.  25,  1823,  and  his  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Murray,  was  born  in  Buncombe  county, 
N.  C.,  Oct.  17,  1825.  The  ancestors  on  both  sides  were  of  stanch 
Scotch-Irish  stock  and  the  respective  families  were  founded  in 
America  in  the  seventeenth  century,  the  Quillians  settling  in  Vir- 
ginia and  North  Carolina  and  the  Murrays  in  the  latter  state.  Rep- 
resentatives of  the  Murray  family  were  patriot  soldiers  of  the 
Continental  line  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  James  M.  Quillian 
was  a successful  planter  of  Union  county  and  was  a man  of  promi- 
nence and  iftfluence  in  his  community,  having  taken  an  active  part 
in  public  affairs  as  a stanch  Whig  of  the  old-line  type:  He  served 
in  nearly  all  the  county  offices  and  as  a member  of  the  lower  house 
of  the  state  legislature.  Doctor  Quillian  was  reared  to  maturity  in 
his  native  county  and  was  afforded  the  advantages  of  Clayton  acad- 
emy at  Clayton,  Rabun  county.  On  July  17,  1864,  about  one  month 
prior  to  his  seventeenth  birthday,  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate 
service,  as  a private  in  Company  F,  Eleventh  Georgia  cavalry.  He 
was  a participant  in  the  engagement  at  Atlanta,  Nov.  14,  1864,  the 
day  before  General  Sherman  left  that  city  on  his  march  through 
Georgia.  He  took  part  in  the  engagement  near  Griswoldville,  Ga., 
was  in  many  skirmishes,  and  the  battle  near  Waynesboro,  Ga.,  Dec. 
4,  1864.  He  was  thereafter  detailed  in  the  quartermaster’s  depart- 
ment, in  which  he  served,  at  Columbia,  S.  C.,  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  After  finishing  his  military  career,  he  returned  to  Augusta 
and  later  went  to  Wallhalla,  S.  C.,  where  he  studied  medicine  under 
the  preceptorship  of  Drs.  L.  B.  Johnson  and  B.  W.  Bell.  Subse- 


142 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


quently  he  took  one  course  of  lectures  in  Jefferson  medical  college 
in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  in  1873  he  was  graduated  in  the  Atlanta 
college  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  receiving  his  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Medicine.  Pie  has  since  been  actively  engaged  in  the  work  of  his 
chosen  profession,  in  which  he  has  been  most  successful.  Prior  to 
locating  in  Buford  he  had  practiced  at  Homer,  Ga.,  Easley  and 
Spartanburg,  S.  C.,  and  Atlanta.  He  is  a member  of  the  Medical 
Association  of  Georgia,  the  Tri-State  medical  association,  of 
Georgia,  Alabama  and  Tennessee,  and  the  Georgia  state  pharma- 
ceutical association.  He  is  affiliated  with  Phidelta  Lodge,  No.  146, 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons ; Taylor  Chapter,  Royal  Arch  Masons ; 
Jason  Burr  Council,  Royal  and  Select  Masters;  Pilgrim  Command- 
ery,  Knights  Templars;  and  Homer  Lodge,  No.  82,  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  The  doctor  is  a loyal  adherent  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  but  has  never  desired  or  held  public  office.  He  is  a 
prominent  and  zealous  member  of  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
South ; has  held  all  the  church  offices  to  which  a lay  member  is  eli- 
gible ; and  in  May,  1890,  was  a delegate  to  the  general  conference  of 
the  church  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  On  Nov.  15,  1868,  was  solemnized 
the  marriage  of  Doctor  Quillian  to  Miss  Mary  Martin,  a daughter 
of  Salathiel  and  Mary  (Sheriff)  Martin,  of  Pickensville,  S.  C.  Of 
their  four  children  one,  Cora  Ella,  died  in  infancy.  Lalla  May  is 
the  wife  of  Dr.  J.  B.  George,  of  Gainesville,  Ga. ; Mary  Pauline  is 
the  wife  of  W.  J.  Porter,  of  the  same  city;  and  Sadie  Myrtle  is  the 
wife  of  T.  Cliff  Mayson,  of  Buford. 

Quince,  a town  in  Toombs  county,  is  about  ten  miles  northeast 
of  Lyons,  and  two  miles  from  Cobbtown,  which  is  the  nearest  rail- 
road station.  The  population  in  1900  was  210.  It  has  a money 
order  postoffice  and  is  a trading  center  for  that  part  of  the  county. 

Quincey,  John  William,  of  Douglas,  is  one  of  the  leading  mem- 
bers of  the  Coffee  county  bar,  is  ex-judge  of  the  city  court  of  Doug- 
las, and  has  been  one  of  the  prominent  upbuilders  of  this  thriving 
little  city,  upon  whose  civic  and  social  affairs  he  has  made  a deep 
impress,  as  has  he  also  in  professional  and  business  lines.  Judge 
Quincey  was  born  in  White  Springs,  Hamilton  county,  Fla.,  Sept. 
27,  1867,  a son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  J.  (Bird)  Quincey,  the  former 
born  in  Cambridgeshire,  England,  Jan.  9,  1838,  and  the  latter  in 
Lynn-Regis,  Norfolk  county,  England,  Sept.  13,  1837.  The  father 
now  maintains  his  home  in  Douglas,  his  cherished  and  devoted  wife 
having  passed  away  in  September,  1901.  They  became  the  parents 
of  six  children,  of  whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  third  in 
order  of  birth.  Hendricks  J.,  who  was  born  Nov.  6,  1876,  is  en- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


143 


gaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in  Ocilla,  Ga. ; Caroline,  who  was  born 
in  1862,  married  John  C.  Wimer  and  is  now  deceased;  Sadie  died  in 
the  year  1884;  Isabel  Georgia  became  the  wife  of  Andrew  Rush  and 
is  now  deceased;  Elizabeth  Ann  is  the  wife  of  James  H.  Collier,  of 
Rocky,  Levy  county,  Fla.  Samuel  Ouincey,  father  of  the  Judge, 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1858,  and  settled  in  the  state  of  New 
York,  where  he  remained  until  the  following  year,  when  he  removed 
to  Florida,  in  which  state  he  maintained  his  residence  until  1901, 
when  he  removed  to  Douglas,  Ga.,  which  has  since  continued  his 
place  of  abode.  He  has  served  in  various  positions  of  public  trust, 
having  been  a member  of  the  board  of  education  at  Bronson,  Fla. ; 
represented  Levy  county,  that  state,  in  the  legislature,  1885-6 ; was 
chairman  of  the  board  of  commissioners  of  that  county  for  twelve 
years,  remaining  the  incumbent  of  this  position  until  the  time  of 
his  removal  to  Georgia.  Judge  Ouincey  secured  his  preliminary 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  Levy  county,  Fla.,  and  was 
graduated  in  the  Jasper  normal  institute  as  a member  of  the  class 
of  1893.  In  the  meanwhile  he  had  been  a successful  teacher  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  state,  teaching  during  the  intervals  not  given 
to  his  own  educational  work.  He  took  up  the  study  of  law  in  the 
office  of  Humphreys  & Edmundson,  of  Quitman,  Ga.,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  April,  1894.  He  forthwith  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Douglas,  where  he  has  advanced  to  prominence  and  defi- 
nite success  in  the  work  of  his  profession,  being  a member  of  the 
law  firm  of  Ouincey  & McDonald.  In  1901  he  received  from  Gov- 
ernor Candler  the  appointment  to  the  office  of  judge  of  the  city 
court  of  Douglas,  and  held  this  office  two  years,  making  an  excel- 
lent record  on  the  bench  and  resigning  by  reason  of  the  exigent  de- 
mands of  his  regular  professional  business.  He  has  been  a member 
of  the  board  of  education  of  Douglas  from  the  time  of  its  organiza- 
tion and  is  the  present  chairman  of  the  same.  In  politics  Judge 
Ouincey  is  known  as  an  aggressive  and  able  advocate  of  the  prin- 
ciples and  policies  of  the  Democratic  party,  having  served  as  dele- 
gate to  various  conventions  of  the  party  and  as  a valued  member 
of  the  Democratic  executive  committee  of  Coffee  county.  He  is 
affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  Mrs.  Ouincey  is  a communicant  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  church.  Judge  Ouincey  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  LTnion  Banking  Company,  of  Douglas,  and  also  of  the 
Douglas,  Augusta  & Gulf  railroad,  of  which  he  is  now  a director, 
as  is  he  also  of  the  Douglas  Supply  Company,  which  conducts  an 
extensive  general  mercantile  business.  He  has  given  his  influence 


144 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


and  tangible  support  to  all  measures  tending  to  advance  the  welfare 
and  material  upbuilding  of  this  home  city.  He  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Douglas  when  it  was  a mere  hamlet  and  has  ever  been 
known  as  one  of  its  most  progressive,  liberal  and  loyal  citizens.  In 
October,  1894,  Judge  Quincey  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Blanch  Frink,  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Fla.,  Feb.  22,  1876,  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  L.  F.  and  Benita  (Hately)  Frink,  of  Lake  City, 
Fla.  Doctor  Frink  was  born  Aug.  8,  1846,  and  died  April  25,  1903; 
his  wife  was  born  March  25,  1854,  and  died  Aug.  24,  1885.  Judge 
and  Mrs.  Quincey  have  two  children — Hately  Jennings,  born  Aug. 
19,  1900,  and  Blanch,  born  March  13,  1902. 

Quincy,  Rev.  Samuel,  a clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England, 
who  was  appointed  missionary  to  Savannah  to  succeed  Doctor 
Herbert.  He  reached  Georgia  in  March,  1733,  and  remained  there 
until  October,  1735,  when  he  obtained  leave  to  return  to  England, 
assigning  as  a reason  that  he  was  unable  to  endure  longer  the  “in- 
solent and  tyrannical  magistrate  to  whom  the  government  of  the 
colony  was  committed.”  This  was  characteristic  of  his  family.  One 
of  his  ancestors  was  named  in  the  Magna  Charta  of  England,  and 
he  was  a relative  of  the  Ouincys  of  Massachusetts,  who  took  such 
an  active  part  in  the  establishment  of  American  liberty. 

Quitman,  the  county  seat  of  Brooks  county,  is  located  at  the 
junction  of  the  Savannah,  Florida  & Western,  (the  main  line  of  the 
Plant  system),  and  the  South  Georgia  & West  Coast  railroads.  It 
was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1859  and  was  named  in 
honor  of  Gen.  John  A.  Quitman,  of  Mississippi,  who  served  with 
distinction  in  the  Mexican  war.  It  forms  the  home  market  for  a 
prosperous  farming  section,  has  a court-house  valued  at  $30,000,  a 
money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  service,  electric  lights,  water 
works,  t>vo  banks,  cotton  mill,  fertilizer  works,  and  several  mer- 
cantile concerns  doing  a good  business,  while  near  by  are  large 
saw-mills  and  turpentine  distilleries.  The  annual  receipts  of  cot- 
ton at  Quitman  average  about  10,000  bales,  and  large  quantities  of 
lumber  and  naval  stores  are  also  shipped.  Good  church  and  school 
privileges  are  found  here,  and  the  climate  is  such  that  many  in- 
valids from  the  north,  especially  those  afflicted  with  weak  lungs, 
spend  the  winter  in  the  locality,  where  the  aroma  of  the  pine  woods 
has  a beneficial  effect,  tending  to  check  the  ravages  of  consumption 
and  kindred  diseases.  In  1900  the  population  of  the  city  was  2,281 
and  of  the  district  in  which  it  is  situated  5,286. 

Quitman  County  was  created  Oct.  12,  1858,  from  Stewart  and 
Randolph  counties,  and  was  named  for  Gen.  John  A.  Quitman.  The 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


145 


county  lies  in  the  western  part  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the 
north  and  east  by  Stewart  and  Randolph  counties,  on  the  south  by 
Randolph  and  Clay,  and  on  the  west  by  the  State  of  Alabama.  The 
Chattahoochee  river  washes  the  western  boundary.  All  the  streams 
contain  an  abundance  of  fish  and  there  is  some  game  to  be  found 
in  the  county.  The  soil  is  a gray,  sandy  loam  with  clay  foundations, 
except  in  the  bottoms  and  along  the  creeks,  and  is  very  productive. 
Cotton  is  the  staple  production,  many  of  the  farmers  planting  all 
their  land  to  this  crop.  Other  products  are  corn,  wheat,  potatoes, 
chufas,  rice  and  peas.  Vegetables,  berries  and  melons  are  raised 
chiefly  for  home  consumption.  There  is  still  some  yellow  pine 
standing,  but  the  timbers  are  principally  hickory,  chestnut,  beech, 
gum,  poplar,  maple  and  the  various  kinds  of  oak.  There  are  sev- 
eral saw-mills  in  the  county  and  considerable  lumber  is  manufac- 
tured each  year.  The  unutilized  water-power  along  the  Chattahoo- 
chee river  offers  inducement  for  the  location  of  factories.  The 
roads  are  kept  in  good  condition,  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad 
traverses  the  county  from  west  to  east,  and  steamboats  run  all  the 
year  on  the  Chattahoochee  river,  thus  insuring  excellent  facilities 
for  transportation.  Georgetown,  the  county  seat,  is  situated  on  the 
Central  of  Georgia  railroad  at  the  point  where  it  crosses  the  Chat- 
tahoochee river,  thus  combining  the  advantages  of  water  and  rail- 
road transportation  and  the  productions  of  the  county  are  marketed 
here  and  at  Eufaula,  Ala.  The  population  of  the  county  in  1900 
was  4,701,  a gain  of  230  in  ten  years. 

R 

Rabbit,  a post-hamlet  of  Taylor  county,  is  near  the  Marion  county 
line  and  is  eight  miles  south  of  Howard,  which  is  the  nearest  rail- 
road station. 

Rabey,  Peter,  a successful  carpenter  and  contractor  of  Savannah, 
was  born  on  the  island  of  Guernsey,  one  of  the  famous  Channel 
islands  of  Great  Britian,  Aug.  1,  1859.  He  comes  of  stanch  old 
Norman  stock,  and  is  a son  of  Nicholas  and  Judith  (Falla)  Rabey, 
both  of  whom  were  born  on  the  island  of  Guernsey,  where  they 
passed  their  entire  lives.  The  father  was  a plasterer  by  trade  and 
died  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  seven  years  of  age. 
The  only  two  representatives  of  the  family  in  the  United  States  are 
Peter  and  Stephen,  brothers,  and  both  residents  of  Savannah,  where 
the  latter  is  a contracting  painter.  Peter  Rabey  availed  himself  of  the 
advantages  afforded  in  the  excellent  schools  of  his  native  place  and 
on  the  fine  old  island  he  also  learned  the  carpenter’s  trade,  initiating 


10— in 


146 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


his  apprenticeship  when  but  thirteen  years  of  age  and  serving  four 
years,  according  to  the  careful  English  custom.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years  he  went  to  South  Africa,  where  he  followed  the 

work  of  his  trade  for  a period  of  four 
years.  In  1885  he  came  to  America  and 
settled  in  Savannah,  where  he  has  risen 
to  a position  of  success  and  prominence  as 
a contractor  and  builder,  feeling  that  he 
made  a wise  selection  when  he  chose  this 
city  as  his  field  of  operations.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Savannah  chamber  of  com- 
merce and  the  Savannah  builders’  ex- 
change. In  Jan.  1,  1887,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Smith,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Smith,  who  was  a soldier  of 
the  Confederacy  during  the  Civil  war, 
and  was  killed  in  the  engagement  at  Fort  McAllister.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rabey  became  the  parents  of  four  children,  of  whom  three  are  liv- 
ing—Henry  N.,  Lawrence  J.  and  Peter  G.  Rachel  died  in  infancy. 

Rabun  County  was  laid  out  in  1819,  and  was  named  for  William 
Rabun,  at  that  time  governor  of  Georgia.  It  was  enlarged  by  the 
addition  of  a part  of  Habersham  in  1828.  It  is  in  the  extreme 
northeastern  corner  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the 
state  of  North  Carolina,  on  the  east  and  southeast  by  the  state  of 
South  Carolina,  south  by  Habersham  county,  and  west  by  Towns 
county.  The  Chattooga  river  separates  it  from  South  Carolina, 
and  the  Little  Tennessee  rises  among  the  mountains  in  the  central 
part  and  flows  northward  into  North  Carolina.  The  scenery  is 
varied  and  beautiful.  In  whatever  direction  the  eye  turns,  it  sees 
ridges  of  mountains,  among  which  nestle  fertile  valleys,  the  prin- 
cipal of  which  are  Tennessee,  War  Woman,  Persimmon,  Tiger  Tail 
and  Simpson’s  Creek.  There  are  several  caves,  but  none  of  note. 
About  ten  miles  above  the  junction  of  the  Tallulah  and  Chattooga 
rivers  are  the  famous  Tallulah  Falls.  On  the  mountains  are  found 
wild  turkeys,  deer  and  some  bears,  and  the  streams  abound  in 
mountain  trout.  Corn,  wheat,  rice,  potatoes,  field  and  ground  peas 
and  sorghum  are  the  principal  crops.  Cotton  does  not  thrive,  but 
all  vegetables  do  well,  and  the  apples  are  especially  fine,  keeping 
through  the  entire  winter.  The  county  contains  200,000  acres  of 
pine  and  hardwood  timber,  but  no  lumber  is  exported,  owing  to  lack 
of  transportation  facilities.  The  water-power  is  good  and  is  util- 
ized by  a number  of  flour  and  grist  mills.  Gold,  copper,  mica, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


147 


asbestos,  sandstone,  iron,  carbonate  of  iron  and  alum  are  found. 
Several  mines  and  quarries  are  in  operation.  Clayton,  the  county 
seat,  and  Tallulah  Falls  are  the  principal  towns.  The  Tallulah  Falls 
railway  connects  Clayton  with  the  Southern  at  Cornelia.  The  pop- 
ualtion  in  1900  was  6,285,  an  increase  of  679  since  1890. 

Rabun  Gap,  a post-village  of  Rabun  county,  wtih  a population  of 
70,  is  about  six  miles  north  of  Clayton  and  two  miles  from  the 
North  Carolina  line. 

Rabun,  William,  one  of  the  early  governors  of  Georgia,  was 
born  in  Halifax  county,  N.  C.,  April  8,  1771.  When  he  was  about 
fourteen  years  of  age  the  family  removed  to  Wilkes  county,  Ga., 
and  later  to  Hancock  county.  His  opportunities  to  acquire  an  edu- 
cation were  extremely  limited,  but  being  fond  of  reading  he  ob- 
tained a great  deal  of  information  from  good  books.  He  was  several 
times  elected  to  the  legislature ; was  president  of  the  senate  when 
Governor  Mitchell  resigned  in  March,  1817,  and  by  virtue  of  the 
office  became  governor.  The  following  November  he  was  elected 
for  a full  term,  but  died  on  October  24,  1819,  before  its  expiration. 
His  administration  was  marked  by  his  controversy  with  President 
Jackson  over  the  burning  of  the  Indian  village  of  Cheha.  (q.  v.) 
The  legislature  passed  resolutions  of  sympathy  and  enconium  upon 
his  death  and  the  most  northeastern  county  in  the  state  bears  his 
name. 

Raccoon  Mills,  a factory  town  of  Chattooga  county,  near  the 
branch  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway  that  runs  directly  from 
Rome  to  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legis- 
lature in  1883.  It  had  by  the  census  of  1900  a population  of  441, 
many  of  whom  are  operatives  in  the  Raccoon  Cotton  Mills,  which 
have  104  looms  and  3,400  spindles.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice, 
with  rural  free  delivery,  and  several  stores.  The  express  and  tele- 
graph offices  are  at  Raccoon  Station  on  the  railroad.  The  people 
enjoy  good  school  and  church  privileges. 

Racepond,  a post-village  of  Charlton  county,  is  on  the  Waycross 
& Jacksonville  division  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  line,  and  is  not  far 
from  the  Pierce  county  line. 

Rackley,  a post-hamlet  of  Emanuel  county,  is  about  five  miles 
southwest  of  Corsica,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Railroads. — Georgia  was  one  of  the  first  states  in  the  Union  to 
become  interested  in  railroad  building.  As  early  as  1822  the  ques- 
tion of  finding  an  outlet  for  the  cotton  crop  engaged  the  considera- 
tion of  the  planters  and  there  was  much  railroad  talk  as  a solution 
of  the  problem,  but  nothing  tangible  resulted  from  the  discussion. 


148 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


In  1826  Wilson  Lumpkin  made  a survey  for  a railroad,  to  be  oper- 
ated by  mule  power,  from  Milledgeville  to  Chattanooga,  but  before 
it  was  built  general  attention  was  turned  to  steam  as  a motive 
power.  A railroad  convention  was  held  at  Eatonton  in  September, 
1831,  at  which  a large  number  of  the  state’s  most  prominent  men 
were  present,  and  at  the  next  session  of  the  general  assembly  a 
charter  was  granted  to  a company  to  construct  a line  from  Augusta 
to  Eatonton.  The  following  year  the  charter  was  amended  so  that 
the  main  road  was  to  run  from  Augusta  to  Athens,  with  branches 
to  Eatonton  and  Madison,  and  later  was  altered  to  permit  the  ex- 
tension of  the  line  to  the  Chattahoochee  river.  Actual  work  on  con- 
struction began  in  May,  1835,  but  a series  of  drawbacks  delayed  the 
completion  of  the  road — known  as  the  “Georgia  railroad” — for  sev- 
eral years.  In  1834  a charter  was  granted  to  the  Central  Railroad 
Company  to  build  and  equip  a line  from  Savannah  to  Macon,  a dis- 
tance of  191  miles.  The  first  survey  was  made  in  1837  and  the 
entire  road  was  completed  in  1844,  giving  it  the  distinction  of  being 
the  first  in  the  state  to  go  into  actual  operation.  In  1833  the  Mon- 
roe railroad  was  chartered,  running  from  Macon  to  Forsyth.  The 
name  of  this  road  was  subsequently  changed  to  the  Macon  & West- 
ern, and  authority  given  the  company  to  extend  its  line  to  the 
Georgia  railroad.  This  road  was  acquired  by  the  Central  in  1872, 
giving  it  an  unbroken  line  from  Savannah  to  Atlanta.  In  1834  the 
legislature  made  an  appropriation  of  $350,000  for  the  construction 
of  a railroad  (The  Western  and  Atlantic)  from  the  common  ter- 
minus of  the  Georgia  and  Macon  & Western  roads  to  Chattanooga, 
a distance  of  139  miles,  and  this  road  is  still  known  as  the  State 
road.  When  these  three  lines  were  completed  the  state  had  prob- 
ably a greater  railroad  mileage  than  any  other  in  the  Union  at  that 
time. 

Between  the  years  1835  and  1850  quite  a number  of  railroad 
companies  were  granted  charters  by  the  general  assembly,  several 
of  them  being  also  given  the  privilege  of  doing  a banking  business. 
Foremost  among  these  early  projected  roads  were  the  Augusta  & 
Waynesboro;  the  Washington  Railroad  Company,  to  build  a road 
from  Washington  to  connect  with  the  Georgia  railroad  somewhere 
in  Warren  or  Taliaferro  counties;  the  Thomaston  & Barnesville ; 
the  Columbus  & Southeastern;  the  Atlanta  & West  Point;  the 
Brunswick  & Florida ; the  Chattahoochee,  to  run  from  Columbus 
to  Macon;  the  Talbotton,  which  was  to  build  a line  from  the  Flint 
to  the  Chattahoochee  rivers  near  the  boundary  between  Houston 
and  Dooly  counties ; the  Muscogee ; the  St.  Mary’s  & Columbus ; 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


149 


and  the  Southwestern.  A glance  at  the  map  will  disclose  the  fact 
that  some  of  these  early  roads  never  got  any  farther  than  the  paper 
stage,  owing  to  the  difficulties  the  projectors  had  to  overcome  in 
the  way  of  raising  funds,  in  some  cases,  and  in  others  the  banking 
feature  of  the  charter  was  allowed  to  overshadow  the  primary  ob- 
ject of  the  franchise.  During  the  war  the  railroad  property  of  the 
state  suffered  greatly  from  the  ravages  of  the  contending  armies, 
blit  in  the  decade  following  the  restoration  of  peace  railroad  build- 
ing was  prosecuted  with  enthusiasm.  Among  the  roads  chartered 
immediately  after  the  war  were  the  Brunswick  & Albany;  the  Car- 
tersville  & Van  Wert ; the  Augusta  & Summerville ; the  Gainesville, 
Jefferson  & Southern,  now  the  Gainesville  Midland;  the  Savannah, 
Griffin  & North  Alabama;  and  the  Southern.  Since  1875  many  of 
the  small  independent  roads  have  been  incorporated  into  the  great 
railway  systems,  by  lease  or  purchase,  frequently  improving  the 
character  of  the  service  and  lessening  the  operating  expenses.  The 
principal  systems  operating  in  Georgia  are  the  Central  of  Georgia  ; 
the  Southern  ; the  Atlantic  Coast  Line ; the  Georgia ; the  Seaboard 
Air  Line;  and  the  Georgia,  Southern  & Florida.  The  Western  & 
Atlantic,  though  still  the  property  of  the  state,  is  operated  in  con- 
nection with  the  Nashville,  Chattanooga  & St.  Louis  Railroad 
Company.  These  systems  control  over  4,000  miles  of  railway  in 
the  state,  but  as  the  total  mileage  is  over  6,000  miles,  it  will  be  seen 
that  a number  of  short  lines  are  still  successfully  conducted  under 
independent  management.  By  the  cooperation  of  these  independent 
lines  with  the  great  systems  practically  every  part  of  the  state  is 
supplied  with  good  railway  facilities,  thus  giving  the  farmers  and 
planters  an  outlet  for  their  products  and  relegating  the  mule  team 
to  a place  among  the  relics  of  the  past.  Most  of  the  Georgia  rail- 
roads are  well  ballasted  and  supplied  with  steel  rails,  generally  of  a 
heavy  type,  while  the  locomotives  and  rolling-stock  are  usually  of 
the  most  approved  patterns. 

Railroad  Commission. — With  the  absorption  of  independent  roads 
by  the  great  railway  systems  complaints  became  frequent  that  the 
roads  were  charging  excessive  rates  for  the  transportation  of 
freight  and  discriminating  in  favor  of  certain  places.  To  correct 
these  abuses  the  legislature  of  1879  passed  an  act  entitled : “An  act 
to  provide  for  the  regulation  of  railroad  freight  and  passenger  tar- 
iffs in  this  state;  to  prevent  unjust  discrimination  and  extortion  in 
the  rates  charged  for  transportation  of  passengers  and  freight ; and 
to  prohibit  railroad  companies,  corporations,  and  lessees  in  this 
state  from  charging  other  than  just  and  reasonable  rates,  and  to 


150 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


punish  the  same,  and  prescribe  a mode  of  procedure  and  rules  of 
evidence  in  relation  thereto ; aird  to  appoint  commissioners,  and  to 
prescribe  their  powers  and  duties  in  relation  to  the  same.” 

The  act  provided  for  the  appointment  of  three  commissioners, 
one  of  whom  should  be  well  versed  in  the  law,  one  in  railway  busi- 
ness, and  that  neither  of  them  should  in  any  way  be  interested  in 
any  railroad.  Governor  Colquitt  appointed  Ex-Gov.  James  M. 
Smith,  Samuel  Barnett  and  Campbell  Wallace.  In  their  first  re- 
port, May  1,  1880,  the  commission  said:  “The  regulations  estab- 

lished by  the  commission  under  the  law  are  enforced  by  ample 
penalties  to  the  state  and  damages  to  individuals — so  stringent  that 
the  board  feels  a deep  sense  of  responsibility  and  anxiety  for  the 
just  exercise  of  powers  so  large  and  enforced  by  such  penalties. 
* * * There  is  no  sense  of  weakness,  but  rather  of  anxiety  in 

the  use  of  large  powers- — positive,  not  merely  negative ; which,  like 
thumbscrews,  take  a powerful  hold,  so  that  even  litigation  to  test 
them  is  dangerous.  For  this  reason  our  sense  of  responsibility  has 
often  been  oppressive.” 

The  question  of  the  constitutionality  of  the  law  was  settled  by 
the  United  States  circuit  court,  in  the  case  of  Tilly  vs.  the  Railroad 
Commission,  in  which  the  commission  was  upheld  at  every  point. 
In  the  spring  of  1882  the  lessee  of  the  Georgia  Railroad,  from  At- 
lanta to  Augusta,  applied  to  the  superior  court  of  Fulton  county  for 
an  injunction  restraining  the  commissioners  from  dictating  freight 
rates  for  the  line,  and  asking  the  court  to  declare  the  act  unconsti- 
tutional. This  case  was  finally  carried  to  the  supreme  court  of  the 
United  States,  where  it  was  decided  in  favor  of  the  commission  on 
Oct.  29,  1887.  Since  then  the  board  has  undisputed  control  of  the 
regulation  of  rates,  etc.,  dividing  the  roads  into  classes  according  to 
their  importance  as  common  carriers  and  establishing  a tariff  rate 
for  each  class. 

Raines,  a post-village  of  Crisp  county,  is  on  the  Albany  Northern 
railroad,  six  miles  southwest  of  Cordele.  The  population  in  1900 
was  70. 

Raines,  Anthony  Mason,  M.  D.,  the  present  judge  of  the  city 
court  of  Dawson,  Terrell  county,  has  fitted  himself  for  two  of  the 
most  exacting  of  professions,  being  both  a physician  and  a lawyer. 
He  has  won  his  way  through  his  own  efforts,  so  that  he  is  well 
entitled  to  the  distinction  involved  in  the  sterling  American  ex- 
pression— a self-made  man.  Judge  Raines  was  born  in  Quitman 
county,  Ga.,  Oct.  8,  1861,  a son  of  Thomas  B.  and  Grace  A.  (Pero- 
man)  Raines,  the  former  born  in  South  Carolina,  in  1829,  and  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


151 


latter  in  Putnam  county,  Ga.,  in  1835.  The  father’s  death  occurred 
in  March,  1888,  the  mother  passed  away  in  1895,  and  both  were  laid 
to  rest  in  the  cemetery  of  Union  church,  in  Quitman  county.  Wil- 
liam B.  Raines,  grandfather  of  the  Judge,  was  a soldier  in  the  Mexi- 
can war  and  was  with  Jefferson  Davis  when  he  was  captured. 
Thomas  B.  Raines  was  in. service  as  a valiant  soldier  of  the  Con- 
federacy in  the  Civil  war,  as  a member  of  a regiment  of  Georgia 
volunteer  infantry.  Judge  Raines  attended  the  common  schools  of 
Quitman  county  until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age  and  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  years  took  up  the  study  of  medicine,  borrowing 
twenty-five  dollars  to  defray  his  necessary  expenses  in  the  mean- 
while, thus  manifesting  his  courage,  determination  and  self-reliance. 
For  one  year  he  was  a student  in  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons,  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  he  then  entered  the  Atlanta  medical 
college,  in  which  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of 
1884,  receiving  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  He  at  once  insti- 
tuted the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Quitman  county,  met  with 
excellent  success  and  continued  his  practice  for  nine  years.  He 
then  took  up  the  study  of  law,  thoroughly  fortified  himself  in  the 
science  of  jurisprudence  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1897.  From 
that  year  to  the  present  he  has  been  established  in  the  practice  of 
law  in  Dawson,  where  his  success  and  prestige  stand  in  evidence 
of  his  ability.  For  the  past  four  years  he  has  held  the  office  of 
judge  of  the  city  court  of  Dawson.  He  has  made  an  enviable  record 
on  the  bench  and  has  been  brought  prominently  into  consideration 
in  connection  with  nomination  to  the  bench  of  the  superior  court. 
He  is  a stanch  supporter  of  the  principles  and  policies  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church.  On  Dec.  23,  1887, 
Judge  Raines  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Perry  Gay,  daughter 
of  William  E.  and  Sarah  (Methvin)  Gay,  of  Quitman  county,  and 
they  have  two  children — Thomas  B.,  born  Oct.  29,  1888;  and  Wil- 
liam G.,  born  Nov.  10,  1889. 

Rainey,  Eugene  L.,  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Dawson  News 
and  representative  of  Terrell  county  in  the  state  legislature,  was 
born  in  Houston  county,  Ga.,  Jan.  17,  1863.  He  is  a son  of  Watkins 
L.  and  Johnie  (McMurray)  Rainey,  the  former  born  in  Twiggs 
county,  and  the  latter  in  Houston  county,  Ga.  The  father  served 
during  practically  the  entire  course  of  the  Civil  war,  as  a member 
of  a Georgia  regiment  in  the  Confederate  service.  Eugene  L. 
Rainey  was  given  the  advantages  of  the  schools  of  Perry,  Houston 
county,  while  later  it  was  his  privilege  to  secure  that  discipline 


152 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


which  has  been  pronounced  equal  to  a liberal  education — the  train- 
ing of  a newspaper  office.  He  engaged  in  the  newspaper  business 
in  Vienna,  Dooly  county,  in  1882,  being  the  editor  and  publisher  of 
the  first  paper  ever  published  in  that  county.  In  1884  he  removed 
to  Dawson,  where  he  became  connected  with  the  Dawson  Journal. 
In  1889  he  effected  the  purchase  of  the  plant  and  business  of  the 
Dawson  News,  of  which  he  has  since  been  editor  and  publisher, 
making  the  same  a power  in  the  political  field  and  a valued  expo- 
nent of  local  interests.  Aside  from  the  publication  of  the  News  he 
has  valuable  farming  interests  in  the  county.  Mr.  Rainey  is  a 
leader  in  the  ranks  of  the  Democratic  party  in  this  section  of  the 
state ; was  a member  of  the  board  of  aldermen  of  Dawson  for  ten 
years ; was  chairman  of  the  Democratic  executive  committee  of 
Terrell  county  for  several  years,  and  was  also  chairman  of  the 
Eleventh  senatorial  district  executive  committee  for  a number  of 
years.  For  the  past  thirteen  years  he  has  been  a valued  member 
of  the  board  of  public  school  commisssioners  of  Dawson ; was 
elected  in  1902  to  represent  the  county  in  the  state  legislature,  with- 
out opposition,  and,  under  the  same  conditions,  was  chosen  as  his 
own  successor  in  1904.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church  South,  and  he  is  identified  with  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  On  Nov. 
28,  1888,  Mr.  Rainey  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  E. 
Symmes,  daughter  of  Edward  and  Mary  (Perry)  Symmes,  resi- 
dents of  South  Carolina.  They  have  two  children : Ellagene,  aged 
fifteen,  and  Clement  Evans,  aged  12  years. 

Raleigh,  a post-village  of  Meriwether  county,  is  on  the  Columbus 
& McDonough  division  of  the  Southern  railroad,  about  five  miles 
southwest  of  Woodbury.  The  population  in  1900  was  68. 

Raleigh,  Sir  Walter,  is  believed  by  some  to  have  been  the  first 
white  man  to  visit  what  is  now  the  State  of  Georgia,  though  others 
have  questioned  the  truth  of  the  statement.  It  is  said  that  when 
Oglethorpe  first  came  to  America  he  brought  with  him  the  written 
journal  of  Sir  Walter.  From  the  latitudes  mentioned  in  this  jour- 
nal and  the  traditions  of  the  Indians  it  appears  that  Raleigh  ascend- 
ed the  Savannah  river  as  far  as  the  bluff  where  the  city  now  stands 
and  there  held  a council  with  the  natives.  The  Indians  pointed  out 
to  Oglethorpe  a mound,  which  they  explained  was  the  grave  of  the 
Indian  king  with  whom  the  conference  was  held,  his  desire  having 
been  to  be  buried  where  the  meeting  took  place  with  the  white 
stranger. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


153 


Randa,  a post-hamlet  of  Lumpkin  county,  is  ten  miles  northwest 
of  Dahlonega.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Jasper,  on  the  At- 
lanta, Knoxville  & Northern. 

Randall,  James  R.,  journalist  and  poet,  was  born  in  1843  in  the 
city  of  Baltimore,  Md.  He  was  educated  at  the  Catholic  college  at 
Georgetown,  D.  C.,  and  received  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  from  the 
University  of  Notre  Dame,  Ind.  For  twenty  years  he  was  a 
writer  and  editor  on  the  Augusta  Chronicle.  In  1886  he  severed 
his  connection  with  this  paper  to  become  a writer  on  the  Anniston 
Hot  Blast,  but  after  a year  with  that  publication  he  returned  to  his 
old  home  in  Baltimore,  where  he  became  associated  with  the  Balti- 
more Press.  In  addition  to  his  journalistic  work  Mr.  Randall 
wrote  a number  of  poems,  some  of  which  are  known  in  every  state 
in  the  Union,  and  even  abroad.  The  war  lyric,  “Maryland,  My 
Maryland,”  which  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes  said  was  the  best  poem 
written  during  the  Civil  war,  was  the  product  of  his  pen.  After  the 
battle  of  Manassas  in  1861  he  wrote  “There’s  Life  in  the  Old  Land 
Yet,”  which  became  a popular  war  song. 

Randel,  a post-hamlet  of  Colquitt  county,  is  not  far  from  the 
Little  river,  and  is  eight  miles  west  of  Sparks,  which  is  the  most 
convenient  railroad  station. 

Randolph  County  was  created  from  Lee  in  1828  and  a part  was 
set  off  to  Stewart  in  1830.  It  was  named  for  John  Randolph,  of 
Virginia,  for  many  years  a representative  in  Congress  and  United 
States  senator  from  his  native  state.  It  is  in  the  southwestern  part 
of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Stewart  and  Webster 
counties,  on  the  east  by  Terrell,  on  the  south  by  Calhoun  and  Clay 
and  on  the  west  by  Clay  and  Quitman.  It  is  well  watered  by  tribu- 
taries of  the  Chattahoochee  and  Flint  rivers.  Fruit  raising  is  an 
important  industry  and  large  quantities  of  apples,  peaches  and 
plums  are  shipped.  Vegetables  of  all  kinds  are  produced  in  abun- 
dance. Corn,  cotton,  wheat,  rye,  oats,  sweet  and  Irish  potatoes,  field 
and  ground  peas  are  also  raised.  Much  of  the  original  timber  is 
still  standing  and  although  some  lumber  is  sawed  every  year  the 
output  is  not  great.  The  water-power  is  good  and  there  are  nu- 
merous manufactories  in  the  county.  Two  divisions  of  the  Central 
of  Georgia  and  the  Georgia,  Florida  & Alabama  railroads  furnish 
good  transportation  facilities.  Cuthbert  is  the  county  seat.  Other 
towns  are  Shellman,  Coleman,  Springvale  and  Benevolence,  the 
last  three  being  important  shipping  points.  The  population  in  1900 
was  16,847,  an  increase  of  1,580  in  ten  years.  Bethel  male  college 
and  Andrew  female  college  are  located  in  this  county. 


154 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Ranger,  a post-hamlet  of  Gordon  county,  is  on  one  of  the  tribu- 
taries of  Pine  Log  creek,  and  is  about  twelve  miles  east  of  Cal- 
houn, which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Ratcliff,  a post-village  of  Gilmer  county,  is  in  the  upper  Coosa- 
wattee  valley,  six  miles  west  of  Ellijay,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad 
station. 

Ratio,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Clinch  county, 
is  not  far  from  the  Allapaha  river.  Garret’s,  on  the  Ocilla,  Pine- 
bloom  & Valdosta  railroad,  is  the  nearest  station. 

Rawls,  Morgan,  was  a candidate  for  Congress  in  the  Savannah 
district  in  1872  and  on  the  face  of  the  returns  was  granted  a certifi- 
cate of  election.  The  place  was  contested  by  Andrew  Sloan,  who 
was  finally  seated  on  March  24,  1874 

Rawson,  Charles  Wilson,  of  Albany,  is 
one  of  the  representative  business  men 
and  popular  citizens  of  Dougherty  coun- 
ty, where  he  has  made  his  home  from  the 
time  of  his  birth,  and  is  at  the  present 
time  mayor  of  his  city.  He  was  born 
Dec.  5,  1866,  and  is  a son  of  Charles  Wil- 
son Rawson,  Sr.,  and  Annie  Elizabeth 
Rawson.  He  has  two  sisters,  Mrs.  Annie 
Tarver  and  Mrs.  Alice  Denison,  both  of 
whom  are  likewise  residents  of  Albany. 
Mr.  Rawson  is  a grandson  of  the  late  Col. 
Nelson  Tift,  who  was  the  founder  of  the 
city  of  Albany,  and  in  whose  honor  Tift  county,  organized  in  1905, 
was  named.  He  was  the  first  Democratic  congressman  from  the 
first  district  of  Georgia  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  war.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  secured  his  early  educational  training  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  town,  and  from  1885  to  1887,  inclusive,  was  pri- 
vate secretary  to  his  grandfather,  Colonel  Tift.  In  1888  he  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  in  Albany  and  has  since  continued  active- 
ly identified  with  the  industrial  and  commercial  affairs  of  this  thriv- 
ing municipality,  being  now  half-owner  and  also  manager  of  the 
grocery  business  conducted  by  the  firm  of  Mock  & Rawson  ; presi- 
dent of  the  Albany  Machinery  Company;  president  of  the  retail 
grocers’  association  of  Albany,  and  is  recognized  as  a progressive 
and  reliable  business  man  and  public-spirited  citizen.  In  politics 
Mr.  Rawson  has  most  strenuously  held  to  the  principles  advocated 
by  the  Democratic  party;  was  a member  of  the  city  council  of  Al- 
bany in  1903-4,  but  was  not  a candidate  for  re-election  in  1905.  A 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


155 


still  more  distinctive  mark  of  popular  esteem  was  to  be  accorded 
him,  however,  for  in  that  year  he  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city, 
without  opposition,  for  the  two  years’  term  beginning  Jan.  1,  1906. 
He  is  also  chairman  of  the  water  and  electric-light  commission  and 
chairman  of  the  city  board  of  education.  In  a fraternal  way  he  is 
identified  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  communicants  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  and  he  is  at  the  present  time 
junior  warden  of  the  vestry  of  St.  Paul’s  parish,  as  well  as  chair- 
man of  the  finance  committee.  On  Nov.  8,  1888,  Mr.  Rawson  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Cheatham,  daughter  of  Col. 
O.  F.  and  Mattie  (Gardner)  Cheatham,  of  Edgefield,  S.  C.,  and  of 
this  union  were  born  two  children — Charles  Wilson,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  three  and  one-half  years,  and  Lucy  Fitz  Allen,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  two  and  one-half  years. 

Rayle,  a post-village  in  the  western  part  of  Wilkes  county,  re- 
ported a population  of  62  in  1900.  It  is  about  ten  miles  northwest 
of  Washington,  and  is  a trading  center  for  that  section. 

Raymond,  a post-hamlet  of  Johnson  county,  is  about  four  miles 
southeast  of  Wrightsville.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Meeks, 
on  the  Wadley  & Mount  Vernon  road. 

Raysville,  a post-hamlet  in  the  extreme  southwestern  part  of 
Lincoln  county,  is  on  the  Little  river  and  is  twelve  miles  north  of 
Thomson,  which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Read,  Charles  A.,  is  a representative 
member  of  the  Atlanta  bar,  established 
in  a successful  general  practice,  with  of- 
fices in  the  Equitable  building.  He  is  a 
scion  of  a stanch  southern  stock,  both  his 
paternal  and  maternal  ancestors  having 
early  settled  in  the  Old  Dominion,  that 
cradle  of  so  much  of  our  national  his- 
tory. He  was  born  in  Washington,  Rap- 
pahannock county,  Va.,  July  24,  1857,  and 
is  a son  of  Dr.  Adolphus  W.  and  Mary 
A.  (Wood)  Read,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Culpepper  county,  Va.,  and 
the  latter  in  Rappahannock  county.  Doctor  Read  was  a prominent 
physician  and  surgeon  and  was  for  many  years  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Virginia,  having  been  stationed  in  the 
city  of  Richmond,  as  a surgeon  in  the  Confederate  service,  during 
the  war  between  the  states.  Charles  A.  Read  was  graduated  in  the 


15G 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


law  department  of  the  University  of  Virginia,  as  a member  of  the 
class  of  1879,  receiving  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Law  from  that 
famous  old  institution.  In  1881  he  opened  an  office  in  Atlanta, 
where  he  has  built  up  a large  and  representative  law  business.  He 
is  a stanch  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party,  but  has  never  sought 
official  preferment;  he  and  his  wife  are  communicants  of  the  Protes- 
tant Episcopal  church,  and  he  has  served  continuously  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  vestry  of  St.  Luke’s  church  since  1882.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Georgia  bar  association  and  of  the  Phi  Delta  Theta  college 
fraternity.  He  was  a member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
Young  Men’s  library  association  of  Atlanta  from  1890  to  1899,  and 
was  president  of  the  same  in  1893-4,  the  association’s  library  now 
being  merged  into  the  local  Carnegie  library.  On  April  11,  1882, 
was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Read  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Breant, 
daughter  of  Col.  George  William  Breant,  of  Alexandria,  Va.,  and 
they  have  one  son,  Plerbert,  who  was  born  in  1885. 

Rebecca,  a town  in  Wilcox  county,  is  one  of  the  new  towns  in 
that  part  of  the  state,  having  been  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legis- 
lature on  August  15,  1904.  It  is  on  the  Atlantic  & Birmingham 
railway,  twelve  miles  northwest  of  Fitzgerald,  has  a money  order 
postoffice,  some  stores,  etc.,  and  does  some  shipping. 

Reconstruction. — On  May  29,  1865,  President  Andrew  Johnson 
issued  a proclamation,  setting  forth  the  method  by  which  the  peo- 
ple of  the  seceded  states  could  be  restored  to  their  civil  rights  and 
granting  amnesty  to  those  who  would  take  an  oath  to  support  the 
constitution  of  the  United  States  and  abide  by  all  the  laws  made 
by  Congress  during  the  war,  with  the  exception  of  certain  classes 
of  persons.  In  June  the  president  appointed  James  Johnson,  of 
Columbus,  provisional  governor  to  conduct  a reorganization  of  the 
state.  One  of  the  first  acts  of  Governor  Johnson  was  to  issue  a 
proclamation,  calling  a convention  to  meet  in  October,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  formulating  a new  constitution,  etc.  (For  the  proceedings  of 
that  convention  see  Constitutions).  This  was  speedily  followed  by 
another  proclamation,  authorizing  the  clerks  or  ordinaries  in  the 
several  counties  to  administer  the  oath  of  amnesty.  At  the  elec- 
tion on  November  15th  Charles  J.  Jenkins  was  unanimously  chosen 
governor,  though  Governor  Johnson  notified  the  general  assembly, 
when  that  body  assembled  in  December,  that  he  would  continue  to 
hold  the  office  until  the  election  of  Governor  Jenkins  was  duly 
recognized  by  the  United  States.  This,  however,  was  merely  a 
matter  of  form  and  on  December  14th  Governor  Jenkins  was  in- 
augurated amid  general  enthusiasm  and  rejoicing.  On  the  19th 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


157 


the  new  governor  received  the  following  telegram  from  \\  . H. 
Seward,  secretary  of  state  in  President  Johnson’s  cabinet: 

“To  Idis  Excellency  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  Georgia : 

“Sir : — By  direction  of  the  President  I have  the  honor  herewith  to 
transmit  to  you  a copy  of  a communication  which  has  been  ad- 
dressed to  his  Excellency,  James  Johnson,  late  Provisional  Gover- 
nor, whereby  he  has  been  relieved  of  the  trust  heretofore  reposed  in 
him,  and  directed  to  deliver  into  your  possession  the  papers  and 
property  relating  to  the  trust. 

“I  have  the  honor  to  tender  you  the  cooperation  of  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  United  States,  whenever  it  may  be  found  necessary,  in 
effecting  the  early  restoration  and  permanent  prosperity  of  the 
state  over  which  you  have  been  called  to  preside.” 

So  far  the  president’s  plan  had  worked  smoothly  and  for  a little 
while  it  looked  as  though  Georgia  might  escape  the  evils  of  recon- 
struction that  some  of  the  unfortunate  states  had  been  compelled 
to  undergo,  and  assume  the  duties  and  relations  of  statehood  with- 
out serious  trouble.  But  just  at  this  juncture  occurred  the  rupture 
between  Congress  and  the  executive  regarding  the  reconstruction 
of  the  seceded  states ; a controversy  that  wrought  up  the  feeling  of 
the  entire  country  to  a high  pitch  and  entailed  much  suffering  upon 
the  South.  The  legislature  had  elected  Alexander  H.  Stephens 
and  Herschel  V.  Johnson  to  represent  Georgia  in  the  United 
States  senate,  but  the  majority  of  that  body  refused  to  permit  them 
to  take  their  seats  until  the  state  had  ratified  the  fourteenth  amend- 
ment. (q.  v.)  This  revived  the  whole  subject  in  an  intensified  form. 
The  legislature  had  ratified  the  thirteenth  amendment,  abolishing 
slavery,  and  had  repudiated  the  war  debt  in  compliance  with  the 
president’s  demands,  but  the  people  revolted  at  the  idea  of  giving  to 
the  emancipated  negroes  the  elective  franchise  until  such  time  as 
they  should  show  their  ability  to  use  it  intelligently.  Nor  was 
Georgia  alone  in  this  attitude.  All  the  Southern  States  with  the 
exception  of  Tennessee  refused  at  first  to  ratify  such  a proposition. 
This  led  Congress  to  declare  the  states  so  refusing  to  be  in  a state 
of  rebellion  and  the  military  authority  again  became  supreme.  Just- 
a year,  to  a day,  after  the  inauguration  of  Governor  Jenkins  Con- 
gress appointed  a reconstruction  committee,  consisting  of  six  sena- 
tors and  nine  members  of  the  house.  The  duties  of  this  committee, 
as  defined  by  the  senate  resolution  originating  it,  was  “to  inquire 
into  the  condition  of  states  which  formed  the  so-called  Confederate 
States  of  America,  and  report  w'hether  they,  or  any  of  them,  are 


158 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


entitled  to  be  represented  in  either  house  of  Congress,  with  leave  to 
report  at  any  time,  by  bill  or  otherwise.” 

At  the  head  of  this  committee  was  Thaddeus  Stevens,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, a pronounced  antagonist  of  the  president’s  policy  of  recon- 
struction, a man  whose  actions  marked  him  as  implacable  in  his 
determination  to  humiliate  a vanquished  foe,  and  who  finally  intro- 
duced in  the  house  the  bill  for  the  solemn  impeachment  of  the  na- 
tion’s chief  executive.  Measure  after  measure  emanated  from  this 
committe,  all  of  which  were  passed  by  Congress  after  stormy  de- 
bate. The  people  of  Georgia  were  greatly  exasperated  by  some  of 
these  acts  and  a special  committee  was  appointed  to  go  to  Wash- 
ington to  try  to  bring  about  a more  amicable  settlement  of  the 
question.  Expostulations  and  entreaties  were  alike  futile,  as  noth- 
ing could  influence  Congress  to  alter  its  position  or  modify  its  de- 
mands. Governor  Jenkins  was  an  avowed  opponent  of  the  Con- 
gressional plan  of  reconstruction.  Believing  the  laws  to  be  both  op- 
pressive and  unconstitutional  he  resolved  to  have  them  tested  by 
the  supreme  court  of  the  United  States.  He  accordingly  went  to 
Washington  and  on  April  10,  1867,  filed  a bill  in  the  supreme  court 
asking,  first,  a temporary  injunction  against  the  enforcement  of  the 
laws  pending  a hearing,  and,  secondly,  a permanent  injunction  in 
case  the  court  should  find  them  unconstitutional  or  as  opposed  to 
public  policy.  His  mission  was  no  more  successful  than  that  of  the 
special  committee  and  failing  to  secure  satisfactory  redress  in  the 
court  he  advised  the  people  of  Georgia  to  continue  steadfast  in  their 
refusal  to  acquiesce  in  the  demands  of  Congress.  For  this  he  was 
made  the  recipient  of  a communication  from  General  Pope,  the 
military  commander  of  the  district  composed  of  Georgia,  Alabama 
and  Florida,  informing  him  that  “It  is  to  be  clearly  understood, 
however,  that  the  civil  officers  thus  retained  in  office  shall  confine 
themselves  strictly  to  the  performance  of  their  official  duties,  and 
whilst  holding  their  offices  they  shall  not  use  any  influence  what- 
ever to  deter  or  dissuade  the  people  from  taking  an  active  part  in 
reconstructing  their  state  government,  under  the  act  of  Congress  to 
provide  for  a more  efficient  government  of  the  rebel  states,  and  the 
act  supplmentary  thereto.” 

Th  next  act  in  this  painful  drama  was  for  General  Pope  to  call  a 
constitutional  convention  to  meet  in  the  city  hall,  at  Atlanta,  on 
Dec.  9,  1867.  Of  the  170  delegates  few  were  known  in  the  affairs' 
of  the  state,  as  many  of  the  people  had  generally  declined  to  take 
any  part  in  their  election,  notwithstanding  ex-Governor  Brown  and 
a few  others  had  advised  them  to  participate  in  the  elections  and 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


159 


to  send  their  best  men.  After  a twelve  days’  session  the  convention 
adjourned  until  Jan.  8,  1868,  when  it  again  assembled  and  remained 
in  session  until  March  11th.  An  indication  of  the  feeling  that 
existed  may  be  seen  in  the  following  resolution,  which  was  adopted 
by  the  convention  early  in  its  deliberations:  “That  the  convention 
do  hereby  request  the  legislative  department  of  the  government  of 
the  United  States  to  authorize  this  body  to  declare  vacant  the  chief 
executive  office  of  the  state,  and  to  fill  the  same,  as  well  as  to  pro- 
vide for  the  removal,  through  the  chief  executive  officer  thus  se- 
lected, of  all  persons  who  are  hostile  to  reconstruction,  and  the  fill- 
ing of  such  vacancies  by  said  executive.” 

The  constitution  adopted  by  the  convention  ratified  the  four- 
teenth amendment  and  was  submitted  to  the  people  at  an  election 
on  April  20th.  In  the  meantime  the  convention  needed  money  to 
defray  its  expenses  and  passed  an  ordinance  directing  the  treasurer 
to  pay  $40,000  to  the  disbursing  officer  of  the  body.  Treasurer 
Jones  declined  to  obey,  stating  as  his  reason  therefor  that  he  was 
forbidden  to  pay  out  any  funds  “except  upon  the  warrant  of  the 
governor  and  sanction  of  the  comptroller-general.”  On  Jan.  7, 
1868,  General  Meade,  who  had  succeeded  General  Pope  as  com- 
mander of  the  district,  made  a demand  upon  Governor  Jenkins  to 
draw  up  his  warrant  for  the  amount  of  $40,000,  as  it  was  “an  appro- 
priation made  by  law.”  To  this  the  governor  replied  that  the  con- 
vention was  called  under  an  act  of  Congress  which  prescribed  tax  to 
raise  funds  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  body ; that  the  fund  so  raised 
did  not  come  within  the  scope  of  either  the  state  or  Federal  con- 
stitutions, and  that  in  declining  to  draw  his  warrant  he  was  only 
living  up  to  the  requirements  of  his  oath  of  office,  which  constrained 
him  to  support  both  constitutions.  On  the  13th  General  Meade 
promulgated  an  order  removing  Governor  Jenkins  and  Treasurer 
Jones  from  office  and  appointed  Gen.  Thomas  H.  Ruger  and  Capt. 
Charles  H.  Rockwell  to  the  vacancies.  Upon  being  deposed  from 
office  Governor  Jenkins  took  $400,000  of  the  state’s  money  and  the 
seal  of  the  executive  office  and  set  off  for  Washington  City.  There 
he  filed  a bill  in  the  United  States  supreme  court  complaining 
against  the  seizure  of  the  state  government  by  the  military  power, 
after  which  he  went  to  New  York,  where  he  deposited  the  money 
in  one  of  the  banks  to  make  a payment  on  the  public  debt.  The 
seal  was  restored  to  the  proper  authorities  after  the  storm  of  re- 
construction had  passed. 

In  submitting  the  constitution  to  a vote  of  the  people  the  con- 
vention also  provided  for  the  election  of  a governor  at  the  same 


1G0 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


time.  The  Republicans  nominated  Rufus  B.  Bullock  and  the  Demo- 
crats Gen.  John  B.  Gordon.  A large  number  of  the  native  white 
citizens  were  denied  the  privilege  of  voting  and  Bullock  was  de- 
clared elected  by  a small  majority.  The  constitution  was  ratified 
by  a.  majority  of  the  people  who  were  permitted  to  vote  and  as  soon 
as  the  fact  was  certified  to  Congress  a bill  was  introduced  in  both 
branches  of  that  body  to  admit  Georgia  into  the  Union  when  cer- 
tain conditions  should  be  observed.  It  passed  the  house  on  May 
14th  by  a vote  of  109  to  35,  45  members  declining  to  vote  either  for 
or  against  the  measure,  and  on  June  10th  it  passed  the  senate  by  a 
vote  of  31  to  5,  with  18  members  recorded  as  not  voting.  The  act 
of  admission  went  into  effect  on  June  25th  and  the  same  day  Bul- 
lock was  appointed  to  succeed  General  Ruger  as  provisional  gover- 
nor, to  enter  upon  the  duties  of  the  office  on  July  4th,  at  which  time 
the  legislature  had  been  summoned  to  convene  at  Atlanta.  When 
the  general  assembly  met  the  time  until  the  22nd  was  spent  in  de- 
ciding who  were  elegible  to  seats  under  the  fourteenth  amendment. 
On  the  22nd  Governor  Bullock  was  inaugurated  and  on  the  28th  an 
order  was  issued  from  the  headquarters  of  the  army  at  Washington, 
declaring  military  rule  under  the  reconstruction  acts  at  an  end. 
Again  it  looked  as  though  Georgia  had  emerged  from  the  night  of 
despotism  into  the  dawn  of  sovereign  statehood.  But  again  those 
who  took  an  optimistic  view  of  the  situation  were  destined  to  disap- 
pointment, for  some  of  the  most  poignant  experiences  of  the  recon- 
struction era  yet  remained  to  be  endured. 

Early  in  the  legislative  session  the  question  of  the  eligibility  of 
negroes  to  hold  office  under  the  new  constitution  came  up  for  con- 
sideration. The  result  was  that  in  the  end  twenty-five  colored  rep- 
resentatives and  two  senators  were  ousted  and  their  seats  given  to 
white  men,  a number  of  white  Republicans  voting  to  unseat  the 
negroes.  This  action  soon  became  a topic  of  discussion  all  over  the 
country.  The  general  assembly  adjourned  on  October  5th  and  as 
soon  as  Congress  convened  in  the  following  December  Governor 
Bullock  went  to  Washington  to  urge  a renewal  of  the  reconstruc- 
tion policy  and  a reinstatement  of  the  provisional  government.  He 
submitted  a lengthy  communication  in  which  he  insisted  that  the 
laws  under  which  the  State  of  Georgia  was  to  have  been  admitted 
to  representation  in  Congress  had  not  been  faithfully  nor  fully  exe- 
cuted ; that,  as  the  government  was  merely  provisional  at  the  time 
the  legislature  assembled  in  July,  1868,  the  law  required  that  such 
persons  only  as  were  eligible  under  the  reconstruction  acts  should 
be  permitted  to  participate  in  the  necessary  provisional  legislation 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


161 


prior  to  admission  as  a state.  Georgia  was  again  turned  over  to  the 
tender  mercies  of  the  reconstruction  committee  and  under  the 
leadership  of  Charles  Sumner,  senator  from  Massachusetts,  a reso- 
lution was  adopted  to  put  the  state  for  a third  time  under  military 
rule,  but  for  some  reason  its  provisions  were  not  then  carried  out. 
Under  the  act  of  Dec.  22,  1869,  Gen.  A.  H.  Terry  was  ordered  by 
General  Sherman  to  exercise  the  duties  of  the  commanding  general 
of  the  District  of  Georgia,  as  defined  by  the  act,  and  thus  at  the 
beginning  of  the  year  1870,  nearly  five  years  after  the  close  of  hos- 
tilities, Georgia  was  found  under  military  rule,  knocking  at  the  door 
of  the  nation  for  admission.  Some  of  the  incongruities  of  recon- 
struction and  the  inconsistencies  of  Congress  may  be  seen  in  the 
matters  of  representation  and  the  counting  of  the  electoral  vote  of 

1868.  On  July  29th  of  that  year  the  legislature  had  elected  Joshua 
Hill  and  H.  V.  M.  Miller  United  States  senators,  but  when  they 
presented  themselves  before  that  body  for  the  oath  of  office  in  De- 
cember they  were  denied  admission.  On  the  other  hand  the  house 
had  seated  six  of  the  seven  members  from  Georgia.  Yet,  when 
the  question  of  counting  her  electoral  vote  came  up  in  February, 

1869,  the  house,  by  a vote  of  150  to  41,  decided  against  it,  while  the 
senate  decided  in  favor  of  the  vote  being  counted.  Can  any  one 
conceive  a more  incompatible  position  for  a deliberative  body?  The 
senate,  on  the  question  of  representation,  held  that  Georgia  was  not 
a state,  but  was  willing  to  count  her  electoral  vote  for  the  choice 
of  a chief  executive.  The  house  had  gone  on  record  as  declaring 
that  Georgia  was  a state,  but  denied  her  the  right  to  vote  for  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States. 

The  year  1870,  although  it  opened  with  somber  outlook,  marked 
the  closing  scenes  of  reconstruction  and  the  fight  for  recognition  as  a 
state.  The  legislature  was  called  together  on  January  10th  by  proc- 
lamation of  Governor  Bullock.  The  governor  did  not  permit  the 
members  to  organize  and  elect  their  own  officers,  but  selected  J.  G. 
W.  Mills  to  organize  the  senate  and  A.  L.  Harris,  an  employe  of  the 
State  road,  to  perform  a similar  duty  for  the  house.  Several  short 
sessions  were  held,  in  which  all  the  demands  of  Congress  were 
complied  with,  and  on  March  16th  the  governor  recommended  no 
further  legislation  until  “the  action  to  complete  the  reconstruction 
of  the  state  is  accepted  by  Congress.”  The  next  day  an  adjourn- 
ment was  taken  for  sixty  days  to  await  such  an  event.  But  Con- 
gress could  not  agree.  The  question  of  readmitting  the  state  was 
debated  from  February  to  July.  The  irregular  method  of  the  gov- 
ernor in  effecting  the  organization  of  the  assembly  was  brought  up 


li— hi 


162 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


in  the  United  States  senate  and  the  judiciary  committee  was  direct- 
ed to  inquire  into  the  matter  and  report  “whether  the  legislature  of 
Georgia  has  been  reorganized  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  act  passed  at  the  present  session  to  promote  the  reconstruction 
of  that  state,  and  whether  further  legislation  is  necessary  upon  the 
subject  of  the  provisional  legislature  of  Georgia.”  Among  the  op- 
ponents of  the  Bullock  policy  were  J.  E.  Bryant  and  J.  H.  Caldwell, 
both  conservative  members  of  the  same  political  party  as  the  gov- 
ernor. These  men  appeared  before  the  judiciary  committee  to  pre- 
sent their  side  of  the  case,  while  Bullock  appeared  in  person  to  de- 
fend his  course.  The  committee,  in  its  report,  condemned  the  gov- 
ernor’s action  and  declared  the  course  of  the  military  authorities 
“not  authorized  by  law,”  though  General  Terry  was  exonerated 
from  any  intention  to  usurp  power  or  to  transcend  his  authority. 
With  regard  to  the  necessity  for  further  legislation  the  report  said: 
“As  the  representatives  of  those  who  contend  that  the  proceedings 
in  organizing  the  legislature  were  illegal  and  irregular  had  ex- 
pressed their  willingness  that  Congress  should  refrain  from  further 
interference  with  the  organization  and  composition  of  the  legisla- 
ture, and  leave  it  to  proceed  in  the  exercise  of  its  legislative  func- 
tions, and  the  other  party  justified  what  had  taken  place,  and,  of 
course,  objected  to  any  action  on  the  subject,  and  inasmuch  as  the 
errors  of  the  general  in  command  of  the  state  do  not  appear  to  have 
worked  any  serious  injustice  in  point  of  fact,  and  as  an  error  in 
seating  the  minority  candidates  was  committed  by  the  house  of 
representatives  in  the  exercise  of  a right  ordinarily  belonging  to  it 
in  the  first  instance ; and  inasmuch  as  it  appears  certain  that  the 
terms  of  office  of  the  Georgia  legislature,  and  of  its  state  govern- 
ment, will  expire  at  the  same  time  that  they  would  have  done  had 
the  state  been  fully  restored  to  its  place  in  the  Union  in  July,  1868, 
and  did  not  commence  or  run  from  the  date  of  its  future  admission 
to  representation,  without  reference  to  what  might  be  legal  or  literal 
construction  of  the  last  clause  of  the  second  subdivision  of  the  first 
section  of  the  third  article  of  the  constitution,  the  committee  feel 
justified  in  omitting  to  recommend  any  further  legislation  on  the 
subject  of  organizing  the  legislature.” 

Following  the  report  of  the  committee  bills  were  introduced  in 
both  branches  of  Congress  for  the  readmission  of  Georgia,  but  it 
was  not  until  July  that  a definite  agreement  was  reached.  The 
house  bill  was  amended  in  the  senate  and  vice  versa.  A number 
of  congressmen  had  either  grown  tired  of  the  protracted  fight  or 
ashamed  of  ultra  legislation  and  refused  to  follow  the  leadership  of 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


163 


the  radical  party.  On  July  8th  a conference  committee  was  ap- 
pointed. It  introduced  a new  bill  wliich  was  passed  by  both 
houses  on  the  14th  and  was  signed  by  the  president  on  the  next  day. 
This  ended  the  matter  so  far  as  Congressional  action  was  con- 
cerned, but  the  provisional  government  was  still  in  power.  Of- 
ficial notice  of  the  passage  of  the  admission  act  was  given  to  the  leg- 
islature, then  in  session,  by  Governor  Bullock.  In  his  message  com- 
municating the  information  he  noted  the  fact  that  Congress  had 
adjourned  without  having  formally  admitted  the  senators  and  rep- 
resentatives from  Georgia.  He  insisted  that  such  recognition  was 
necessary,  in  accordance  with  section  five  of  the  reconstruction  act 
of  1867,  before  the  military  authority  could  be  withdrawn.  In  order 
to  perpetuate  the  provisional  government  a bill  was  introduced  in 
the  general  assembly  to  prohibit  the  people  from  holding  an  elec- 
tion. It  passed  the  senate,  but  the  storm  of  popular  indignation 
aroused  by  this  incendiary  measure  bore  fruit  and  it  was  happily 
defeated  in  the  house.  Frustrated  in  their  efforts  to  subvert  the 
right  of  popular  suffrage,  the  reconstructionists  next  devised  a 
scheme  by  which  they  hoped  to  control  the  election.  But  in  spite 
of  their  machinations  they  were  defeated  at  the  polls.  The  people 
elected  five  of  the  seven  congressmen  and  a legislature,  the  majority 
of  which  were  opposed  to  the  vagaries  of  reconstruction.  No 
governor  was  elected,  but  upon  the  resignation  of  Governor  Bullock, 
Oct.  23,  1871,  the  legislature  ordered  an  election  for  December  3d, 
to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  at  that  time  James  M.  Smith  was  chosen 
chief  executive.  He  was  inaugurated  on  Jan.  12,  1872,  and  with 
his  induction  into  office  the  long  contest  was  ended.  The  people 
once  more  assumed  their  sovereign  rights  and  the  travesty  of  re- 
construction passed  into  history,  with  no  tear  of  sorrow  shed  over 
its  bier  nor  no  friendly  hand  to  plant  a flower  on  its  grave.  Of  the 
conditions  which  succeeded  the  restoration  to  statehood  a recent 
Georgia  writer  says : “The  rebound  from  depression  to  buoyancy 
was  instantaneous.  Freed  from  the  despoiling  rule  and  strangling 
grip  of  those  who  felt  no  real  interest  in  her  prosperity,  and  the 
government  restored  to  her  intelligent  native  and  long-time  citi- 
zenship, Georgia  soon  regained  her  old-time  progressive  spirit, 
new  political  life  was  infused,  manufactures,  mining  and  railway 
construction  were  fostered,  and  improvement  was  manifest  along 
all  lines  of  material  development  and  commerce.”  (See  the  articles 
on  the  Thirteenth,  Fourteenth  and  Fifteenth  amendments  and  the 
Ku  Klux  Klan). 


164 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Recovery,  a post-village  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Decatur 
county,  is  a station  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  railroad,  and  is  only 
about  two  miles  from  the  Florida  state  line. 

Redan,  a post-village  of  Dekalb  county,  with  a population  of  50, 
is  on  the  Georgia  railroad,  about  half-way  between  Stone  Mountain 
and  the  Rockdale  county  line. 

Redbud,  a post-hamlet  of  Gordon  county,  is  on  Pine  Log  creek, 
about  eight  miles  east  of  Calhoun,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad 
station. 

Red  Clay,  a post-village  in  the  northern  part  of  Whitfield  county, 
is  a station  on  the  Southern  railroad,  not  far  from  the  Tennessee 
line.  It  is  a trading  center  and  shipping  point  for  that  section  of 
the  county  and  in  19U0  reported  a population  of  110.  On  the  night 
of  May  3,  1864,  Lamson’s  cavalry  brigade  encamped  at  Red  Clay. 
Just  before  going  into  camp  the  division  scouts,  who  were  slightly 
in  advance,  were  fired  upon  by  a small  force  of  Confederate  cavalry 
and  one  man  killed.  Reinforcements  were  at  once  sent  forward  and 
the  Confederates  retired  in  the  direction  of  VarneH’s  Station. 

Reddick,  a post-hamlet  of  Screven  county,  is  four  miles  northeast 
of  Sylvania,  and  not  far  from  Brier  creek. 

Redding,  John  F.,  of  Barnesville,  has 
here  been  established  in  the  practice  of 
law  for  many  years ; is  a man  of  high 
professional  attainments,  and  prominent 
in  political  and  public  affairs.  He  is  an 
ex-member  of  both  the  house  and  senate 
of  the  state  legislature  and  is  one  of  the 
representative  citizens  of  Pike  county. 
Mr.  Redding  was  born  in  Monroe  county, 
Ga.,  Jan.  24,  1848,  and  is  a son  of  Capt. 
W.  D.  and  Ann  W.  (Avery)  Redding, 
the  former  born  on  March  20,  1820,  and 
the  latter  on  Jan.  20,  1827.  Captain  Red- 
ding was  an  officer  of  a Georgia  regiment  in  the  Confederate  service, 
and  his  grandfather,  Charles  Redding,  was  a soldier  in  the  Conti- 
nental line  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  having  been  present 
at  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis,  at  Yorktown.  John  F.  Redding  re- 
ceived excellent  educational  advantages,  both  collegiate  and  pro- 
fessional, and  is  known  as  an  able  trial  lawyer  and  counselor.  He 
has  ever  been  unwavering  in  his  allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party 
and  is  a prominent  factor  in  its  councils  in  his  section  of  the  state. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Georgia  house  of  representatives  in  1882-3, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


165 


1891-5,  and  1896-7,  and  of  the  state  senate  in  1898-9.  He  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Kappa  Alpha  college  fraternity.  Mr.  Redding  married 
the  daughter  of  Rev.  John  P.  Duncan.  His  only  child  is  Mrs.  Ed- 
ward L.  Cook. 

Redding,  Joseph  Henry,  M.  D.,  a prominent  and  honored  phy- 
sician and  surgeon  of  Waycross,  Ware  county,  has  here  been  suc- 
cessfully established  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  since  1881. 
He  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  Ga.,  Nov.  26,  1848,  a son  of  James 
Tarpley  and  Sarah  Ann  (Dickson)  Redding,  the  former  born  in 
Monroe  county  and  the  latter  in  Crawford  county,  Ga.  James 
Tarpley  Redding  was  a son  of  William  Chambliss  and  Margaret 
(Flewellyn)  Redding,  the  former  of  whom  was  a son  of  Anderson 
Redding,  who  was  a valiant  soldier  in  the  Continental  line  during 
the  war  of  the  Revolution  and  who  was  present  at  the  surrender  of 
Lord  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown.  Doctor  Redding’s  parents  removed 
to  Louisiana  in  December,  1858,  and  were  refugees  to  Texas  in 
1863.  In  April,  1865,  Doctor  Redding,  who  was  then  sixteen  years 
old,  donned  the  Confederate  uniform  and  rode  on  horseback  a dis- 
tance of  forty  miles,  in  Texas,  to  visit  the  nearest  postoffice  to 
learn  where  he  could  join  the  Confederate  army.  Great  was  his 
dismay  and  disappointment  when  he  there  received  the  information 
concerning  the  surrender  of  General  Lee.  Doctor  Redding  secured 
his  more  specifically  literary  education  in  Emory  college,  Oxford, 
Ga.,  the  family  having  returned  to  this  state  after  the  close  of  the 
war.  In  1878-9  he  attended  medical  lectures  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  and 
in  1881  he  was  graduated  in  the  College  of  Physicians  & Surgeons, 
of  Atlanta,  receiving  his  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  and  being 
valedictorian  of  his  class.  His  standing  as  a student  may  be  com- 
prehended when  it  is  stated  that  he  took  every  prize  offered  by  the 
faculty.  He  has  since  taken  several  post-graduate  courses  in  New 
York  city  and  keeps  in  close  touch  with  the  advances  made  in  both 
departments  of  his  exacting  and  humane  profession.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  practice  in  the  city  of  Macon  until  1884,  when  he  took  up 
his  residence  in  Waycross,  where  he  controls  a large  and  important 
professional  business  and  is  held  in  high  regard  as  a citizen  and 
physician.  He  is  a member  of  various  medical  associations,  is  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  adherency,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  hold 
membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South.  On  Feb. 
2,  1873,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  C.  Storey,  daughter  of  Col. 
Richard  L.  and  Jane  (Dickson)  Storey,  of  Hancock  county,  Ga. 
She  was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  on  Aug.  1,  1882,  survived  by 
two  children — Henry  Storey,  born  May  25,  1875  ; and  Charles  Leon- 


166 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


idas,  born  July  31,  1879.  On  April  28,  1892,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Doctor  Redding  to  Miss  Isabella  C.  Remshart,  daugh- 
ter of  John  W.  Remshart,  of  whom  specific  mention  is  made  in  this 
compilation.  Of  this  second  marriage  no  children  have  been  born. 

Redhill,  a post-hamlet  of.  Franklin  county,  is  five  miles  north  of 
Carnesville.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Martin,  on  the  Elberton 
& Toccoa  division  of  the  Southern. 

Redlevel,  a post-village  of  Wilkinson  county,  is  about  six  miles 
south  of  Irwinton.  McIntyre  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Reese,  David,  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  received  a limited 
education  in  his  native  state,  after  which  he  settled  at  Monticello, 
Ga.  Fie  took  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs  and  in  1852  was 
elected  as  a Whig  to  represent  his  district  in  the  lower  house  of 
Congress. 

Reese,  Seaborn,  lawyer  and  legislator,  was  born  at  Madison,  Mor- 
gan county,  Nov.  28,  1846.  He  entered  the  University  of  Georgia, 
but  left  the  institution  in  his  senior  year,  in  1868,  to  begin  the  prac- 
tice of  law.  In  1872  he  was  elected  a member  of  the  lower  branch 
of  the  legislature;  was  solicitor-general  of  the  Northern  circuit 
from  1877  to  1880;  presidential  elector  on  the  Hancock  and  English 
ticket  in  1880;  elected  to  the  Forty-seventh  Congress  to  fill  the  va- 
cancy caused  by  the  resignation  of  Alexander  H.  Stephens,  who  had 
been  elected  governor  of  the  state ; was  re-elected  in  1882  and  again 
in  1884.  Upon  retiring  from  Congress  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
law  at  Sparta. 

Reese,  Thomas,  the  able  and  popular 
manager  of  the  Masonic  Temple  Phar- 
macy, in  Savanah,  was  born  on  a planta- 
tion in  Dinwiddie  county,  Va.,  April  28, 
1856.  He  is  a son  of  Dr.  Beverly  P.  and 
Laura  (Grigg)  Reese,  the  former  born  in 
Dinwiddie  county,  Va.,  and  the  latter  in 
Montgomery,  Ala.  Doctor  Reese  was  for 
many  years  engaged  in  active  practice  as 
a physician  and  surgeon,  and  during  the 
Civil  war  he  had  charge  of  the  White 
Oak  hospital,  in  Dinwiddie  county.  He 
now  resides  in  the  city  of  Staunton,  Va. 
His  wife  died  about  1862.  Thomas  Reese  secured  his  preliminary 
education  under  the  direction  of  a private  tutor  employed  by  his 
father,  later  was  a student  in  Eastwood  academy,  Va.,  and  in  1877 
was  graduated  in  the  Maryland  college  of  pharmacy  in  the  city  of 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


167 


Baltimore.  On  Jan.  22,  1872,  he  became  a clerk  in  a drug  store  in 
Columbia,  S.  C.,  and  remained  there  until  1875,  when  he  entered  the 
school  of  pharmacy  just  mentioned.  From  1877  to  1881  he  owned 
and  conducted  a drug  store  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  for  several  years 
he  was  engaged  in  the  same  line  of  business  at  Charlotte,  N.  C.  He 
was  employed  one  year  as  a drug  clerk  in  Philadelphia,  one  year  in 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  and  came  to  Savannah  in  1893,  where  he  was 
employed  one  year  in  the  drug  store  of  James  T.  Shuptrine.  From 
1894  to  1899  he  was  a resident,  for  varying  intervals,  of  Raleigh, 
N.  C.,  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  Philadelphia,  Pa.  In  the  spring  of  1899 
he  again  located  in  Savannah,  where  he  was  employed  for  the  fol- 
lowing four  years  as  clerk  in  the  drug  establishment  of  R.  A. 
Rowlinski.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  the  manager  of  the  Masonic 
Temple  Pharmacy,  one  of  the  most  attractive  retail  drug  establish- 
ments of  the  city.  He  is  a member  of  the  Savannah  retail  drug- 
gists’ association,  is  a Democrat  in  politics  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Reese  was  a member 
of  Company  A,  Fifth  regiment  Maryland  National  Guard,  at  the 
time  of  the  Yorktown  centennial  celebration,  in  which  the  regiment 
participated,  in  1880.  He  was  at  the  time  engaged  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness in  Baltimore.  On  Sept.  13,  1887,  Mr.  Reese  married  Miss 
Eleanor  Berkley  Hall,  daughter  of  John  R.  and  Elizabeth  (Baker) 
Hall,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  they  have  two  sons — Beverly,  born 
June  19,  1888,  and  Thomas,  Jr.,  born  April  18,  1890. 

Reese,  William  Miller,  was  one  of  the 
distinguished  lawyers  and  jurists  of 
Georgia,  was  a man  of  fine  intellectual 
attainments  and  was  prominent  in  pub- 
lic, civic  and  business  affairs,  as  well  as 
in  the  work  of  his  profession.  He  was 
born  at  the  navy  yard,  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  where  his  father  was 
then  stationed,  July  23,  1818,  and  is  a son 
of  Dr.  Milton  and  Annie  (Miller)  Reese, 
the  former  a son  of  George  Reese,  who 
died  in  Pendleton,  S.  C.  George  Reese 
was  a son  of  David  Reese,  of  North  Caro- 
lina, a signer  of  the  Mecklenburg  declaration  of  independence  and  a 
valiant  soldier  in  the  Revolution.  Doctor  Reese  was  appointed  sur- 
geon at  the  naval  station  at  Philadelphia  ; later  went  to  Europe  with 
the  navy  and  was  stationed  in  Italy  several  years,  in  the  days  of  the 
early  childhood  of  the  honored  subject  of  this  memoir.  When  the 


168 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


latter  was  eight  years  of  age  his  father  resigned  his  commission  in 
the  navy  and  established  his  home  in  Pendleton,  S.  C.,  where  his 
wife  died  shortly  afterward.  Pie  was  twice  married  thereafter.  In 
1834  Doctor  Reese  removed  to  Athen,  Ga.,  and  he  was  one  of  the 
original  subscribers  to  the  Georgia  railroad,  of  which  his  son  Wil- 
liam M.  was  a director  during  the  major  portion  of  his  life.  After 
proper  preliminary  training  William  M.  Reese  was  matriculated  in 
Yale  college  in  1834,  and  remained  two  years,  when  impaired 
health  compelled  his  withdrawal.  In  1837  he  entered  Princeton 
college,  in  which  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of 
1839.  He  then  returned  to  Georgia  and  began  reading  law  under 
an  able  preceptor,  thus  continuing  six  months  and  then  passing  an 
equal  time  in  the  law  school  of  Harvard  college.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  Georgia  in  1841,  and  was  associated  in  practice  with 
Gen.  Robert  Toombs,  who  later  attained  to  so  great  distinction. 
Judge  Reese  was  for  many  years  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Washington,  Wilkes  county,  where  his  death  occurred 
on  May  14,  1899.  No  better  review  can,  perhaps,  be  given  of  his 
career  in  the  limits  necessarily  defined  in  a work  of  this  nature, 
than  that  embodied  in  the  tribute  paid  to  him  at  the  regular  bi- 
monthly meeting  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Georgia  Railroad  & 
Banking  Company,  held  Nov.  14,  1899,  a few  months  after  his 
death.  From  this  article  the  following  is  substantially  direct  quo- 
tation : “The  death  of  the  Hon.  William  Miller  Reese,  the  senior 
director  of  the  Georgia  Railroad  & Banking  Company,  deserves 
more  than  passing  notice  from  his  associates.  In  order  to  under- 
stand and  rightly  appreciate  the  measure  of  his  services  to  this 
company,  it  is  necesary  to  consider  his  entire  career,  public  as  well 
as  private  and  professional,  which  manifested  his  character  and  his 
qualifications  for  the  duties  of  the  position.  His  mind  was  naturally 
strong  and  acute  and  was  enlarged  and  enriched  by  liberal  educa- 
tion and  by  habits  of  diligent  study  and  reflection.  He  was  pains- 
taking and  exact  in  details  and  industrious  to  avail  himself  of  all 
sources  of  information.  Possessed  of  sound  judgment  and  scrupu- 
lous integrity,  his  private  business  affairs  were  always  well  man- 
aged and  in  business  relations  he  enjoyed,  to  an  extent  rarely 
equalled,  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  best  people  of  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state.  The  practice  of  law  was  his  life  work  and  in 
him  the  bar  of  the  state  had  one  of  its  chief  ornaments  for  more 
than  half  a century.  He  was  a lawyer  of  great  acumen  and  learn- 
ing, of  such  thorough  research  and  of  such  uprightness  and  direct- 
ness of  character  that  his  legal  opinions  commanded  universal  re- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


169 


spect.  These  endowments  gave  him  the  eminent  success  which 
crowned  his  professional  career.  His  treatise  on  Executors  & 
Guardians  for  more  than  forty  years  has  been  a handbook  in  the 
courts  of  ordinary  and  in  the  offices  of  busy  lawyers,  and  has  proven 
invaluable  in  the  conduct  of  the  business  of  estates.  A more  useful 
book  has  never  been  published  in  the  state.  He  served  several  years 
upon  the  circuit  bench,  in  times  of  revolution  and  change  of  institu- 
tions, and  won  the  reputation,  in  dealing  with  new  questions  and 
conditions,  of  a profound  jurist  and  of  an  upright  and  efficient 
judge.  The  public  life  of  Judge  Reese  embraced  the  period  when, 
as  never  before,  the  state  needed  her  wisest  legislators  and  states- 
men. As  a member  of  the  constitutional  convention  of  1865  he 
bore  a prominent  part  in  the  formation  of  the  first  constitution 
after  the  close  of  the  war  between  the  states.  In  December,  1870, 
he  was  elected  senator  from  the  twenty-ninth  district,  and  was  re- 
elected in  1874,  serving  eight  years,  with  great  usefulness  and  dis- 
tinction. Much  of  the  legislation  of  that  period  bears  the  impress 
of  his  broad  and  liberal  mind.  A comprehensive  review  of  what  he 
did  as  a member  of  the  four  legislatures  intervening  between  the 
restoration  of  the  state  government  to  our  own  people  and  the  con- 
stitutional convention  of  1877,  would  embrace  a large  part  of  the 
history  of  the  state  during  that  time.  He  was  one  of  the  wisest 
and  most  conservative  legislators  the  state  ever  had.  If  the  occa- 
sion permitted,  enough  could  be  said  of  his  legislative  work  to  jus- 
tify us  in  ascribing  to  him  a high  order  of  statesmanship.  He  was 
a member  of  the  constitutional  convention  of  1877,  rendering  the 
most  valuable  service  to  the  cause  of  good  government.  Whatever 
defect  may  mar  the  symmetry  of  the  constitution  framed  by  that 
convention  grew  out  of  the  condition  of  the  times,  rather  than  the 
errors  and  mistakes  of  such  men  as  Judge  Reese.  While  he  was 
not  a member  of  the  succeeding  legislature,  which  adjusted  the 
statutes  of  the  state  to  the  changes  in  fundamental  law,  his  skill, 
experience  and  knowledge  were  unreservedly  enlisted  in  contribut- 
ing to  this  important  work.  Indeed,  for  many  years  he  was  one 
of  the  trusted  and  highly  valued  counselors  of  public  men.  His 
services  on  this  board  during  the  twenty-eight  years  of  his  mem- 
bership constitute  not  the  least  of  his  claims  to  the  confidence  and 
admiration  of  the  people  of  the  state.  It  is  manifest  that  such  a 
man  possessed  in  an  eminent  degree  the  qualifications  necessary  to 
discharge  the  duties  connected  with  the  direction  of  the  affairs  of 
the  Georgia  Railroad  & Banking  Company.  How  well  he  met 
every  requirement,  how  thoroughly  he  considered  and  illumined  by 


170 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


wise  suggestions  every  question,  how  often  he  has  saved  the  board 
from  inconsiderate  action,  by  his  sound  judgment  and  his  mastery 
of  the  facts  of  the  situation,  his  associates  with  one  accord  will  at- 
test. We  will  not  soon  forget  his  modesty,  his  genial  courtesy 
and  the  charm  of  his  manner.  These,  with  his  conscientiousness 
in  every  detail  of  business  and  policy  and  his  wealth  of  informa- 
tion, rendered  his  presence  at  the  meetings  of  the  board  or  in 
informal  conference  of  its  members,  a source  of  enjoyment,  the  loss 
of  which  we  will  never  cease  to  regret.”  The  board  embodied  the 
foregoing,  with  other  words  of  appreciation,  in  resolutions  which 
were  sent  to  members  of  the  family  of  the  honored  decedent.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  special  memorial  services  were  held  in  the 
Wilkes  superior  court,  and  resolutions  of  honor  and  esteem  were 
passed  by  the  bar  of  the  circuit.  All  classes  of  citizens  felt  a sense 
of  personal  bereavement  when  he  was  summoned  from  the  field 
of  life’s  endeavors,  and  not  the  least  of  the  tributes  of  affectionate 
regard  were  those  given  by  those  in  the  lowlier  walks  of  life. 
All  this  gives  assurance  of  the  man  as  he  stood  among  his  fellow 
men.  Judge  Reese  was  a stanch  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the 
Democracy  and  his  religious  faith  was  that  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  During  the  last  few  years  of  his  life  he  was  afflicted  with 
almost  total  blindness,  and  was  therefore  compelled  to  withdraw 
from  active  work  in  the  court  room,  but  he  continued  associated 
with  his  son  as  counselor  and  coadjutor  in  office  practice.  In 
1846,  Judge  Reese  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lucy  Pettus, 
who  survives  him,  as  do  also  their  two  children.  Milton  is  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  law  in  Washington,  being  a representative 
member  of  the  bar  of  Wilkes  county,  and  Sarah  is  the  wife  of 
George  Dillard,  who  likewise  resides  in  Washington. 

Reeves,  a post-village  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Gordon  county, 
with  a population  of  51,  is  a station  on  the  Southern  railroad. 

Regester,  Richard  Parish,  late  supervising  inspector  of  naval 
stores  for  the  State  of  Georgia,  with  office  and  headquarters  in  the 
city  of  Savannah,  was  a young  man  of  excellent  attributes  and  a 
familiar  figure  in  business  and  commercial  circles.  He  was  born  in 
Sampson  county,  N.  C.,  Oct.  3,  1870,  was  of  English  and  Scotch 
lineage,  and  possessed  in  a marked  degree  the  sturdy  habits  and 
intellectual  characteristics  of  those  nationalities.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Berl  Richard  Regester,  came  from  England  about  the 
year  1820  and  settled  in  Sampson  county,  where  he  became  a pros- 
perous planter  and  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  The  maternal 
great-grandfather,  Peyton  Parker,  came  from  Scotland  about  1760 


CYCLOPEDIA  . OF  GEORGIA 


171 


and  settled  in  Richmond,  Va.  His  son,  John  R.  Parker,  removed  to 
Sampson  county,  where  George  R.  Regester  married  his  daughter, 
Anna  Louisa  Parker,  and  this  couple  were  the  parents  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  George  R.  Regester  died  in  1879,  upon  the  planta- 
tion where  his  father  located  more  than  fifty  years  before.  He  and 
his  wife  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  concerning  whom  the 
following  brief  record  is  given:  Samuel  Walter  is  a naval  stores 

inspector  at  Jacksonville,  Fla.;  George  W.  is  a naval  stores  inspec- 
tor in  Savannah ; Madison  G.  holds  a similar  position  in  Jackson- 
ville; John  E.,  of  Savannah,  is  individually  mentioned  in  this  pub- 
lication; James  C.  lives  in  Savannah,  where  he  is  a naval  stores 
inspector;  Bettie  M.  is  the  wife  of  L.  E.  Robinson,  of  Jacksonville, 
and  Richard  Parish  is  the  immediate  subject  of  this  memoir.  The 
father  of  these  children  was  a valiant  soldier  in  the  Confederate 
army  during  the  Civil  war,  having  served  as  a member  of  Com- 
pany A,  Fifty-first  North  Carolina  infantry.  Richard  P.  Regester 
received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Faison,  Duplin  county, 
N.  C.,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  became  a naval  stores  clerk 
at  Brunswick,  Ga.,  rvhere  he  remained  for  one  year,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  he  went  to  Savannah  to  accept  a similar  position. 
His  quick  discernment  and  close  application  to  the  duties  assigned 
him  marked  him  for  promotion  and  in  1890  he  was  appointed  an 
inspector  of  naval  stores.  He  served  in  this  capacity  until  1903, 
when  he  was  appointed  to  the  repsonsible  position  of  supervising 
inspector  of  naval  stores  for  the  state,  which  office  he  held  until 
his  death  on  April  24,  1906.  His  record  as  a public  official  is  spot- 
less and  marked  him  as  a capable  and  conscientious  man.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Savannah  board  of  trade,  was  a Democrat  in  his 
political  convictions,  and  was  a member  of  the  Fraternal  Order  of 
Eagles.  Among  his  business,  political,  fraternal  and  social  asso- 
ciates he  was  held  in  high  esteem  as  one  worthy  of  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  all  men.  Cut  off  in  the  flower  of  his  manhood,  his 
death  was  sincerely  mourned  by  a large  circle  of  friends.  On  May 
15,  1892,  Mr.  Regester  led  to  the  altar  Miss  Lura  C.  Parker,  daugh- 
ter of  William  L.  and  Narcissa  (Carlton)  Parker,  of  Conway,  S.  C. 
Of  the  five  children  born  to  this  union  Rupert  died  at  the  age  of 
six  years  and  Lura  died  in  infancy.  The  other  three,  Jewell  L., 
Richard  P.,  and  Alma  C.,  are  still  living,  a comfort  to  their  wid- 
owed mother. 

Register,  a town  in  the  central  part  of  Bulloch  county,  is  at  the 
junction  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  and  the  Glennville  & Register 
railroads,  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  276.  It  has  a money 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


172 

order  postoffice,  with  several  rural  delivery  routes  radiating  from 
it,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  mercantile  and  manufacturing  in- 
terests, and  handles  a large  quantity  of  freight. 

Rehoboth,  a post-hamlet  in  the  extreme  northern  part  of  Morgan 
county,  is  four  miles  west  of  Farmington,  which  is  the  nearest 
railroad  station. 

Reid,  John  H.,  owner  of  a finely  appointed  drug  store  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Abercorn  and  Jones  streets,  Savannah,  was  born  in  that  city 
Sept.  18,  1864,  a son  of  Michael  and  Catherine  (Fortune)  Reid,  of 
whom  more  specific  mention  is  made  in  the  sketch  of  their  son 
William  F.,  in  this  publication.  Of  the  six  children  surviving  the 
parents,  William  F.  is  the  eldest  and  is  a druggist  of  Savannah, 
which  city  is  also  the  home  of  the  other  children,  namely:  Thomas 
Joseph,  Mary  E.,  John  H.,  Annie  Margaret,  and  Dr.  Robert 
Stephens  Reid.  Annie  Margaret  is  now  the  wife  of  Edward  F. 
Broderick.  John  H.  Reid  was  graduated  in  the  Savannah  high 
school,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  and  entered  the  drug  store  of 
his  brother  William  F.,  in  the  capacity  of  clerk,  in  1883,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  consecutively  identified  with  this  line  of  enter- 
prise. Fie  remained  as  clerk  and  pharmacist  with  his  brother  for 
several  years,  and  upon  the  death  of  another  brother,  Peter  B.,  who 
was  likewise  engaged  in  the  drug  business  in  Savannah,  John  H. 
assumed  charge  of  the  store,  as  manager  for  the  estate.  About  six 
years  later  he  purchased  the  stock  and  good  will  and  has  been  en- 
gaged in  business  for  himself  about  fifteen  years.  In  1900  he 
erected  on  the  site  of  the  store  which  his  brother  had  owned  the 
handsome,  three-story  brick  block,  whose  ground  floor  is  now  util- 
ized as  his  drug  store,  the  same  being  one  of  the  most  attractive 
and  well  equipped  retail  drug  establishments  of  the  city.  Mr. 
Reid  is  a member  of  the  Georgia  State  pharmaceutical  association 
and  of  the  Savannah  retail  druggists’  association.  His  political 
views  are  those  represented  by  the  tenets  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  he  is  a communicant  of  the  Catholic  church,  being  a member 
of  the  cathedral  parish  of  Savannah. 

Reid,  Robert  Raymond,  was  born  in  Beaufort  district,  S.  C.,  in 
1789.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Augusta,  Ga.,  where  he  studied 
law  and  began  to  practice.  In  1816  he  was  elected  to  Congress  as 
a Democrat;  was  reelected  in  1818  and  again  in  1820.  He  was  at 
different  times  mayor  of  Augusta,  judge  of  the  superior  court, 
United  States  judge  for  the  district  of  east  Florida,  governor  of  the 
territory  of  Florida  and  president  of  the  convention  which  framed 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA  173 

the  constitution  for  the  admission  of  that  territory  into  the  Union 
as  a state.  He  died  at  Tallahassee,  Fla.,  July  1,  1844. 

Reid,  William  A.,  a well  known  resi- 
dent and  business  man  of  Augusta,  was 
at  Savannah,  Ga.,  Dec.  18,  1838.  His 
father,  John  Flope  Reid,  was  born  near 
Glasgow,  Scotland,  but  came  in  early 
life  to  this  country  and  settled  in  Sa- 
vannah, where  for  many  years  he  was 
prominently  identified  with  the  cotton 
business  as  a merchant  in  that  staple. 
He  married  Ruth  Erwin  W elman,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  Savannah,  a 
daughter  of  Francis  H.  Welman,  a cot- 
ton merchant  of  that  city.  John  H. 
Reid  died  in  1848.  His  widow  long  survived  him,  passing  to  her 
eternal  rest  in  the  year  1898.  William  iY.  Reid  was  educated  at 
the  Georgia  military  institute  at  Marietta,  where  he  graduated 
with  high  standing  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1856,  having  served 
as  a cadet  officer.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  began  his  business 
career  by  becoming  associated  with  the  cotton  industry  in  his  na- 
tive city.  Since  then  his  experience  has  been  wide  and  varied. 
After  a short  time  in  Savannah  he  was  offered  and  accepted  a po- 
sition with  the  water  works  at  Mobile,  Ala.,  where  he  remained 
for  about  two  years.  He  then  returned  to  Savannah,  where  he 
was  connected  with  a firm  of  cotton  dealers  for  about  a year,  when 
he  went  to  New  Orleans.  That  was  in  the  fall  of  1859,  and  he 
was  there  engaged  in  the  cotton  business  until  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  war.  Under  an  act  of  the  Louisiana  convention,  provid- 
ing for  two  regiments,  regularly  enlisted  men,  one  of  infantry  and 
one  of  artillery,  approved  Feb.  6,  1861,  Gov.  Thomas  O.  Moore 
appointed  Mr.  Reid  a lieutenant  in  the  regiment  of  infantry.  His 
first  duty,  under  an  order  of  March  9,  1861,  was  to  carry  some 
despatches  to  the  Confederate  secretary  of  war  at  Montgomery, 
Ala.  Finishing  the  duties  assigned  in  New  Orleans,  he  was  or- 
dered to  report  for  duty  to  Captain  Mouton,  C.  S.  A.,  commanding 
New  Orleans  barracks,  the  regiment  by  act  of  the  Louisiana  con- 
vention having  been  transferred  to  the  Confederate  States,  and  on 
April  24,  1861,  he  was  mustered  into  the  Confederate  States  serv- 
ice as  second  lieutenant  with  company  F.  The  said  company  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  Warrington  navy  yard,  near  Pensacola,  Fla., 
where  the  five  other  companies  had  preceded  it,  and  the  remain- 


174 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


ing  four  soon  followed.  The  regiment  was  fully  organized  under 
command  of  Col.  A.  H.  Gladden,  who  afterward  became  a briga- 
dier-general. It  was  organized  as  “regiment,  Louisiana  infan- 
try,” and  known  at  the  war  department,  Richmond,  as  “First  regi- 
ment, Louisiana  enlisted  men” ; also  known  at  headquarters,  army 
of  Pensacola,  and  later  at  headquarters,  army  of  Tennessee,  as 
“First  regiment,  Louisiana  infantry”  and  “First  Louisiana  infan- 
try” as  per  official  documents.  After  guarding  the  Pensacola  bat- 
teries for  a time,  being  present  during  the  bombardments,  the 
regiment  was  ordered  to  Mobile,  thence  to  Corinth,  and  later  took 
part  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh  and  in  Bragg’s  Kentucky  campaign. 
On  Sept.  30,  1861,  Mr.  Reid  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant,  and 
on  Feb.  16,  1863,  he  was  promoted  captain.  On  July  13,  1863,  he 
was,  by  special  order,  No.  185,  detached  from  his  regiment  and 
detailed  for  special  duty,  and  was  made  acting  assistant  inspector- 
general  on  the  staff  of  the  Army  of  Tennessee,  where  he  served 
successively  under  Gens.  Braxton  Bragg,  Joseph  E.  Johnston  and 
John  B.  Iiood.  Captain  Reid  was  in  many  of  the  hottest  engage- 
ments of  the  war.  He  was  wounded  at  Shiloh  and  at  Murfrees- 
boro. The  wound  he  received  at  Murfreesboro  was  pronounced 
mortal  by  the  surgeon.  He  was  therefore  left  in  the  hospital  at 
Murfreesboro,  with  about  1,200  other  Confederate  soldiers  who 
were  too  severely  wounded  to  bear  transportation  when  the  army 
retreated  on  the  night  of  Jan.  3,  1863,  and  the  next  morning  all 
these  wounded  soldiers  became  prisoners  of  war.  Before  the  ar- 
rival of  the  Federal  troops  Captain  Reid,  with  several  other 
wounded  soldiers,  was  taken  to  the  house  of  Doctor  Nelson,  where 
he  was  kept  until  he  had  sufficiently  recovered  to  be  taken  to  Camp 
Morton,  a prison  camp  at  Indianapolis,  Ind.  Upon  the  arrival  of 
the  Federal  army  in  Murfreesboro  some  of  the  officers  demanded 
that  the  wounded  soldiers  in  Doctor  Nelson’s  residence  be  sent 
to  the  hospital  and  the  rooms  given  to  them.  This  the  family  re- 
fused to  do  and  finally  compromised  by  crowding  themselves  into 
part  of  the  house  and  turning  the  rest  of  it  over  to  the  officers. 
From  Camp  Morton  Captain  Reid  was  taken  to  Fort  Delaware, 
and  after  an  imprisonment  altogether  of  four  months  and  one  day 
was  exchanged.  He  reported  to  the  military  examining  board  at 
Chattanooga,  which  body  found  him  unfit  for  military  duty,  as  his 
wound  was  not  yet  healed,  and  he  was  granted  a leave  of  absence, 
thus  giving  him  an  opportunity  to  visit  his  old  home  in  Savannah. 
He  returned  to  the  Army  of  Tennessee  on  July  13,  1863,  when  he  was 
appointed  for  staff  duty  in  accordance  with  the  order  above  men- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


175 


tioned.  After  General  Johnston  resumed  command  of  the  Army 
of  Tennessee  Captain  Reid  continued  on  his  staff  until  the  final 
surrender  near  Greensboro,  N.  C.,  in  April,  1865.  His  parole  was 
signed  for  him  by  General  Johnston  on  May  2,  1865,  as  was  done 
for  the  other  members  of  his  staff.  He  then  spent  a few  months 
in  Savannah,  but  in  the  fall  of  1865  he  returned  to  New  Orleans 
and  again  engaged  in  the  cotton  business.  In  the  early  part  of 
1867  he  went  to  New  York,  where  for  the  next  twelve  years  he  was 
identified  with  railroad  and  iron  furnace  interests.  In  the  fall  of 
1878  he  left  New  York  with  his  wife  and  children,  and  on  October 
8th  he  landed  in  Augusta,  where  his  family  joined  him  about  a 
month  later,  having  spent  the  intervening  time  in  visiting  rela- 
tives and  friends  in  Savannah.  In  Augusta  Captain  Reid  became 
associated  with  his  brother,  Maj.  Frank  W.  Reid,  in  the  cotton 
business  and  continued  thus  for  over  seven  years.  He  was  then 
for  two  years  connected  with  the  Barrett  Manufacturing  Company, 
paper  manufacturers,  of  Bath,  S.  C.,  and  on  May  8,  1887,  he  be- 
came bookkeeper,  paymaster  and  cashier  for  the  Riverside  Mills 
(incorporated)  of  Augusta,  manufacturers  of  cotton  batting,  ma- 
chinery waste,  etc.  On  April  3,  1901,  he  was  elected  secretary  of 
the  company,  and  on  March  22,  1904,  was  made  assistant  treas- 
urer. In  March,  1906,  he  retired  from  the  office  of  secretary,  but 
still  retains  that  of  assistant  treasurer,  together  with  the  per- 
formance of  some  special  duties.  On  Dec.  17,  1867,  Captain  Reid 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Aurelia  Murray  Wheeler,  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  Wheeler,  a cotton  merchant  of  Mobile,  Ala.  Of  the 
six  children  born  to  this  union  five  are  still  living,  viz. : George 
H.  B. ; Ruth  Erwin,  (now  the  wife  of  Dr.  H.  H.  Malone)  ; Rachel 
Murray,  Aurelia  Wheeler  and  Elizabeth  Meldrum.  Frank  Wel- 
man  died  in  the  twelfth  year  of  his  age.  Captain  Reid  is  justly 
proud  of  his  honorable  war  record.  He  is  a member  of  Camp  435, 
United  Confederate  Veterans,  is  a life  long  Democrat,  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Au- 
gusta. 

Reid,  William  F.,  one  of  the  leading  druggists  of  Savannah, 
where  he  has  been  engaged  in  business  for  more  than  thirty  years, 
is  a native  of  that  city,  where  he  was  born  May  6,  1852,  a son  of 
Michael  and  Catharine  (Fortune)  Reid,  the  former  born  in  County 
Galway,  and  the  latter  in  County  Wexford,  Ireland.  Both  came  to 
America  and  became  residents  of  Savannah,  where  their  marriage 
was  solemnized  in  1851.  Michael  Reid  was  a young  man  at 
the  time  of  his  immigration  to  the  United  States,  and  was 


176 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


accompanied  by  his  brothers  James  and  Thomas.  His  wife  came 
with  her  parents  to  America  when  she  was  a child  and  her  death 
occurred  in  1878.  Her  husband  survived  her  by  several  years, 

being  a resident  of  Savannah  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  He  was  for  some  time  a 
member  of  the  police  force  of  the  city. 
He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  stock,  and  his 
wife  was  of  pure  Irish  extraction.  Four 
sons  and  two  daughters  survive  them,  all 
being  residents  of  Savannah.  William  F. 
Reid  attended  the  public  schools  of  Sa- 
vannah until  he  was  about  seventeen 
years  of  age,  when,  in  1869,  he  took  a 
position  in  a local  drug  store  for  the  pur- 
pose of  learning  the  business.  He  has 
ever  since  been  actively  engaged  in  the 
drug  trade  in  Savannah,  either  as  employe  or  proprietor.  He 
hase  been  in  business  for  himself  since  1874,  and  since  1876  has 
conducted  his  present  finely  appointed  store  at  the  corner  of  East 
Broad  street  and  Oglethorpe  avenue,  his  store  being  within  a 
short  distance  of  the  house  in  which  he  was  born  and  reared.  He 
also  has  a branch  store  at  the  corner  of  Flenry  and  West  Broad 
streets.  He  is  a member  of  the  Georgia  state  pharmaceutical  as- 
sociation, the  Savannah  retail  druggists’  association,  and  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Savannah  chamber  of  commerce.  He  is  president 
of  the  Georgia  cooperative  fire  association  and  chairman  of  its 
board  of  control,  while  he  is  also  a member  of  the  directorate  of 
the  Commercial  bank  of  Savannah.  He  and  his  wife  are  commu- 
nicants of  the  Catholic  church,  and  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights 
of  Columbus,  the  Catholic  Knights  of  America,  in  which  latter 
he  was  president  of  the  local  organization  four  years,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  library  association.  Politically  Mr.  Reid 
is  a Democrat,  and  he  held  the  office  of  city  alderman  for  ten  years. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Savannah  Volunteer  Guards  for  fourteen 
years,  during  the  last  five  years  holding  the  office  of  first  orderly, 
and  for  fifteen  years  he  was  a pay-exempt  member  of  the  Irish 
Jasper  Greens.  In  October,  1881,  was  solemnized  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Reid  to  Miss  Mary  Teressa  Hussey,  who  was  born  in  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  one  child,  which  died 
at  the  age  of  three  years. 

Reidsville,  the  county  seat  of  Tattnall  county,  was  incorporated 
by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1897.  It  is  situated  on  a high  sandy 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


177 


hill  about  four  miles  from  the  Ohoopee  river.  The  Collins  & 
Reidsville  railroad  gives  it  connection  with  Savannah  by  the  Sea- 
board Air  Line  railroad,  while  the  Stillmore  Air  Line,  by  its  ex- 
tension to  Wadley,  connects  Reidsville  with  the  Central  of  Geor- 
gia. According  to  the  United  States  census  of  1900  the  population 
was  257,  and  the  entire  Reidsville  district  had  a population  of 
2,446.  Reidsville  has  a court  house,  express  and  telegraph  offices, 
a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  a bank  and  some 
prosperous  business  houses. 

Remerton,  a post-hamlet  of  Lowndes  county,  is  on  the  Georgia 
Southern  & Florida  railroad,  about  four  miles  northwest  of  Val- 
dosta. 


Remshart,  Rev.  John  Waldhauer,  was 

a representative  of  two  of  the  earliest 
pioneer  families  of  Georgia,  and  he  la- 
bored faithfully  for  a score  of  years  as 
a clergyman  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  his  life  being  one  of  signal  con- 
secration and  nobility.  He  died  July  3, 
1878,  at  Tebeauville,  now  Waycross, 
Ga.  He  was  born  in  the  city  of  Savan- 
nah, Ga.,  Jan.  7,  1801,  a son  of  Daniel 
and  Elizabeth  (Waldhauer)  Remshart, 
both  of  whom  were  likewise  native  of 
Savannah,  where  the  former  was  born 
Oct.  20,  1767,  and  the  latter  June  20,  1773.  John  Remshart,  father 
of  Daniel,  and  Jacob  Casper  Waldhauer,  father  of  Elizabeth 
(Waldhauer)  Remshart,  were  members  of  German  families  who 
came  to  Georgia  with  Oglethorpe,  at  the  time  of  his  second  voy- 
age to  his  newly  founded  colony.  The  parents  of  these  two  ster- 
ling pioneers  were  German  Lutherans  and  joined  the  Salzberger 
colony,  at  Ebenezer  in  February,  1736.  Both  John  Remshart  and 
Jacob  C.  Waldhauer  were  educated  under  the  tutorship  of  John 
Martin  Bolzius,  the  finest  scholar  of  his  time  in  Georgia.  Both 
were  official  members  of  the  church.  Jacob  Casper  Waldhauer 
was  a member  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  at  Savannah,  in  July, 
1775,  and  was  a soldier  of  the  Continental  forces  during  the  war 
of  the  Revolution,  being  mentioned  in  General  Elbert’s  official 
orders  as  Capt.  Jacob  Waldhauer.  John  Remshart’s  name  appears 
in  various  historical  collections  as  among  those  citizens  of  Geor- 
gia who  protested  against  the  action  of  the  colonies  in  taking  up 
arms  against  the  British  crown,  their  animus  being  the  result  of 


12-m 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


178 

the  fact  that  England  had  afforded  them  freedom  to  worship  God 
according  to  their  own  convictions  and  ideas,  and  this  prompted 
a spirit  of  loyalty.  After  the  conflict  and  bloodshed  in  North 
Carolina,  however,  Mr.  Remshart  warmly  espoused  the  cause  of 
the  colonists.  Rev.  John  W.  Remshart  was  in  active  service  as  a 
minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  for  a score  of  years, 
his  retirement  resulting  from  the  loss  of  his  voice,  which  rendered 
it  impossible  for  him  to  continue  public  speaking  as  a vocation. 
Ele  served  seven  years  as  a missionary  among  the  negroes  of 
Georgia,  being  the  only  member  of  the  Georgia  conference  who 
understood  the  dialect  of  the  negroes  near  the  sea-coast,  and  hav- 
ing therefore  volunteered  to  carry  the  gospel  to  this  class.  It 
was  through  his  continued  speaking  in  the  open  air  while  engaged 
in  this  work  that  his  vocal  functions  became  so  seriously  impaired. 
He  was  originally  a Whig  in  politics  and  later  a stanch  Democrat, 
being  loyal  to  the  Confederacy  in  the  Civil  war.  On  Nov.  11, 
1822,  Rev.  John  W.  Remshart  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jane 
Bryan,  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Langley)  Bryan,  of 
Savannah,  and  she  died  in  1881.  Concerning  the  children  of  this 
union  the  following  is  a brief  record : Ann  Elizabeth  became  the 
wife  of  John  May;  Amanda  Jane  married  Saul  S.  Box  and  after 
his  death  became  the  wife  of  Elliott  C.  Johnson ; Pamelia  Nowlan 
became  the  wife  of  Edward  O.  Withington ; Mary  Ewen  married 
William  F.  Parker;  Margaret  Eliza  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years, 
and  Daniel  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  William  Capers  was  a soldier 
in  the  Confederate  army  during  the  war  between  the  states,  and 
died  on  March  3,  1878;  and  Isabella  Cornelia  is  the  wife  of  Dr. 
Joseph  H.  Redding,  who  is  individually  mentioned  under  the. 
proper  alphabetical  heading  in  this  compilation. 

Renfroes,  a post-village  in  the  northeast  corner  of  Stewart 
county,  is  a station  on  the  Albany  & Columbus  division  of  the 
Seaboard  Air  Line  railway  system.  It  has  a local  trade  and  does 
some  shipping. 

Rentz,  George,  of  Swainsboro,  a prominent  capitalist  and  banker 
of  Emanuel  county,  has  gained  success  through  well  directed  ef- 
fort along  lines  of  normal  and  legitimate  industry.  He  was  born 
in  Jackson  county,  Fla.,  Sept.  9,  1864,  a son  of  Rev.  Edward  Jo- 
seph and  Martha  Ann  (McGehee)  Rentz,  both  natives  of  Geor- 
gia.— the  former  having  been  born  in  Liberty  and  the  latter  in 
Houston  county.  The  father  was  an  itinerant  clergyman  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  in  Georgia,  for  thirty-five 
years,  and  died  in  Bartow,  this  state,  in  1885,  after  a life  of  signal 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


179 


usefulness  and  honor.  His  widow,,  afterward  became  the  wife  of 
Rev.  George  Clark,  of  the  South  Georgia  Methodist  conference, 
who  died  a few  years  ago,  and  she  is  now  living  in  Bartow. 
George  Rentz,  grandfather  of  him  whose  name  initiates  this  sketch, 
was  a native  of  Germany  and  was  the  founder  of  the  family  in 
Georgia,  having  been  the  owner  of  a line  of  steamers  plying  the 
Savannah  river  and  southern  Atlantic  coast.  He  also  owned  val- 
uable mining  properties  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state  and  was 
a man  of  much  wealth.  The  McGehee  family  is  one  long  and 
prominently  identified  with  the  history  of  Georgia,  the  maternal 
grandparents  of  the  subject  of  this  review  having  been  Edward  H. 
and  Clara  (Owens)  McGehee.  Mr.  Rentz  secured  his  earlier  edu- 
cational training  in  various  academies  in  Georgia,  his  father  mov- 
ing from  place  to  place  in  pursuit  of  his  ministerial  labors,  and 
he  finally  entered  Collingsworth  institute,  at  Talbotton,  where  he 
continued  his  studies  until  he  had  attained  to  the  age  of  eighteen 
years.  He  then  became  bookkeeper  for  a naval-stores  concern  near 
Bartow,  Ga.  He  remained  for  a period  of  eight  years  engaged  as 
a bookkeeper,  in  the  employ  of  various  concerns,  his  last  position 
of  this  order  having  been  in  the  general-merchandise  house  of  S.  C. 
Evans,  at  Pinetuckey,  Jefferson  county.  In  1890  he  initiated  his 
independent  business  career,  engaging  in  the  manufacture  of  naval 
stores,  in  Tattnall  county,  and  continued  to  be  identified  with  this 
line  of  business  until  1901.  In  the  meanwhile  he  became  con- 
cerned in  the  lumber  business,  operating  saw  mills.  In  1900  he 
took  up  his  residence  in  Swainsboro,  where  he  established  a large 
saw  mill.  In  the  following  year  he  disposed  of  all  his  naval-stores 
and  lumbering  interests  and  turned  his  attention  to  banking  in 
connection  with  which  he  has  been  very  successful.  In  1901  he 
organized  the  Citizens’  bank,  of  Swainsboro,  of  which  he  has  since 
been  president,  and  he  is  also  president  of  the  Bank  of  Wadley,  at 
Wadley,  this  county,  having  organized  the  same  in  1902.  In  1901 
he  erected  the  Citizens’  bank  block  in  Swainsboro,  the  property 
being  now  owned  by  the  bank,  and  he  is  the  owner  of  a large 
amount  of  valuable  real  estate  in  his  home  city  and  county.  A 
loyal  supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  Democratic  party,  Mr.  Rentz 
has  taken  an  active  interest  in  its  cause,  though  never  ambitious 
for  public  office.  At  the  behest  of  the  citizens  of  Swainsboro  he 
served  three  terms  as  its  mayor,  giving  a most  progressive  and 
businesslike  ad'ministration  of  the  municipal  government.  He  is 
chairman  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Swainsboro  academy  and 
takes  a deep  interest  in  all  that  tends  to  conserve  the  welfare  and 


180 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


advancement  of  his  home  city.  He  is  a Master  Mason,  a member 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  zealous 
members  of  the  local  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  of  whose 
Sunday  school  he  is  superintendent.  On  Oct.  26,  1892,  Mr.  Rentz 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Bessie  J.  Rentz,  of  Grovania, 
Houston  county,  and  they  have  six  children : Edward  Hugh, 

George  Pierce,  Bessie  Ruth,  Julian  Howard,  John  Frank,  and 
Sarah. 

Reo,  a post-hamlet  of  Walker  county,  is  on  the  headwaters  of 
Armuchee  creek  and  not  far  form  the  Whitfield  county  line.  La- 
fayette is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Reppard,  Robert  Blair,  a representa- 
tive citizen  and  business  man  of  Savan- 
nah, where  he  is  also  serving  as  consul 
for  Chili,  is  a native  of  the  old  Key- 
stone State,  having  been  born  in  Potts- 
ville,  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  Dec.  11, 
1845,  a son  of  Aaron  and  Flavia  (Mer- 
rill) Reppard,  the  former  born  in  New 
Berlin,  Pa.,  April  9,  1824,  and  the  latter 
in  South  Lee,  Mass.,  Sept.  4,  1826.  An- 
cestors on  both  sides  were  soldiers  in 
the  Continental  line  during  the  war  of 
the  Revolution.  Aaron  Reppard  built  and 
operated  the  first  circular-saw  mill  ever  established  in  the  State  of 
Georgia,  the  mill  having  been  located  near  Thomson,  the  county 
seat  of  McDuffie  county.  He  was  the  inventor  of  the  Reppard 
roller  gauge,  one  of  the  most  valuable  inventions  of  the  sort  ever 
made ; was  a millwright  by  trade,  and  erected  hundreds  of  saw 
mills  and  other  kinds  of  mills.  Robert  B.  Reppard  succeeded  his 
father  in  the  lumber  business,  and  for  a time  transacted  an  enor- 
mous business,  handling  at  one  time  about  fifty  carloads  a day. 
He  is  now  a member  of  the  lumber  firm  of  Reppard,  Snedeker  & 
Co.,  of  Savannah,  but  devotes  the  greater  part  of  his  time  and  at- 
tention to  his  railroad  and  iron  interests,  being  president  of  the 
Collins  & Reidsville  Railroad  Company,  and  the  largest  stock- 
holder of  the  Reppard  Iron  Company,  of  which  he  is  business 
manager.  He  effected  the  organization  of  both  of  these  important 
concerns,  one  of  which  has  been  in  existence  more  than  a quarter 
of  a century,  the  function  of  the  last  named  company  being  prin- 
cipally in  the  selling  or  leasing  of  railroad  iron  for  tram  roads 
operated  in  connection  with  saw  mills.  Mr.  Reppard  was  about 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


181 


one  year  old  at  the  time  of  his  parents’  removal  to  Georgia.  In 
this  state  he  was  reared  and  educated  and  has  ever  since  made  his 
home,  while  he  has  risen  to  prominence  in  business,  civic  and  so- 
cial life.  In  harmony  with  his  earnest  convictions,  he  exercises 
his  franchise  in  support  of  the  principles  and  policies  of  the  Pro- 
hibition party.  He  is  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Emory 
college  at  Oxford,  Ga. ; is  Chilian  consul  in  Savannah ; vice-presi- 
dent for  Georgia  of  the  American  forestry  association;  a Master 
Mason,  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. He  and  his  wife  are  prominent  and  zealous  members  of 
Wesley  Monumental  church,  Methodist  Episcopal  South,  of  Sa- 
vanah.  He  is  chairman  of  its  board  of  trustees,  was  superintend- 
ent of  its  Sunday  school  for  six  years,  and  has  been  for  many  years 
especially  prominent  in  Sunday-school  work.  Pie  was  president 
of  the  Georgia  Sunday  school  association  for  seven  years ; was 
chairman  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  same  for  an  equal  pe- 
riod, and  was  president  of  the  Monteagle  Sunday  school  assembly 
seven  years,  while  for  twelve  years  he  served  as  president  of  the 
Savannah  Poet  society.  On  Nov.  26,  1865,  Mr.  Reppard  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Campbell,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Wilson)  Campbell,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Scotland 
and  the  latter  in  Skowhegan,  Me.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reppard  have 
three  children:  Viola  R.  is  the  widow  of  W.  R.  Starnes,  of  Frank- 
lin, Tenn. ; Marian  R.  is  the  wife  of  David  C.  Carson,  of  Savan- 
nah ; and  Albert  A.  is  a prominent  business  man  of  Reidsville,  Ga. 

Resaca,  a small  town  in  Gordon  county,  is  on  the  Western  & 
Atlantic  railway  and  in  1900  had  128  inhabitants.  It  has  an  ex- 
press office,  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  a 
large  flour  mill  and  a few  stores  with  a good  country  trade. 

While  Sherman  was  making  attacks  upon  Johnston’s  position  at 
Dalton,  he  sent  McPherson  to  Snake  Creek  Gap,  where  his  cavalry 
encountered  some  Confederate  forces  including  Grigsby’s  Ken- 
tucky cavalry  and  the  cadets  from  the  Georgia  Military  Institute 
at  Marietta,  supported  by  Canty’s  brigade.  The  cadets  made  a 
brilliant  reputation  by  this  fight  and  delayed  for  some  time  Mc- 
Pherson’s advance,  although  finally  forced  back  with  the  rest  of 
the  Confederates  into  the  works  in  front  of  Resaca.  After  skir- 
mishing until  dark  and  finding  that  he  could  not  cut  the  railroad 
that  afternoon,  McPherson  withdrew  and  took  up  a position  for 
the  night  between  Sugar  Valley  and  the  entrance  to  the  gap. 
Johnston  had  sent  Hood  with  three  divisions  to  Resaca,  but  learn- 
ing of  McPherson’s  retreat,  recalled  Cleburne  and  Walker  to  Til- 


182 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


ton.  On  May  14th  Sherman  with  the  main  body  of  his  army 
moved  through  Snake  Creek  Gap  and  found  the  Confederates  in  a 
strong  position  behind  Camp  creek,  occupying  the  forts  at  Resaca 
with  their  right  on  some  high  chestnut  hills  to  the  north  of  the 
town.  Loring  held  back  the  Federal  advance  until  Hood’s  and 
Hardee’s  corps  arrived  and  took  position.  Then  the  army  was 
formed  in  two  lines,  Polk  and  Hardee  facing  west,  with  Polk’s 
left  on  the  Oostanaula,  while  Hood  faced  northwest,  his  right  ex- 
tending to  the  Connesauga  river.  There  had  been  some  slight 
skirmishing  on  May  13th,  as  Sherman’s  army  approached,  and  on 
the  14th  the  fighting  became  severe  along  the  whole  Confederate 
front.  Logan  reached  a ridge  in  front  of  Polk,  from  which  he  had 
dislodged  a Confederate  force,  and  intrenching  there,  placed  his 
cannon  so  as  to  command  the  Confederate  pontoon  bridges.  Hood 
advanced  in  the  afternoon  striking  Howard  and  Stanley.  Steven- 
son’s division  of  Hood’s  corps  drove  back  the  opposing  line  until 
they  were  halted  under  orders  and  at  dark  were  drawn  back  to 
their  original  position.  Early  on  the  15th  Stevenson  resumed  the 
position  from  which  he  had  been  recalled  the  evening  before.  By 
order  of  General  Hood  he  placed  a battery  some  80  yards  in  front 
of  his  line  of  infantry,  which  before  it  could  be  properly  supported 
opened  fire  and  drew  upon  itself  so  fierce  a fire  that  the  guns  could 
not  be  drawn  back  to  the  main  line  of  the  division,  but  Brown’s 
and  Reynolds’  brigades  drove  back  the  Federals  from  the  guns. 
Hooker  advanced  against  Hindman’s  position  but  his  fierce  as- 
saults were  all  repulsed  by  Hindman’s  first  line  alone.  Hood  was 
now  under  renewed  orders  to  advance  and  Stewart’s  division  had 
assailed  the  Federal  left,  when  the  order  was  countermanded  upon 
positive  information  that  a force  from  the  Federal  right  had 
crossed  the  Oostanaula  to  the  westward,  at  Lay’s  or  Tanner’s 
ferry  and  had  pushed  back  Martin’s  division  of  Wheeler’s  cavalry 
corps.  Near  this  point  Jackson’s  Georgia  brigade  of  infantry  met 
with  a severe  repulse  from  the  Federal  forces  under  Corse.  Find- 
ing his  left  thus  weakened  Johnston  withdrew  his  army  across  the 
Oostanaula  that  night,  while  the  Federals  were  asleep,  Hardee 
holding  back  Thomas’  advance  and  the  other  two  corps  marching 
to  the  south  of  Calhoun. 

Retreat,  a post-hamlet  of  Liberty  county,  is  not  far  from  the 
McIntosh  county  line.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Riceboro, 
five  miles  north  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line. 

Rett,  a little  village  of  Carroll  county,  is  on  the  Chattahoochee 
river,  six  miles  northeast  of  Whitesburg,  which  is  the  nearest  rail- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


183 


road  station.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice  and  is  a trading  cen- 
ter for  the  neighborhood. 

Revolution,  The. — Georgia,  the  youngest,  most  remote  and,  con- 
sequently, the  least  important  of  the  British  provinces  in  Amer- 
ica, was  the  last  to  abandon  hope  of  reconciliation  with  the  Mother- 
Country.  The  British  parliament  had  never  passed  any  act,  save 
only  the  Stamp  Act,  that  materially  affected  her  people,  and  that 
had  never  been  enforced  in  the  province.  It  had,  however,  ex- 
pended many  thousands  of  pounds  in  an  effort  to  promote  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  the  colony  and  to  protect  it  from  the  in- 
cursions of  the  savages,  who  surrounded  it.  Thus  exposed  to  sav- 
age enemies  on  every  side  and  having  much  for  which  to  be  grate- 
ful, the  sturdy  sons  of  Georgia  were  slow  to  resort  to  arms — but 
acting  on  the  motto,  which  they  soon  after  emblazoned  on  their 
escutcheon,  “Wisdom,  Justice,  Moderation”,  pursued  the  even 
tenor  of  their  way  till  it  became  apparent  that  reconciliation  be- 
tween England  and  her  colonies  was  impossible.  Then  Georgia 
hesitated  no  longer,  but  regardless  of  the  danger  to  which  she  ex- 
posed herself  at  the  hands  of  the  savage  allies  of  the  royal  gov- 
ernment, she  put  herself  in  line  with  her  sisters  and,  as  a reward 
for  her  temerity,  suffered  more  in  the  conflict  than  any  other  one 
of  the  thirteen  revolting  colonies.  When  the  Stamp  Act  was 
passed  in  March,  1765,  a call  was  issued  for  delegates  from  the 
several  colonies  to  meet  in  a general  congress  at  New  York  on  the 
7th  of  October.  A meeting  was  held  at  Savannah,  at  which  res- 
olutions were  passed  expressing  sympathy  with  the  movement, 
but  Governor  Wright  managed  to  prevent  the  selection  of  dele- 
gates to  the  congress.  About  this  time  William  Knox,  who  was 
Georgia’s  agent  in  Great  Britain,  wrote  a letter  in  defense  of  the 
Stamp  Act  to  a friend  in  America.  When  the  general  assembly 
met  on  Nov.  15,  1765,  Mr.  Knox  was  summarily  removed  by  a res- 
olution and  Charles  Garth  was  appointed  in  his  place.  Governor 
Wright  objected  to  this  proceeding  and,  when  the  appointment 
was  sent  up  to  the  council,  that  body  acted  with  the  governor, 
agreeing,  however,  to  the  nomination  of  “any  other  unexception- 
able person.”  To  this  the  assembly  replied  that  if  the  council 
rejected  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Garth  they  would  appoint  him 
themselves,  which  was  subsequently  done.  This  was  probably 
the  first  direct  clash  between  royal  authority  and  the  rising  spirit 
of  liberty  in  Georgia.  In  a letter  written  by  Governor  Wright, 
soon  after  the  event,  he  said : “A  large  proportion  of  the  people 


184 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


of  Georgia  are  sons  of  liberty,  and  the  same  spirit  of  sedition 
which  first  appeared  in  Boston  has  reached  Georgia.” 

The  stamp  act  was  repealed  in  March,  1766,  but  it  was  soon  fol- 
lowed by  others  equally  oppressive,  and  therefore  equally  obnox- 
ious. One  of  these  was  an  act  providing  for  the  raising  and  quar- 
tering of  troops  in  the  colonies.  When,  in  1767,  Governor  Wright 
made  a demand  upon  the  assembly  for  the  erection  of  barracks  to 
accommodate  a body  of  British  troops  it  was  peremptorily  re- 
fused. This  was  followed  soon  after  by  the  “Boston  Letter” 
(q.  v.)  and  before  the  excitement  over  that  document  had  died  out 
the  Boston  Massacre  added  fuel  to  the  flames.  Meetings  in  Sa- 
vannah declared  that  all  commercial  relations  with  England  should 
cease  and  denounced  as  a foe  to  liberty  any  who  should  import 
English  goods.  On  July  14,  1774,  a notice  appeared  in  the  Geor- 
gia Gazette,  requesting  all  persons  within  the  limits  of  the  province 
to  attend  a meeting  at  the  liberty  pole  at  Tondee’s  tavern  in  Sa- 
vannah on  the  27th  to  take  into  consideration  “the  critical  situa- 
tion to  which  the  British  colonies  in  America  are  likely  to  be  re- 
duced, and  such  other  constitutional  measures  pursued  as  may 
then  appear  to  be  most  eligible.”  The  meeting  assembled  at  the 
appointed  time  and  place,  but  as  some  of  the  outlying  parishes 
were  not  represented  an  adjournment  was  taken  until  August 
10th.  In  the  interim  Governor  Wright  issued  a proclamation  de- 
claring all  such  meetings  to  be  “unconstitutional,  illegal  and  pun- 
ishable by  law,”  and  warned  all  to  pay  due  respect  to  his  proclama- 
tion “as  they  will  answer  the  contrary  at  their  peril.”  The  threat 
implied  in  this  proclamation  had  no  effect,  unless  it  was  to  make 
the  friends  of  liberty  more  determined.  The  meeting  was  held, 
resolutions  were  adopted  denouncing  the  parliament  for  the  pas- 
sage of  the  Boston  port  bill,  concurring  with  the  sister  colonies 
in  every  constitutional  measure  to  obtain  redress  of  their  wrongs, 
and  a committee  was  appointed  to  receive  subscription  for  the 
suffering  citizens  of  Boston.  To  offset  the  effects  that  this  meet- 
ing might  have  in  England  Governor  Wright  called  a meeting  of 
royalists  at  Savannah.  Resolutions  were  there  passed  and  signed 
by  a large  number  of  fictitious  names,  the  object  being  to  show 
that  the  majority  of  the  people  were  satisfied  and  loyal  to  the 
crown.  The  actions  of  the  Provincial  Congress  and  the  Council 
of  Safety  (q.  v.)  still  further  widened  the  breach  between  the  pa- 
triots and  the  royal  authority,  and  when  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence was  received  at  Savannah  the  reign  of  the  latter  was 
at  an  end. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


185 


In  the  meantime  the  friends  of  liberty  had  been  preparing  for 
the  worst.  On  the  night  of  May  11,  1775,  Joseph  Habersham,  with 
a small  body  of  brave  and  trustworthy  men,  made  a raid  on  the 
powder  magazine  at  Savannah,  carried  off  the  entire  stock,  part  of 
which  was  spirited  away  to  Boston  and  the  rest  concealed  in  cel- 
lars to  be  ready  in  case  of  emergency.  In  July  of  the  same  year 
a ship  loaded  with  powder  from  England  was  captured  off  Tybee 
island  and  the  cargo  confiscated  to  the  cause  of  liberty.  Following 
the  adoption  of  the  declaration  a convention  was  called  to  meet 
in  Savannah  on  Feb.  5,  1777..  At  that  convention  the  declaration 
was  ratified,  a new  government  and  a new  seal  adopted  for  the 
state,  the  parishes  were  abolished  and  counties  substituted  there- 
for, new  courts  were  established  and  provisions  made  for  forever 
abrogating  royal  rule. 

One  instance  of  the  patriotism  of  the  people  of  Savannah  is 
worthy  of  special  mention.  When  the  city  was  threatened  by  the 
British  in  1776  the  committee  of  safety  passed  a resolution  that 
the  houses  belonging  to  the  friends  of  liberty,  together  with  the 
homes  of  widows  and  orphans,  should  be  appraised,  and  in  the 
event  of  the  enemy’s  gaining  possession  of  the  town  the  torch 
was  to  be  applied.  The  houses  of  the  tories  were  to  share  the 
same  fate,  but  were  not  to  be  appraised.  To  this  proposition  there 
was  not  a dissenting  voice.  McCall  says : “There  are  many  in- 

stances of  conflagration,  by  order  of  a monarch  Svho  can  do  no 
wrong,’  but  there  are  few  instances  upon  record,  where  the  pa- 
triotism of  the  citizen  has  urged  him  on  to  the  destruction  of  his 
own  property,  to  prevent  its  becoming  an  asylum  to  the  enemies 
of  his  country.” 

In  the  war  of  the  Revolution  Georgia  bore  her  part.  For  two 
years  she  escaped  serious  invasion,  but  after  that  time  a number 
of  battles  and  skirmishes  were  fought  on  Georgia  soil.  (See  Bat- 
tles). In  addition  to  these  there  were  skirmishes  in  Burke  and 
Liberty  counties,  besides  numerous  brushes  with  the  Indians  and 
tories.  Besides  the  fifty,  or  more,  battles  and  skirmishes  on  Geor- 
gia soil,  a large  number  of  Georgians  fought  for  independence  in 
the  Carolinas. 

Rex,  a little  village  in  the  eastern  part  of  Clayton  county,  is  a 
station  on  the  Southern  railway.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice, 
with  rural  free  delivery,  a local  trade,  and  does  some  shipping. 

Reynolds,  a town  in  the  eastern  part  of  Taylor  county,  on  the 
southwestern  branch  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway,  was  granted 
a new  charter  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1880.  It  had  by  the 


186 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


census  of  1900  a population  of  436  in  the  corporate  limits  and  2,199 
in  the  entire  militia  district.  It  has  express  and  telegraph  offices, 
a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  a bank,  a cotton 
mill,  several  stores  and  good  schools  and  churches. 

Reynolds,  Frank  G.,  chief  of  the  well 
equipped  and  efficient  fire  department 
of  the  city  of  Augusta,  is  a native  of  that 
city,  where  he  was  born  on  Feb.  25, 
1867,  a son  of  Patrick  and  Anne  (Galla- 
her)  Reynolds,  both  of  whom  were  born 
and  reared  in  Ireland.  Their  marriage 
was  solemnized  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
whence  they  came  to  Augusta  more  than 
half  a century  ago,  the  father  having 
been  for  many  years  engaged  in  the  mar- 
ble business  here  and  being  now  retired. 
He  and  his  wife  are  communicants  of 
the  Catholic  church,  and  he  is  a stanch  Democrat  in  his  political 
adherency.  The  popular  chief  of  the  Augusta  fire  department  was 
educated  in  the  parochial  and  public  schools  of  Augusta  and  at 
the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  began  an  apprenticeship  at  the  trade 
of  marble  cutting  in  the  establishment  of  his  father.  He  followed 
this  trade  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  twenty  years,  when  he 
became  a member  of  the  fire  department,  serving  as  call  man  un- 
til 1888,  when  he  became  a regular  employe  of  the  department, 
in  which  he  has  made  a record  for  most  faithful  and  discriminat- 
ing service,  as  is  evidenced  in  the  official  preferment  which  has 
come  to  him  in  the  connection.  In  1891  he  became  assistant  chief, 
and  in  1904  was  elevated  to  the  head  of  the  department.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  International  association  of  fire  chiefs,  a Democrat 
in  his  political  allegiance,  a communicant  of  the  Catholic  church, 
and  is  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks, 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  the  An- 
cient Order  of  Hibernians.  He  is  a bachelor. 

Reynolds,  John,  first  governor  of  Georgia  appointed  by  the  king 
after  the  surrender  of  the  original  charter,  was  born  in  England 
about  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century.  He  entered  the 
British  navy  and  rose  to  be  a captain.  His  title  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  chief  office  of  the  colony  was  “Captain-General  and 
Governor-in-Chief  of  his  Majesty’s  Province  of  Georgia,  and  Vice- 
Admiral  of  the  same.”  He  organized  a system  of  courts,  estab- 
lished friendly  relations  with  the  Indians,  and  called  an  assembly 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


187 


to  legislate  for  the  colony.  With  this  body  he  became  involved 
in  a misunderstanding,  which  was  aggravated  by  the  conduct  of 
his  secretary,  William  Little,  (q.  v.)  and  in  1756  he  was  recalled, 
but  the  letter  did  not  reach  Savannah  until  Feb.  17,  1757.  On  his 
way  to  England  he  was  captured  by  a French  privateer  and  did 
not  reach  London  until  July.  His  papers  had  been  taken  from 
him  by  his  French  captors  and  he  could  not  satisfy  the  board  of 
commissioners  Avith  his  explanations  of  the  Georgia  dispute,  so 
he  reentered  the  navy  and  subsequently  became  rear-admiral.  He 
died  in  January,  1776. 

Reynolds,  Joseph  J.,  cashier  of  the  Southern  Cotton  Oil  Com- 
pany, Waynesboro,  Burke  county,  was  born  on  the  homestead 
plantation  of  his  parents  in  this  county,  Oct.  9,  1866.  He  is  a son 
of  Joseph  J.  and  Rose  V.  (Anderson)  Reynolds,  both  of  whom 
passed  their  entire  lives  in  Burke  county.  The  father,  who  was  a 
son  of  James  M.  and  Mary  Ann  (Jones)  Reynolds,  was  a repre- 
sentative planter  of  Burke  county,  a loyal  soldier  of  the  Confed- 
eracy in  the  war  between  the  states,  and  deputy  clerk  of  the  su- 
perior court  of  Burke  county  for  many  years  prior  to  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1901.  Rosa  V.  (Anderson)  Reynolds,  was  a 
daughter  of  James  Anderson,  of  Burke  county  and  died  when  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  Avas  a mere  child.  After  a course  of  pre- 
paratory study  in  Waynesboro  academy  Joseph  J.  Reynolds,  to 
whom  this  sketch  is  dedicated,  entered  the  University  of  Georgia, 
where  he  remained  as  a student  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of 
twenty  years.  For  several  years  thereafter  he  was  associated  Avith 
the  late  Col.  William  E.  Jones  in  the  insurance  business.  In  1889 
he  became  bookkeeper  and  cashier  for  a large  mercantile  concern 
in  Waynesboro,  retaining  this  incumbency  until  1893,  after  which 
he  held  for  several  years  a similar  position  at  Millen.  Since  1902 
he  has  been  cashier  of  the  Southern  Cotton  Oil  Company,  at 
Waynesboro,  and  he  is  also  a member  of  the  directorate  of  the 
Citizens’  bank,  of  Waynesboro,  being  held  in  high  regard  in  both 
business  and  social  circles.  Mr.  Reynolds  is  a stalwart  supporter 
of  the  cause  of  the  Democratic  party  and  served  four  years  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  aldermen  of  Waynesboro.  He  is  af- 
filiated with  the  lodge  and  chapter  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  sensed  several  years 
in  the  Burke  light  infantry,  having  been  a charter  member  of  that 
popular  military  organization.  On  Jan.  2,  1890,  Mr.  Reynolds  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Angie  C.  Perry,  only  daughter  of  Judge 


188 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


H.  H.  Perry,  of  Waynesboro,  and  they  have  five  children,  namely: 
Charlotte  E.,  Barbara,  Joseph  J.,  Jr.,  Heman  P.,  and  Oliver. 

Reynolds’  Place. — On  Nov.  28,  1864,  while  the  Federal  army  was 
advancing  on  Savannah,  Wheeler  struck  Kilpatrick’s  cavalry  at 
Reynolds’  place,  a short  distance  south  of  Waynesboro,  in  Burke 
county,  and  routed  it  with  a loss  to  his  command  of  74,  the  Fed- 
eral loss  being  reported  as  250. 

Reynoldsville,  a post-village  of  Decatur  county,  is  on  Spring 
creek,  twelve  miles  west  of  Bainbridge.  Brinson,  on  the  Atlan- 
tic Coast  Line,  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Rhine,  a town  in  the  southern  part  of  Dodge  county,  was  in- 
corporated by  act  of  the  general  assembly  on  Sept.  1,  1891.  The 
population  in  1900  was  191.  It  is  located  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line 
railway,  seven  miles  east  of  Abbeville,  has  a money  order  post- 
office,  with  a number  of  free  delivery  routes  radiating  from  it,  ex- 
press and  telegraph  offices,  mercantile  and  manufacturing  inter- 
ests, and  does  a large  shipping  business. 

Rhodes,  Absalom,  one  of  the  extensive 
handholders  and  planters  of  Richmond 
county,  his  beautiful  homestead  planta- 
tion being  located  near  the  village  of 
Hephzibah,  which  is  his  postoffice  ad- 
dress, was  born  on  his  father’s  planta- 
tion, of  which  he  is  now  the  owner,  in 
Richmond  county,  Feb.  15,  1844.  He  is 
a son  of  John  A.  and  Cynthia  (Brown) 
Rhodes,  the  former  born  in  the  city  of 
Augusta,  Ga.,  March  11,  1797,  and  the 
latter  in  Edgefield  county,  S.  C.  Both 
passed  the  closing  years  of  their  lives  in 
Richmond  county,  where  the  father  was  a successful  planter  and 
influential  citizen,  his  death  occurring  on  Jan.  18,  1897.  Had  he 
survived  until  the  11th  of  the  following  March  he  would  have  been 
one  hundred  years  of  age.  Plis  wife  died  Jan.  21,  1885,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-five  years.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  named  in 
honor  of  his  paternal  grandfather,  Absalom  Rhodes,  who  was  one 
of  the  honored  pioneers  of  Richmond  county,  of  which  he  served 
as  sheriff  for  many  years,  and  also  held  the  office  of  judge  of  the 
inferior  court  of  the  county.  He  whose  name  initiates  this  article 
was  reared  on  the  old  home  plantation,  near  Hephzibah,  about  four 
miles  distant  from  his  present  residence  plantation,  and  was  af- 
forded the  advantages  of  the  schools  of  the  locality  and  period, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


189 


leaving  his  studies  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  to  go  forth 
in  defense  of  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy.  On  May  1,  1862,  he 
enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  D,  Twelfth  Georgia  battalion  of 
infantry,  and  continued  in  active  service  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
having  been  a member  of  Gen.  Clement  A.  Evans’  brigade,  in  the 
division  commanded  by  the  late  and  honored  Gen.  John  B.  Gor- 
don. He  was  with  his  command  in  many  important  engagements 
in  Tennessee,  South  Carolina,  Florida,  Georgia,  Virginia  and 
Maryland,  taking  part  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  the  engage- 
ments in  the  valley  of  Virginia  and  those  in  front  of  Petersburg. 
His  command  was  with  General  Lee’s  army  at  Appomattox  at  the 
time  of  the  final  surrender.  Mr.  Rhodes  was  fortunate  in  escap- 
ing serious  wounds  while  in  the  service,  the  most  severe  injury 
which  he  received  having  been  in  the  battle  of  Winchester,  Va. 
After  the  war  he  loyally  took  up  the  burdens  which,  in  common 
with  so  many  others  whose  properties  had  suffered  greatly  through 
the  ravages  of  war,  devolved  upon  him  in  assisting  to  rebuild  the 
prostrate  industries  of  the  South.  He  has  been  continuously  and 
prominently  identified  with  plantation  interests  and  is  now  one  of 
the  most  extensive  cotton  producers  of  Richmond  county,  his  out- 
put of  the  great  staple  averaging  100  bales  each  year.  His  home 
plantation  comprises  2,500  acres,  and  his  other  plantation,  the  old 
homestead  of  his  father,  comprises  700  acres.  Mr.  Rhodes  has 
ever  been  a stalwart  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Democratic 
party,  but  has  not  sought  the  honors  of  public  office  of  any  sort. 
He  is  a member  of  Camp  No.  435,  United  Confederate  Veterans, 
in  Augusta,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  prominent  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  South  in  Hephzibah,  in  which  he  has 
been  steward  and  trustee  for  many  years.  On  Feb.  15,  1866,  was 
solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Rhodes  to  Miss  Fannie  H.  Cogil, 
daughter  of  the  late  George  H.  and  Nancy  (Hill)  Cogil,  of  Rich- 
mond county.  Mrs.  Rhodes  was  born  on  Feb.  15,  1847,  so  it  will 
be  seen  that  they  were  married  on  their  birthday.  Of  the  fifteen 
children  of  this  union  eleven  are  living,  namely:  Walter  E.,  Clar- 
ence A.,  Anna  E.,  Sterling  A.,  Chesley  M.  and  Wesley  P.  (twins), 
Hattie  C.,  Clifford  E.,  William  T.,  Foster  G.  and  Beulah  E.  Anna 
is  the  wife  of  W.  J.  Glisson,  and  Hattie  is  the  wife  of  George  F. 
Sullivan. 

Rhodes,  Robert  Anderson,  one  of  the  interested  principals  in  the 
well  known  firm  of  Rhodes  Bros.,  of  Louisville,  Jefferson  county, 
has  been  a resident  of  Georgia  from  the  time  of  his  birth,  which 
occurred  June  12,  1856,  on  the  homestead  plantation  of  his  father, 


190 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


in  Richmond  county.  After  securing  a rudimentary  training  in 
the  common  schools  Mr.  Rhodes  continued  his  studies  in  turn  in 
the  Louisville  academy  and  the  Hephzibah  high  schools,  with- 
drawing from  the  latter  institution  when  sixteen  years  of  age. 
For  a decade  thereafter  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in  the  mer- 
cantile establishment  of  W.  A.  Wilkins  & Co.,  of  Waynesboro, 
and  for  the  ensuing  ten  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  gen- 
eral merchandise  business  on  his  own  responsibility,  at  Mat- 
thews, Jefferson  county.  In  January,  1905,  he  located  in  Louis- 
ville, where  he  became  a member  of  the  firm  of  Rhodes  Bros., 
general  merchants,  planters  and  owners  of  livery  and  sales  sta- 
bles. The  firm  controls  a large  business  and  has  a high  reputation 
for  reliability  and  fair  dealing.  Robert  A.  Rhodes  is  a stalwart 
in  the  camp  of  the  Democratic  party,  though  he  has  never  sought 
the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public  office,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  in  which  he 
is  a steward.  On  Feb.  18,  1895,  Mr.  Rhodes  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  Lewis  D.  Mat- 
thews, of  Matthews,  Ga.,  who  was  a lineal  descendant  of  a titled 
English  family.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rhodes  have  four  children,  namely: 
Robert  L.,  William  E.,  Mary  Elizabeth,  and  Lilia  Gertrude.  The 
elder  son  is  a member  of  the  senior  class  of  1906  in  Emory  col- 
lege, Oxford,  Ga. 

Rhodes,  William  James,  M.  D.,  is  a representative  physician  and 
surgeon  of  his  native  city  of  Louisville,  Jefferson  county,  Ga.,  and 
in  sketches  of  other  members  of  the  family  will  be  found  details 
in  regard  to  the  genealogy  and  personal  careers  of  his  parents. 
Fie  was  born  Dec.  28,  1857,  and  after  completing  his  studies  in 
the  Hephzibah  high  school,  in  Richmond  county,  he  entered  the 
literary  department  of  the  University  of  Georgia,  where  he  re- 
mained as  a student  for  some  time,  then  being  matriculated  in  the 
medical  department  of  the  same  institution  and  graduated  March 
1,  1884,  with  a degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  He  located  in  Bar- 
tow, Jefferson  county,  soon  after  his  graduation,  and  there  built 
up  an  excellent  practice,  in  which  he  continued  until  1898,  when 
he  returned  to  the  county-seat,  his  native  town,  where  he  has  since 
been  in  active  practice,  and  where  he  has  gained  even  more  marked 
prestige  and  success.  He  is  a member  of  the  Medical  Association 
of  Georgia,  is  a Democrat  in  his  political  proclivities,  is  a Royal- 
Arch  Mason,  and  he  holds  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  South.  On  Feb.  10,  1885,  Doctor  Rhodes  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Lavinia  Carswell,  daughter  of  James  W. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


191 


Carswell,  of  Jefferson  county,  where  she  was  born  and  reared. 
Mrs.  Rhodes  was  summoned  into  eternal  life  Feb.  7,  1906,  and  is 
survived  by  one  child,  William  J.,  Jr.,  who  was  born  June  4,  1891. 

Rice. — Of  the  many  varieties  of  this  plant  known  to  Asiatic 
countries  only  two  general  distinctions,  the  upland  and  the  low- 
land, are  common  to  Georgia.  Considerable  attention  has  been 
given  to  the  production  of  the  former  but  the  frequent  need  of 
irrigation  has  somewhat  retarded  the  cultivation  of  the  latter. 
The  average  yield  of  upland  rice  is  about  800  pounds  to  the  acre, 
though  in  Hall,  White,  Pike  and  Early  counties  some  farms  have 
produced  as  high  as  100  bushels,  or  4,300  pounds.  One  great  draw- 
back to  its  successful  production  is  the  lack  of  mills  for  cleaning 
the  grain  and  preparing  it  for  market.  The  largest  and  best 
equipped  mills  are  at  Savannah,  where  there  are  three,  with  a 
capacity  of  something  like  half  a million  bushels.  In  1890  the 
crop  amounted  to  a little  over  14,500,000  bushels  but  in  1900  it 
had  fallen  to  7,500,000.  With  the  introduction  of  mills  and  mod- 
ern methods  of  cultivation  the  rice  crop  could  be  made  one  of  the 
leading  products  of  the  state. 

Rice,  Patrick  H.,  who  is  prominently 
identified  with  the  wholesale  and  retail 
shoe  trade  in  Augusta,  and  who  is  rec- 
ognized as  one  of  the  progressive  busi- 
ness men  of  that  section  of  the  state, 
was  born  in  Augusta,  May  15,  1857.  He 
is  a son  of  Matthew  and  Elizabeth  (Gal- 
van) Rice,  the  former  born  in  County 
Louth,  Ireland,  and  the  latter  in  County 
Cork,  of  the  same  fair  Emerald  Isle. 
Both  came  to  America  when  young, 
their  acquaintanceship  was  formed  in 
Augusta,  where  their  marriage  wras  sol- 
emnized, and  where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  both 
having  been  devoted  communicants  of  the  Catholic  church.  Patrick 
H.  Rice  was  educated  in  the  parochial  schools  of  his  native  city, 
and  when  but  thirteen  years  of  age  he  took  a position  as  messen- 
ger boy  in  the  office  of  a local  cotton  firm.  At  the  age  of  fifteen 
he  assumed  the  position  of  assistant  bookkeeper  in  the  shoe  store 
of  Gallaher  & Mulherin,  and  this  association  led  to  his  rise  to  his 
present  prominent  position  in  this  line  of  trade.  Upon  the  disso- 
lution of  this  firm,  in  1876,  Mr.  Gallaher  became  the  sole  owner 
and  Mr.  Rice  was  retained  in  his  employ  in  the  capacity  of  buyer 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


192 

and  manager.  Two  years  later  he  accepted  a position  as  book- 
keeper in  the  newly  established  shoe  establishment  of  Mr.  Mul- 
herin, who  had  again  engaged  in  business.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years  he  secured  an  interest  in  the  business  and  the  firm  name 
of  William  Mulherin  & Co.  was  adopted.  In  1888  Jeremiah  J. 
O’Connor  was  admitted  to  the  firm,  and  the  title  of  the  same  was 
then  changed  to  Mulherin,  Rice  & Co.  The  business  was  con- 
ducted under  this  name  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Mulherin,  in  1893, 
and  in  the  following  year  the  surviving  partners,  Rice  and  O’Con- 
nor, reorganized  the  business  under  the  title  of  the  Rice  & O’Con- 
nor Shoe  Company.  They  also  are  associated  in  the  same  line  of 
enterprise  under  the  name  of  the  Great  Eastern  Shoe  Company, 
conducting  three  large  shoe  establishments  in  the  city  of  Au- 
gusta,— two  under  the  title  first  mentioned  and  the  third  under 
that  last  noted, — and  they  control  a large  and  representative  busi- 
ness in  both  the  wholesale  and  retail  departments.  Mr.  Rice  is  a 
stanch  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party;  is  a communicant  of  the 
Catholic  church;  is  grand  knight  of  the  Patrick  Walsh  Council, 
Knights  of  Columbus ; master  for  the  Fourth  degree,  Knights  of 
Columbus  for  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Georgia  and  Flor- 
ida; captain  of  the  Sacred  Heart  Cadets,  and  treasurer  of  St.  Jo- 
seph Branch  of  the  Catholic  Knights  of  America.  He  is  vice- 
president  of  the  Irish-American  bank,  of  Augusta ; a director  of 
the  Augusta  chamber  of  commerce ; president  of  the  Augusta  job- 
bers’ and  retail  merchants’  association ; and  vice-president  of  the 
Savannah  Valley  fair  association.  On  Sept.  22,  1886,  Mr.  Rice 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Carson,  of  Savannah, 
and  they  have  four  children : Anna  M.,  May  Claire,  Matthew, 

and  Patrick  H.,  Jr. 

Riceboro,  a village  of  Liberty  county,  is  a station  on  the  Sea- 
board Air  Line  railway  between  the  North  and  South  branches 
of  the  Newport  river.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  an  express 
office,  a good  local  trade,  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  60. 

Riceborough,  Skirmish  Nov.  24,  1778. — (See  Bull  Town  Swamp). 

Richardson,  a post-hamlet  of  Rockdale  county,  is  not  far  from 
the  Henry  county  line.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Stock- 
bridge. 

Richardson,  Mahlon  M.,  an  honored  veteran  of  the  Confederate 
service  in  the  Civil  war,  has  maintained  his  home  in  Hart  county 
from  the  time  of  his  birth,  being  a representative  of  one  of  the 
prominent  families  of  that  section  of  the  state,  and  a leading  mem- 
ber of  the  bar  of  his  native  county.  He  is  engaged  in  the  active 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


193 


practice  of  his  profession  in  Hartwell,  and  is  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  M.  M.  Richardson  & Son,  which  controls  a large 
and  important  law  business.  Mr.  Richardson  was  born  in  El- 
bert county,  May  3,  1840,  and  is  a son  of 
James  V.  and  Elizabeth  (McMullan) 
Richardson,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 
that  county.  The  former  was  a son  of 
Amos  Richardson,  who  was  a soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  served  as  sheriff 
of  Elbert  county  in  an  early  day,  being 
a citizen  of  prominence  and  influence. 
James  V.  Richardson  was  one  of  the  ster- 
ling citizens  of  Hart  county,  with  whose 
civic  and  material  upbuilding  he  was 
prominently  connected.  He  was  one  of 
those  who  in  1854  founded  the  present 
city  of  Hartwell,  having  aided  in  platting  the  town.  In  that  year  he 
was  elected  judge  of  the  inferior  court  of  Hart  county,  which  office 
he  filled  with  signal  ability  for  several  terms.  The  early  educational 
training  of  Mahlon  M.  Richardson  was  received  in  the  common 
schools  of  Hart  county  and  he  was  one  of  the  loyal  sons  of  that 
county  who  went  forth  in  defense  of  the  Confederate  cause  in  the 
Civil  war.  He  enlisted  on  March  7,  1862,  as  a member  of  Com- 
pany D,  Thirty-seventh  Georgia  volunteers,  in  which  he  was  fin- 
ally promoted  to  first  lieutenant.  He  took  part  in  a number  of 
engagements,  among  the  more  important  of  which  should  be  men- 
tioned the  sanguinary  battle  of  Chickamauga,  Sept.  19-20,  1863. 
He  received  a severe  wound  in  this  battle  and  after  his  recovery 
he  rejoined  his  command,  taking  part  in  the  battle  of  Resaca  in 
May,  1864,  again  having  the  misfortune  to  be  wounded  and  in- 
capacitated. He  was  retired  with  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant  and 
remained  on  the  retired  list  until  the  close  of  the  war.  His  con- 
tinued interest  in  his  old  comrades  in  arms  is  indicated  by  his  mem- 
bership in  the  United  Confederate  Veterans.  After  the  war,  Mr. 
Richardson  was  for  two  years  a student  in  the  literary  department 
of  the  University  of  Georgia.  Thereafter  he  completed  a course 
in  what  was  then  known  as  the  university  law  school,  the  present 
law  department  of  the  state  university,  and  was  graduated  in 
February,  1870,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws,  thus  being 
granted  admission  to  the  bar  of  his  native  state.  After  his  gradu- 
ation he  was  engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Hart  county  for  three 
years,  and  in  1866  he  was  elected  tax  collector  of  the  county,  serv- 


13 — III 


194 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


ing  one  term.  He  was  elected  clerk  of  the  superior  court  in  Octo- 
ber, 1881,  assumed  his  official  duties  on  the  1st  of  the  following 
January,  and  remained  in  this  office  for  fourteen  consecutive  years, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in 
Hartwell,  now  being  associated  with  his  son,  Arthur  S.,  under  the 
firm  name  of  M.  M.  Richardson  & Son.  He  is  also  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners.  Mr.  Richardson 
has  ever  given  his  influence  and  support  to  the  Democratic  party 
and  has  done  effective  service  in  its  cause.  In  1897-8  he  repre- 
sented Hart  county  in  the  state  legislature  and  served  on  the  com- 
mittee of  special  judiciary  and  on  other  important  committees  of 
the  house.  He  is  a member  of  Hartwell  lodge,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  and  is  chaplain  of  Hartwell  Lodge  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  devoted  members  of  the 
Baptist  church,  in  which  he  is  serving  as  deacon,  and  Mrs.  Rich- 
ardson is  a zealous  member  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Confederacy. 
On  Dec.  18,  1872,  Mr.  Richardson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Hester  Ann  McMullan,  daughter  of  Sinclair  and  Clarice  (Rich- 
ardson) McMullan,  of  Hart  county,  and  they  have  three  sons: 
John  G.,  who  resides  on  the  homestead  plantation  in  Hart  county; 
Arthur  S.,  who  is  associated  with  his  father  in  the  practice  of  law, 
and  Frederick  H.,  who  is  now  connected  with  the  Wilham  cotton 
mill. 

Richers,  Christian,  (deceased)  who  was  the  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Richers  & Gehrken,  wholesale  grocers,  of  Augusta,  was 
born  in  Bremerhaven,  in  the  province  of  Bremen,  Germany,  Jan. 
27,  1850.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  the  village  of  Sievern, 
that  province,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  immigrated  to 
America.  He  landed  in  the  city  of  New  York,  in  November,  1868, 
and  then  took  passage  on  a steamer  to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  from 
which  latter  place  he  came  forthwith  to  Augusta,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  maintain  his  home  and  where  he  had  at  the  time  of  his 
death  on  Dec.  27,  1905,  risen  to  a position  of  prominence  as  a re- 
liable and  progressive  business  man  and  public-spirited  citizen. 
Upon  his  arrival  in  Augusta  Mr.  Richers  secured  a position  as 
clerk  in  a grocery  store,  receiving  his  board  and  five  dollars  a 
month  in  recompense  for  his  services.  From  this  very  subordinate 
and  lowly  position  to  that  of  being  one  of  the  influential  and  suc- 
cessful wholesale  merchants  of  a thriving  city  was  a great  change, 
but  the  progress  of  Mr.  Richers  was  won  through  earnest  applica- 
tion and  legitimate  enterprise  and  effort.  He  was  significantly 
deserving  of  the  title  of  self-made  man,  and  his  business  career 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


195 


was  a creditable  one  in  every  respect.  In  1881  he  became  a mem- 
ber of  the  wholesale  grocery  firm  of  N.  Kahrs  & Co.,  and  in  the 
following  year  he  associated  himself  with  Fred  Gehrken,  who  pur- 
chased the  interests  of  Mr.  Kahrs,  and  the  enterprise  was  suc- 
cessfully conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  Richers  & Gehrken. 
The  firm  is  still  continued  by  Mr.  Gehrken  and  controls  a large 
and  representative  trade  in  the  handling  of  staple  and  fancy  gro- 
ceries, liquors  and  cigars  at  wholesale,  and  stands  high  in  the  es- 
teem and  confidence  of  all  who  have  dealings  with  the  house. 
Mr.  Richers  was  a member  of  the  directorate  of  the  National  bank 
of  Augusta ; was  a Democrat  in  his  political  allegiance ; a mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  was  identified  with  various  social 
organizations  of  his  home  city.  He  was  a bachelor. 

Richland,  a town  in  the  eastern  part  of  Stewart  county,  located 
at  the  junction  of  two  branches  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railway, 
was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1889  and  1890  a char- 
ter was  granted  for  a system  of  water  works.  Within  the  decade 
from  1890  to  1900  the  town  more  than  doubled  in  population,  and 
according  to  the  census  of  the  latter  year,  contained  1,014  inhabi- 
tants, while  the  entire  Richland  district  at  that  time  had  a popu- 
lation of  2,746.  The  town  has  telegraph  and  express  offices,  a 
money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  two  banks,  sev- 
eral prosperous  business  houses,  a wagon  and  buggy  factory,  a 
cotton  oil  mill,  churches,  good  schools,  etc. 

Richmond  County  lies  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state  and  is 
bounded  on  the  east  and  northeast  by  the  State  of  South  Caro- 
- lina,  on  the  south  by  Burke  and  Jefferson  counties,  and  on  the 
northwest  by  Columbia  and  McDuffie.  It  was  originally  laid  out 
as  St.  Paul’s  parish,  but  in  1777,  when  the  parishes  were  changed 
to  counties,  the  name  of  Richmond  was  conferred  on  this  section 
of  the  province,  in  honor  of  the  Duke  of  Richmond,  who,  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  British  Parliament,  stood  as  the  stanch  friend  of  the 
American  colonists.  During  the  Revolutionary  war  some  severe 
fighting  occurred  on  Richmond  county  soil.  (See  Augusta).  In 
1788,  when  the  convention  to  ratify  the  Federal  constitution  was 
called  to  meet  at  Augusta,  the  county  sent  as  delegates  John 
Wereat,  William  Few  and  James  McNeil.  In  1790  a portion  of 
the  county  was  set  off  to  Columbia.  The  land  is  drained  by  the 
Savannah  river  and  its  affluents,  which  also  furnish  abundant 
water-power,  that  is  extensively  used  for  manufacturing  purposes. 
The  climate  is  healthful,  numerous  cases  of  longevity  having  been 
recorded,  and  is  a favorite  place  for  northern  tourists  during  the 


196 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


winter  seasons.  The  soil  is  generally  a light,  sandy  loam,  easily 
worked,  the  alluvial  lands  along  the  Savannah  being  exceptionally 
fertile.  Crops  of  corn,  wheat,  oats,  sugar-cane,  sweet  potatoes, 
etc.,  are  raised,  and  truck  farming  is  an  important  occupation. 
Apples,  pears,  peaches,  plums  and  other  fruits  do  well,  and  the 
Richmond  county  water-melon  is  celebrated  for  its  size  and  flavor 
wherever  it  has  been  introduced.  In  the  northern  part,  where  the 
land  is  high  and  rolling,  there  is  a considerable  growth  of  hard- 
wood timber,  short  leaf  and  yellow  pine,  but  comparatively  little 
lumber  is  sawed.  The  chief  mineral  products  are  sandstone,  clays, 
suitable  for  brick  and  pottery,  and  kaolin.  Augusta  is  the  county 
seat  and  commercial  center.  Six  lines  of  railway  center  here,  con- 
necting the  county  with  the  leading  Atlantic  seaports,  and  the 
competition  provided  by  the  transportation  companies  of  the  Sa- 
vannah river  makes  shipping  rates  reasonable.  There  are  also 
several  electric  railway  lines  in  the  county.  The  schools  are 
among  the  best  in  the  state,  the  county  academy  dating  back  to 
colonial  times.  Among  the  noted  men  who  lived  in  this  county 
may  be  mentioned  John  Forsyth,  John  Milledge,  George  W.  Craw- 
ford, George  Walton,  Charles  J.  Jenkins,  Richard  H.  Wilde,  Au- 
gustus B.  Longstreet,  Gen.  Joseph  Wheeler  and  Gen.  Lafayette 
McLaws.  During  the  Civil  war  Richmond  county  sent  thirty 
companies  to  the  front,  2,000  men,  out  of  a white  population  of 
10,000,  enlisting  in  the  Confederate  service.  In  1864,  when  Sher- 
man marched  through  Georgia  to  Savannah,  and  again  in  the  spring 
of  1865,  when  he  was  advancing  through  South  Carolina,  General 
Wheeler  saved  Augusta  from  the  fate  of  Atlanta  and  Columbia 
by  defeating  the  Federal  cavalry  commanded  by  General  Kil- 
patrick. In  the  summer  of  1898,  while  the  Spanish-American  war 
was  in  progress,  about  8,000  troops  were  stationed  for  some  time 
at  Camp  McKenzie  in  this  county,  waiting  and  hoping  for  orders 
to  take  them  to  Cuba.  The  population  in  1900  was  53,735,  an  in- 
crease of  8,541  during  the  preceding  decade. 

Richwood,  a town  in  the  .northern  part  of  Crisp  county,  is  a sta- 
tion on  the  Atlantic  & Birmingham  railway,  five  miles  from  Cor- 
dele.  The  population  in  1900  was  252.  It  has  some  mercantile 
and  manufacturing  concerns,  a money  order  postoffice,  telegraph 
and  express  offices,  and  does  a good  shipping  business. 

Rico,  a post-hamlet  in  the  western  part  of  Campbell  county,  is 
about  ten  miles  from  Palmetto,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  sta- 
tion. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


197 


Riddleville,  an  incorporated  town  of  Washington  county,  is 
eight  miles  southeast  of  Tennille,  and  in  1900  reported  a popula- 
tion of  178.  It  is  the  principal  trading  center  for  that  part  of  the 
county  and  is  provided  with  church  and  school  privileges,  etc. 
The  most  convenient  railroad  station  is  Davisboro,  six  miles  north- 
east on  the  Central  of  Georgia. 

Ridge,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southern  part  of  Richmond  county, 
is  about  five  or  six  miles  west  of  McBean  Depot,  which  is  the  near- 
est railroad  station. 

Ridgeville,  a town  in  McIntosh  county,  is  the  first  station  north 
of  Darien  on  the  Darien  & Western  railroad.  The  population  in 
1900  was  304.  It  has  some  good  stores,  a few  manufacturing  es- 
tablishments, a money  order  postoffice,  schools,  churches,  etc. 

Ridley,  a post-hamlet  of  Heard  county,  is  about  six  miles  west 
of  Franklin.  The  nearest  railway  station  is  Hogansville. 

Rift,  a post-hamlet  of  Lee  county,  almost  on  the  Sumter  county 
line.  It  is  five  miles  southwest  of  DeSoto,  which  is  the  nearest 
railroad  station. 


Rigdon,  David  Beasley,  the  able  and 
honored  postmaster  at  Statesboro,  Bul- 
loch county,  was  born  in  the  fine  little 
city  which  is  now  his  home,  Aug.  16, 
1855.  He  is  a son  of  Mitchell  and  Sallie 
(Hendricks)  Rigdon,  both  of  whom  were 
likewise  born  in  Bulloch  county,  the 
former  at  Statesboro,  Aug.  3,  1827,  and 
the  latter  at  Blitch,  Nov.  29,  1829.  The. 
father  was  a prosperous  planter  of  this 
county  and  here  both  he  and  his  wife 
continued  to  reside  until  their  death. 
David  B.  Rigdon  passed  his  early  years 
on  the  homestead  farm  and  after  a course  in  the  high  school  at 
Excelsior  he  entered  the  old  and  famed  Eastman  business  college, 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  graduated  with  most  credit- 
able standing.  In  1874  he  engaged  in  the  general  merchandise 
business  in  the  village  of  Blitch  and  remained  identified  with  this 
enterprise  for  four  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  was  ap- 
pointed transfer  clerk  in  the  postoffice  service.  Six  months  later 
he  was  transferred  to  the  postoffice  in  Savannah,  where  he  held 
the  position  of  mailing  clerk  one  year.  Thereafter  he  served  five 
years  as  railway  mail  clerk  on  the  Wilmington  & Jacksonville  rail- 
road; one  year  on  the  Atlanta  & Brunswick  railroad;  and  one  and 


198 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


one-half  years  on  the  Augusta  & Atlanta  railroad.  He  then  met 
with  an  accident  which  rendered  it  necessary  for  him  to  retire  from 
this  line  of  service  and  he  returned  to  Statesboro,  where  he  was 
appointed  postmaster  one  year  later,  during  the  first  administra- 
tion of  President  McKinley.  He  has  since  remained  in  tenure  of 
this  office,  has  brought  the  service  up  to  the  highest  standard,  has 
systematized  the  work  in  every  department  and  has  gained  the  un- 
qualified commendation  of  the  local  public.  In  politics  he  is  a 
stanch  advocate  of  the  principles  and  policies  for  which  the  Repub- 
lican party  stands  sponsor,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Baptist  church.  In  a fraternal  way  he  is  affiliated  with 
Ogeechee  Lodge,  No.  213,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  Statesboro 
Chapter,  No.  59,  Royal  Arch  Masons;  and  Myrtle  Lodge,  No.  6, 
Knights  of  Pythias.  Pie  is  secretary  of  both  his  lodge  and  chapter 
in  the  Masonic  order.  On  June  29,  1887,  Mr.  Rigdon  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Martha  E.  Humphries,  daughter  of  James  and 
Lillie  (Moore)  Humphries,  of  Halcyondale,  Screven  county,  and 
to  this  union  were  born  eight  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  living  children  are  Martha  E.,  Sally,  Daniel  R.,  David, 
James  H.  and  Zella. 

Rincon,  a village  in  the  southern  part  of  Effingham  county,  is  a 
station  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railway,  about  sixteen  miles  from 
Savannah.  The  population  in  1900  was  91.  It  has  a good  local 
trade,  a money  order  postoffice,  telegraph  and  express  offices,  and 
handles  a considerable  quantity  of  freight. 

Ringgold,  the  county  seat  of  Catoosa  county,  was  incorporated 
by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1847.  It  is  located  on  the  Western  & 
Atlantic  railroad  and  was  named  for  Major  Ringgold,  a gallant 
Marylander,  who  was  mortally  wounded  at  Palo  Alto,  the  first 
battle  of  the  Mexican  war.  It  has  a court-house,  a bank,  a money 
order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  express  and  telegraph  of- 
fices and  several  mercantile  establishments.  In  1900  the  popula- 
tion of  the  town  was  437,  and  of  the  whole  Ringgold  district  1,221. 

In  November,  1863,  after  Bragg’s  defeat  at  Missionary  Ridge, 
General  Cleburne  was  ordered  to  take  a position  on  Taylor’s  Ridge 
and  check  the  pursuing  forces  under  Hooker.  At  a gap  back  of 
Ringgold  he  posted  his  division  in  such  a way  as  to  cover  the 
road  through  the  gap  from  different  points,  masked  his  artillery 
and  waited  for  the  coming  of  the  enemy.  Hooker’s  army,  consist- 
ing of  the  divisions  of  Osterhaus,  Geary  and  Cruft,  advanced  in 
the  order  named,  and  though  there  were  three  divisions  to  Cle- 
burne’s one  the  latter  remained  cool  and  steady  until  the  word 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


199 


came  to  open  the  engagement.  As  the  Federals  drew  near  the 
ridge  a fire  from  one  of  the  batteries  on  the  flank  compelled  them 
to  take  shelter  behind  the  railroad  embankment.  An  attempt  to 
turn  the  Confederate  right  flank  was  promptly  met  and  thwarted 
by  Taylor’s  Texans.  Then  deploying  skirmishers  up  the  slope  of 
the  hill  he  charged  with  three  companies  and  routed  the  flanking 
force,  capturing  60  prisoners  and  the  colors  of  the  Twenty-ninth 
Missouri.  Osterhaus  sent  the  Seventy-sixth  Ohio,  supported  by 
the  Fourth  Iowa,  to  attempt  the  ridge  farther  north.  The  column, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Williamson,  was  met  by  Polk’s  and 
Lowry’s  bridgades,  and  five  more  regiments  were  ordered  to  Wil- 
liamson’s assistance,  but  without  avail.  Creighton’s  brigade,  of 
Geary’s  division,  next  charged  the  hill,  but  was  struck  on  the  flank 
by  the  Second  Tennessee  and  repulsed  with  considerable  loss. 
About  this  time  Flardee  sent  word  to  Cleburne  that  the  wagon 
train  was  safe,  and  Cleburne  then  withdrew  about  a mile  to  the 
rear  of  the  army.  Hooker  was  ordered  to  make  no  further  at- 
tempts to  advance,  but  to  return  toward  Chattanooga.  This  affair, 
which  occurred  on  Nov.  27,  1863,  is  known  as  the  battle  of  Ring- 
gold  Gap.  General  Cleburne  and  his  division  received  the  thanks 
of  the  Confederate  Congress  for  the  gallant  defense  of  their  posi- 
tion, which  saved  the  supply  trains  of  Bragg’s  army.  During  the 
month  of  February,  1864,  there  was  considerable  skirmishing  in 
the  vicinity  of  Ringgold,  as  Thomas  was  making  his  advance  on 
Dalton. 

Ringgold  Gap. — (See  Ringgold). 

Ripley,  a post-village  of  Twiggs  county,  is  a station  on  the  Ma- 
con, Dublin  & Savannah  railroad,  about  five  or  six  miles  north- 
west of  Jeffersonville. 

Rising  Fawn,  an  incorporated  town  in  Dade  county,  is  on  the 
Alabama  Great  Southern  railroad,  eight  miles  south  of  Trenton. 
The  population  in  1900  was  212.  It  has  some  mercantile,  mining 
and  shipping  interests,  telegraph  and  express  offices  and  a money 
order  postoffice,  from  which  mail  is  supplied  to  the  surrounding 
rural  districts  by  free  delivery  routes. 

Ritch,  a post-village  of  Wayne  county,  is  located  on  Dougherty’s 
creek,  not  far  from  the  Appling  county  line.  The  population  in 
1900  was  100.  It  is  a trading  center  for  that  part  of  the  county. 
Screven,  eight  miles  southeast  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  railroad, 
is  the  nearest  station. 

Riverdale,  a town  in  Clayton  county,  is  on  the  Atlanta  & Fort 
Valley  division  of  the  Southern  railway,  fifteen  miles  from  Atlanta. 


200 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


It  had  a population  of  168  in  1900.  Among  its  institutions  are  sev- 
eral good  mercantile  concerns,  a few  manufacturing  establish- 
ments, good  schools,  churches,  telegraph  and  express  offices,  and 
a money  order  postoffice,  from  which  a number  of  free  delivery 
routes  supply  mail  to  the  rural  districts. 

Rivers,  Eretus,  junior  member  of  the  firm  of  Robson  & Rivers,, 
who  are  established  in  a successful  real  estate  business  in  the  city 
of  Atlanta,  was  born  in  Pike  county,  Ga.,  in  1874,  and  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  county  he  secured  his  earlier  educational  discipline. 
In  1886  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Atlanta,  becoming  office  boy  in 
the  local  offices  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  and  remained 
with  this  road  for  fifteen  consecutive  years,  being  advanced  to  the 
office  of  train  master,  the  youngest  incumbent  of  such  position  in 
the  South.  For  three  years  he  had  charge  of  the  Macon  tunnel. 
In  1900  he  resigned  his  position  and  in  the  following  year  engaged 
in* the  real  estate  business,  the  present  firm  of  Robson  & Rivers 
being  formed  in  1902.  The  concern  has  shown  an  enterprising 
and  aggressive  policy,  its  members  are  well  informed  on  realty 
values  and  their  business  is  one  of  important  scope.  Mr.  Rivers 
is  popular  in  business  and  social  circles  in  Atlanta ; has  attained  to 
the  thirty-second  degree  in  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  Ma- 
sonry; is  also  identified  with  the  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  the  No- 
bles of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Capital  City  club  and  the  Pied- 
mont Driving  club.  He  is  a member  of  the  North  Avenue  Presby- 
terian church. 

Rivertown,  a post-hamlet  of  Campbell  county,  is  on  the  Chatta- 
hoochee river.  Fairburn  and  Palmetto,  on  the  Atlanta  & West 
Point  railroad,  are  the  most  convenient  railroad  towns. 

Roads. — (See  Highways). 

Roan,  Charles  T.,  judge  of  the  city  court  of  Douglas,  is  one  of 
the  representative  members  of  the  bar  of  Coffee  county  and  has 
been  a resident  of  Georgia  from  the  time  of  his  birth.  He  was 
born  at  Fayetteville,  Fayette  county,  Dec.  26,  1866,  a son  of  Ben- 
jamin S.  and  Fucy  J.  (Vickers)  Roan,  both  natives  of  this  state. 
Benjamin  S.  Roan  was  born  in  Jasper  county,  June  18,  1817,. 
and  died  Dec.  23,  1892.  His  wife  is  still  living,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-three  years.  The  father  served  under  General  Floyd 
in  the  Seminole  Indian  war,  and  soon  after  the  inception  of  the 
Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  a Georgia  regiment  of  the  Confederate 
service,  being  with  his  command  in  General  Fee’s  campaign  in 
western  Virginia.  He  became  seriously  ill  and  received  his  dis- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


201 


charge  on  account  of  physical  disability.  Charles  T.  Roan  com- 
pleted a partial  course  in  Emory  college  at  Oxford,  Ga.,  then  stud- 
ied law  under  the  preceptorship  of  his  brother,  Len  S.,  at  Fair- 
burn,  Campbell  county,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  on  Aug.  1, 
1888.  He  was  engaged  in  practice  in  Fairburn  one  year,  then  re- 
moved to  Atlanta,  where  he  was  successfully  engaged  in  the  work 

of  his  profession  until  1901,  when  he  took 
up  his  residence  in  Douglas,  the  county 
seat  of  Coffee  county,  where  he  assumed 
marked  precedence  as  an  able  member  of 
his  profession  and  as  a citizen  of  prom- 
inence and  distinctive  public  spirit.  He 
served  as  mayor  of  Douglas  in  1903-4, 
and  in  August,  1905,  was  appointed,  by 
Governor  Terrell,  to  his  present  office. 
He  is  a stanch  supporter  of  the  principles 
and  policies  for  which  the  Democratic 
party  stands  sponsor ; is  affiliated  with 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  had 
served  as  master  of  his  lodge  before  he  had  attained  to  the  age  of 
twenty-five  years ; is  also  a member  of  the  Phi  Delta  Theta  college 
fraternity,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  South.  On  Sept.  13,  1889,  Judge  Roan 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Issie  M.,  daughter  of  William  H. 
and  Ella  (Jones)  Morrow,  of  Jonesboro,  Ga.  They  have  five 
children:  Len  Iv.,  Luella,  Benjamin  Henry,  Augustus  M.  and 

Bruce  Jonas. 

Roanoke. — Among  the  villages  that  grew  up  in  the  Creek  coun- 
try after  the  conclusion  of  the  treaties  of  1821  and  1825  was  one 
which  does  not  now  exist,  called  Roanoke,  located  on  the  Chatta- 
hoochee river,  in  Stewart  county.  Being  on  the  extreme  frontier 
the  citizens  had  made  some  preparations  for  defense  in  the  erec- 
tion of  a blockhouse,  surrounded  by  a sharp  picket,  and  the  organi- 
zation of  a company  of  volunteers,  which  could  be  assembled  on 
short  notice.  Early  in  May,  1836,  when  the  Creeks  began  to  mani- 
fest signs  of  hostility,  this  company  was  assembled  to  guard  the 
border  against  an  invasion  from  the  allied  Creeks  and  Seminoles 
of  Alabama.  On  the  night  of  Friday,  May  13th,  an  attack  was 
made  upon  the  village,  but  it  was  promptly  met  by  the  troops  and 
the  Indians  were  driven  off  with  some  loss.  At  daylight  the  next 
morning  not  a red  man  could  be  seen  and  the  citizen  soldiers,  think- 
ing the  enemy  was  defeated  became  careless,  and  quite  a number 


202 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


obtained  a leave  of  absence  to  visit  their  homes,  leaving  but  a few 
on  guard.  A short  time  before  daybreak  on  Sunday  morning  the 
people  were  awakened  by  the  yells  of  the  savages,  now  numbering- 
300  or  more.  They  had  crossed  the  river  quietly  during  the  night, 
scattered  around  the  sleeping  village  in  Indian  fashion,  and  at  first 
commenced  firing  at  some  distance,  as  if  to  test  the  strength  of  the 
garrison  before  making  an  assault.  Finding  their  fire  returned 
with  uncertain  and  irregular  aim,  owing  to  the  darkness,  they 
closed  in  upon  the  doomed  village,  firing  as  they  came,  with  such 
deadly  results  that  in  a little  while  eleven  whites  were  killed  and 
eight  others  seriously  wounded.  The  ones  who  were  left  hurriedly 
evacuated  the  fort  and  dashing  through  the  Indians  gained  the 
bluffs  of  the  river  and  escaped.  The  savages  then  fired  the  town, 
but  during  the  morning  the  troops  were  collected  and  by  a de- 
termined attack  drove  the  enemy  from  the  scene  of  their  recent 
victory. 

Roanoke,  a post-hamlet  of  Milton  county,  is  three  miles  north- 
east of  Roswell,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Rober,  a post-hamlet  of  Pickens  county,  is  three  miles  west  of 
Talking  Rock,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station,  and  is  a trad- 
ing point  of  the  neighborhood  in  which  it  is  located. 

Roberta,  a town  of  Crawford  county,  was  incorporated  by  act 
of  the  legislature  on  Dec.  26,  1890.  It  is  located  on  the  Atlanta  & 
Fort  Valley  division  of  the  Southern  railway  system,  and  in  1900 
reported  a population  of  252.  It  has  a bank,  a money  order  post- 
office,  telegraph  and  express  service,  several  stores,  school  and 
church  advantages,  and  is  a shipping  point  of  considerable  impor- 
tance, especially  during  the  fruit  season. 

Roberts,  David  Montgomery,  of  Eastman,  is  a nestor  of  the 
bar  of  Dodge  county;  ex-judge  of  the  superior  court  of  the  Oconee 
circuit ; ex-member  of  the  state  senate ; a veteran  of  the  Confeder- 
ate service  in  the  Civil  war,  and  a representative  of  one  of  the  old 
and  influential  families  of  Georgia.  He  was  born  on  the  home- 
stead plantation,  in  Laurens  county,  June  15,  1837,  a son  of  Daniel 
and  Elizabeth  Roberts,  both  of  whom  were  likewise  natives  of 
that  county.  The  father  was  born  in  1792,  being  a son  of  Frederick 
Roberts,  who  was  a soldier  in  the  Continental  line  during  the  war 
of  the  Revolution,  in  which  he  received  a wound  which  necessi- 
tated the  amputation  of  one  of  his  legs.  Daniel  Roberts  devoted 
his  active  life  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  was  a man  of  influence 
in  his  community,  honored  by  all  who  knew  him.  Though  averse 
to  becoming  incumbent  of  public  office,  he  was  at  one  time  sheriff 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


203 


of  Laurens  county,  where  both  he  and  his  wife  passed  their  entire 
lives.  Judge  Roberts  received  his  early  educational  training  princi- 
pally under  the  direction  of  private  instructors,  having  been  reared 
on  the  home  plantation,  where  he  remained  until  he  had  attained 
the  age  of  twenty  years,  when  he  took  a position  as  clerk  in  a dry- 
goods  store,  and  following  this  line  of  work  a few  years,  after 
which  he  took  up  the  study  of  law,  under  Hugh  M.  Moore,  of 
Dublin,  Laurens  county,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  June,  1859, 
at  an  adjourned  term  of  the  superior  court  of  his  native  county, 
his  examination  being  conducted  before  Judge  Peter  E.  Love.  He 
soon  afterward  located  in  Quitman,  Brooks  county,  but  a short 
time  later  removed  to  Jacksonville,  Telfair  county,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  practice  until  just  before  the  opening  of  the  Civil  war, 
when  he  returned  to  Dublin,  whence  he  went  forth  to  serve  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Confederate  ranks.  In  1861  he  enlisted  as  a private 
in  Company  G,  Tenth  Georgia  infantry,  with  which  he  was  in 
active  service  about  nine  months,  finally  contracting  rheumatism 
and  becoming  incapacitated  for  further  field  service.  He  received 
his  honorable  discharge  on  Feb.  1,  1862.  After  leaving  his  regi- 
ment he  remained  at  home  two  months  and  then  re-enlisted,  joining 
a battalion  of  Georgia  cavalry  commanded  by  Gen.  Charles  T. 
Goode.  Later  this  battalion,  consisting  of  five  companies,  was 
consolidated  with  an  Alabama  battalion,  the  two  making  up  the 
Tenth  Confederate  cavalry.  Judge  Roberts  was  assigned  to  Com- 
pany G,  in  which  he  rose  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant.  His  command 
was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  Virginia,  and  the  first  engagement 
in  which  he  participated  was  that  near  Mill  Spring,  Ky.,  at  a place 
called  Tryon,  on  the  Cumberland  river.  Later  he  took  part  in  the 
battles  of  Chickamauga,  New  Hope  Church,  Ivenesaw  Mountain, 
Bentonville,  and  several  others  of  minor  importance.  In  the  latter 
part  of  the  war  he  had  been  sent  on  a secret  scouting  expedition  by 
General  Johnston,  and  while  he  was  within  the  enemy’s  lines  the 
war  closed.  He  then  located  in  Reidsville,  Tattnall  county,  where 
he  remained  about  one  year,  then  removed  to  Holmesville,  Appling 
county,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  1875,  when  he  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Jesup,  Wayne  county.  A year 
later  he  removed  to  Eastman,  where  he  has  since  been  identified 
with  the  work  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  has  met  with  marked 
success,  having  high  standing  as  a jurist.  Judge  Roberts  is  a stal- 
wart in  the  camp  of  the  Democratic  party,  having  been  a delegate 
to  the  national  convention  which  nominated  Gen.  W.  S.  Hancock 
for  the  presidency,  and  is  still  active  in  local  politics.  He  repre- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


2U4 

sented  the  fourteenth  district  in  the  state  senate  one  term  and 
served  eight  years  on  the  bench  of  the  superior  courts  of  the  Oconee 
circuit.  He  is  a member  of  the  lodge  and  chapter  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  in  Eastman,  the  commandery  of  Knights  Templar  at 
Macon,  and  is  also  identified  with  the  United  Confederate  Vet- 
erans. Both  he  and  his  wife  are  zealous  and  valued  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  in  their  home  town.  On  Dec.  22,  1875, 
was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Judge  Roberts  to  Miss  Ursula 
Edwards,  daughter  of  William  H.  and  Eliza  (Bell)  Edwards,  of 
Tattnall  county,  and  they  have  three  children — James  Henry,  Fred- 
erick Augustus  and  Paul  Montgomery. 

Roberts,  John  Benjamin,  M.  D.,  a lead- 
ing representative  of  the  medical  pro- 
fession in  the  city  of  Atlanta,  and  a vet- 
eran of  the  Confederate  service  in  the 
Civil  Avar,  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Ga.,  Nov.  12,  1840,  a son  of  Wil- 
liam B.  and  Martha  R.  (Strange)  Rob- 
erts, both  of  whom  were  born  and  reared 
in  Georgia,  where  the  respective  fami- 
lies were  early  founded.  Doctor  Roberts 
was  reared  to  maturity  in  his  native 
county,  where  he  had  good  educational 
advantages.  When  the  Civil  war  was 
precipitated  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  tender  his  services  in 
defense  of  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in 
the  First  Georgia  volunteer  infantry,  later  became  a member  of  the 
Forty-ninth  regiment  and  served  with  gallantry  and  distinction,  in 
General  Thomas’  brigade,  in  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  took  part  in  all  the  battles  in  which  his 
command  was  involved,  rising  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant,  and  his 
name  stands  high  on  the  roll  of  the  brave  and  loyal  young  men  of 
Georgia  who  fought  so  faithfully  for  the  righteous  cause  which 
they  had  thus  espoused.  Time  and  again  he  penetrated  to  the  very 
heart  of  the  enemy’s  camp,  safely  making  his  escape  and  returning 
with  information  of  the  greatest  value.  He  took  prisoners  from 
the  Union  lines  and,  at  great  personal  risk,  triumphantly  brought 
them  into  the  camp  of  his  own  command.  He  seized  videttes  at 
their  posts  and  marched  them  into  the  Confederate  lines.  His 
courage  was  not  the  result  of  impulse  or  foolhardy  daring,  but  was 
of  that  cool,  deliberate  character  which  betokens  the  ideal  soldier. 
He  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville  and  also  at 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


205 


Gettysburg.  For  distinguished  gallantry  at  Petersburg  he  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain,  this  action  being  taken  by  the 
secretary  of  war  on  the  recommendation  of  the  commanding  gen- 
eral. The  doctor  manifests  his  abiding  interest  in  his  old  com- 
rades by  retaining  membership  in  the  United  Confederate  Vet- 
erans. After  the  close  of  the  war  he  turned  his  attention  to  the 
vocations  of  peace,  in  which  he  has  shown  the  same  loyalty  and 
fidelity  which  characterized  his  military  career.  He  took  up  the 
study  of  medicine,  first  at  Augusta,  Ga.,  and  finally  entered  the 
Medical  College  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  at  Charleston,  in 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1867,  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Med- 
icine. He  remained  in  practice  in  Charleston  one  year  in  the 
Roper  Hospital  and  then  returned  to  his  native  county,  where 
he  was  most  successfully  engaged  in  the  work  of  his  profession  for 
a quarter  of  a century.  In  -1895  he  removed  to  Atlanta,  where  he 
has  risen  to  marked  prominence  and  success  as  an  able  physician 
and  surgeon.  He  passed  one  year  in  European  travel  and  within 
this  period  visited  the  leading  hospitals  and  medical  colleges  of  the 
continent,  gaining  much  valuable  information.  He  is  one  of  the 
city  physicians  of  Atlanta;  is  a member  of  the  Atlanta  medical  so- 
ciety, the  Georgia  state  medical  association  and  the  American 
medical  association.  His  religious  faith  is  indicated  in  his  holding 
membership  in  the  Baptist  church,  and  he  is  prominent  in  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  In  November,  1868,  Doctor  Roberts  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Ernestine  Artman,  of  Charleston,  who  died  in 
1882  and  who  is  survived  by  four  of  her  five  children,  concerning 
whom  the  following  brief  record  is  entered : Mary  E.  married  L. 
H.  Holt,  became  the  mother  of  two  children  and  died  in  January, 
1896 ; Carrie  remains  at  the  paternal  home ; Myrtle  is  the  wife  of 
W.  J.  Gilbert,  of  Dudly,  Laurens  county,  Ga.,  and  they  have  three 
children ; Brady  A.  is  identified  with  the  water-works  department 
of  the  city  of  Atlanta;  and  Venice  married  Thomas  J.  Gilbert,  of 
Dudly,  Ga.  On  April  26,  1885,  Doctor  Roberts  married  Miss  Thena 
C.  Roberts,  of  Atlanta,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  living  except  Lucinda,  who  died  July  10, 
1898,  at  the  age  of  eleven  years.  The  younger  children,  Marion  G., 
John  P.,  Hinda  Mary,  and  Rainy  Lindsey,  are  all  attending  school. 

Robertstown,  a post-hamlet  of  White  county,  is  situated  in  a pic- 
turesque mountainous  district,  twelve  miles  northwest  of  Clarkes- 
ville,  which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  town. 

Robertsville,  (railroad  name  Roberts’  Station)  is  a post-hamlet 


206 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


of  Jones  county,  located  on  the  Athens  division  of  the  Central  of 
Georgia  railway,  six  miles  south  of  Clinton.. 

Robinson,  a post-village  of  Taliaferro  county,  with  a popula- 
tion of  50,  is  on  the  main  line  of  the  Georgia  railroad,  five  miles 
west  of  Crawfordville.  It  has  a good  local  trade  and  does  some 

Robinson,  John  T.,  who  occupies  the 
position  of  master  mechanic  with  the 
Seaboard  Air  Line  railroad,  with  head- 
quarters in  the  city  of  Savanah,  was 
born  in  Chesterfield  county,  Va.,  Oct. 
20,  1859.  His  father,  John  Robinson, 
was  a merchant  by  vocation  and  passed 
his  entire  life  in  the  Old  Dominion  state, 
where  he  died  in  1861,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-eight  years.  He  was  a son  of  Wil- 
liam Robinson,  who  was  a native  of  Eng- 
land, whence  he  immigrated  to  Virginia. 
Eliza  T.  (Atkins)  Robinson,  mother  of 
John  T.  Robinson,  died  in  1889,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years.  She 
was  a daughter  of  John  Atkins,  a native  of  England.  John  T.  Rob- 
inson passed  his  early  youth  in  his  native  county,  in  whose  schools 
he  secured  his  preliminary  educational  training,  while  his  technical 
discipline  was  secured  in  the  Ohio  Mechanics’  institute  in  Cincin- 
nati. The  institution  being  one  of  the  best  of  the  sort  in  the  Union, 
dating  its  foundation  back  to  1828.  Previously  to  his  work  in  this 
institution  Mr.  Robinson  had  served  a practical  apprenticeship  in 
the  machine  shops  of  Talbott  & Sons,  in  the  city  of  Richmond, 
Va.,  so  that  he  is  well  fortified  for  all  duties  devolving  upon  him  in 
his  present  responsible  position.  From  1881  to  1885  he  was  ma- 
chinist and  foreman  for  the  Chesapeake  & Ohio  railroad,  at  Hunt- 
ington and  Hinton,  W.  Va.,  and  from  1885  until  the  autumn  of 
1886  he  was  employed  as  a foreman  in  the  shops  of  the  East  Ten- 
nessee, Virginia  & Georgia  railroad,  in  the  city  of  Atlanta.  There- 
after he  served  until  1888  as  machinist  for  the  Richmond  & Dan- 
ville railroad  at  Manchester,  Va.,  from  1888  until  1892  he  was  gen- 
eral foreman  for  the  East  Tennessee,  Virginia  & Georgia  railroad 
at  Mobile,  Ala.,  afterward  serving  in  the  same  position  and  for  the 
same  company  at  Macon,  Ga.,  and  from  1897  to  1900  he  was  master 
mechanic  of  the  Southern  railroad  at  Selma,  Ala.  Later  he  occu- 
pied a similar  position  in  that  company’s  employ,  at  Spencer,  N.  C., 
until  1904,  and  since  then  has  held  the  position  of  master  mechanic 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


207 

for  the  Seaboard  Air  Line,  at  Savannah.  Mr.  Robinson  is  now  a 
member  of  the  Master  Mechanics’  association,  and  also  of  the 
Southern  & Southwestern  railway  club,  of  Atlanta.  He  is  affil- 
liated  with  the  lodge,  chapter  and  commandery  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  is  a Noble  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  belongs  to  the  Benevo- 
lent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  in  politics  is  a stanch 
Democrat.  On  Oct.  16,  1889,  Mr.  Robinson  married  Miss  Lizzie 
C.  Phillips,  of  Chesterfield  county,  Va.,  and  they  have  two  sons, 
Pendleton  Thomas,  and  Carroll  Trabue. 

Robinson,  Vernon  B.,  is  one  of  the  representative  members  of 
the  Johnson  county  bar,  being  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Wrightsville,  where  he  also  has  important  industrial  in- 
terests and  is  one  of  the  honored  and  influential  citizens.  He  was 
born  on  the  homestead  plantation  of  his  parents  in  Pike  county, 
Ga.,  April  26,  1858,  a son  of  Jack  and  Lucretia  (Singleton)  Rob- 
inson, the  former  born  in  South  Carolina  and  the  latter  in  Jasper 
county,  Ga.  The  mother  had  been  previously  married,  the  name 
of  her  first  husband  having  been  Sanders,  and  he  was  survived  by 
two  sons,  Brown  and  Wyatt  Sanders,  who  were  soldiers  of  the 
Confederacy  in  the  Civil  war.  Jack  Robinson  also  rendered  loyal 
and  effective  service  in  defense  of  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy, 
having  enlisted  soon  after  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  in  Company  I, 
Fifty-third  Georgia  infantry,  at  Savannah,  where  the  command 
was  stationed  for  six  months  and  where  he  was  made  lieutenant 
of  his  company,  later  being  promoted  to  its  captaincy.  He  took 
part  in  many  important  engagements,  having  gone  with  his  regi- 
ment into  Virginia.  In  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  he  was  severe- 
ly wounded  by  a minie  ball  and  never  fully  recovered  from  the 
effects  of  the  injury,  one  of  his  arms  remaining  partially  crippled. 
In  the  same  engagement  his  stepson,  Brown  Sanders,  who  was  a 
member  of  the  same  company,  was  wounded  in  the  right  leg,  the 
injury  being  so  severe  as  to  necessitate  the  amputation  of  the  mem- 
ber. His  other  stepson,  Wyatt,  was  wounded  in  the  right  wrist,  in 
the  battle  of  Atlanta.  Captain  Robinson  continued  in  service  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  returned  to  Pike  county,  where  he 
farmed  for  two  or  three  years,  then  moved  into  Crawford  county, 
where  he  farmed  and  merchandised  until  1881,  when  he  moved  to 
Florida  and  there  remained  until  1891.  when  he  went  back  to  his 
childhood  home  in  Pike  county,  where  he  lived  until  he  died. 
His  death  occurred  in  July,  1900,  and  he  was  buried  in  the  family 
burial  ground  on  the  plantation.  His  wife  passed  away  in  June, 
1883,  and  she  was  also  buried  in  the  family  burying  ground. 


SOS 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


There  were  born  to  Jack  and  Lucretia  Robinson  three  sons,  Ed- 
ward M.,  generally  known  as  “Ruff”;  Andrew,  and  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  Vernon  B.,  and  two  daughters,  Annie  and  Lizzie.  The 
boys  have  all  married,  but  the  daughters  have  chosen  to  remain 
single.  All  are  yet  living,  and  the  subject  is  the  youngest  of  the 
family  born  to  this  marriage.  Vernon  B.  Robinson  passed  his 
boyhood  and  early  youth  on  the  home  plantation,  and  after  a due 
preliminary  training  entered  the  high  school  at  Milner,  where  he 
completed  his  academic  studies.  In  1878  he  came  to  Johnson 
county,  where  he  was  a successful  and  popular  teacher  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  until  1882,  when  he  was  matriculated  in  the  law  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Georgia,  in  which  he  completed  the 
prescribed  course  and  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of 
1883,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws.  He  soon  afterward  en- 
gaged in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  in  Wrightsville,  where 
he  has  made  an  admirable  record  as  a lawyer  of  excellent  knowl- 
edge of  the  science  of  jurisprudence,  with  ready  power  as  an 
advocate  and  marked  conservatism  as  a counselor.  He  is  an  ac- 
tive and  zealous  worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  Democratic  party,  and 
is  now  chairman  of  its  executive  committee  in  Johnson  county. 
He  served  several  terms  as  a member  of  the  city  council  of 
Wrightsville,  five  years  as  mayor,  and  for  four  years  he  was  judge 
of  the  city  court,  making  an  excellent  record  on  the  bench.  He 
was  for  quite  a while  a member  of  the  board  of  education  of  John- 
son county.  In  1904  he  built  and  equipped  a planing  mill  in 
Wrightsville,  doing  all  kinds  of  work  in  the  manufacture  of  build- 
ers’ materials  and  making  a specialty  of  interior  finishings  and 
cabinet  work.  The  enterprise  has  secured  a large  support  and  is  a 
valuable  acquisition  to  the  business  concerns  of  the  city.  Judge 
Robinson  is  a steward  in  the  local  organization  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  South,  and  a trustee  of  the  Nannie  Lou  Warthen 
institue,  a church  institution,  which  was  established  in  W rights- 
ville  in  1888,  at  which  time  he  became  the  incumbent  of  his  pres- 
ent office  in  the  connection,  the  school  being  under  the  auspices 
of  the  South  Georgia  conference.  In  a fraternal  way  he  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  On  Dec.  14, 
1880  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Judge  Robinson  to  Miss 
Susan  D.  Page,  daughter  of  John  D.  and  Polly  (Rawls)  Page,  who 
were  residents  of  Johnson  county  until  their  death.  Of  the  seven 
children  of  Judge  and  Mrs.  Robinson  four  are  living,  namely: 
Annie  Lou,  Curtis,  Vallie  and  Clifford.  The  names  of  the  deceased 
children  are:  Vernon,  Mary  Lizzie,  and  Charles. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


209 


Robinson,  William  M.,  one  of  the  well  known  and  popular  rail- 
road men  residing  in  the  city  of  Augusta,  was  born  on  a plantation 
in  Fairfield  county,  S.  C.,  Dec.  30,  1851,  a son  of  John  E.  and  Mary 
C.  (Hartin)  Robinson,  both  of  whom  were  born  and  reared  in  that 
same  county,  where  they  passed  their  entire  lives.  The  father 
was  a prosperous  planter  at  the  time  of  the  inception  of  the  war 
between  the  states.  He  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service  and 
while  in  the  ranks  was  attacked  with  fever  in  1863,  being  com* 
pelled  to  return  to  his  home,  where  he  died  shortly  afterward,  at 
the  age  of  thirty-six  years.  His  widow  never  married  again  and 
survived  him  by  many  years.  She  died  at  her  home,  in  Fairfield 
•county,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  She  is  survived  by  three 
sons  and  three  daughters ; James  E.  is  a resident  of  Covington,  Ga. ; 
Caroline  M.  is  the  wife  of  William  G.  Castles,  of  Fairfield  county,  S. 
G. ; Victoria  is  the  wife  of  Wiley  Coleman,  of  Chester  county,  that 
state ; Margaret  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  E.  Clark,  of  Fairfield  coun- 
ty; John  F.  is  a resident  of  Atlanta,  Ga. ; and  William  M.  is  the 
immediate  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mr.  Robinson  attended  the 
schools  of  his  native  county  until  the  age  of  sixteen  years  and 
thereafter  remained  on  the  homestead  plantation  with  his  widowed 
mother  until  he  reached  his  legal  majority.  He  then  entered  the 
•employ  of  the  Southern  Railway  Company,  in  the  capacity  of  sec- 
tion hand,  thus  initiating  his  railroad  career  in  the  most  subordi- 
nate capacity.  He  continued  with  the  Southern  six  years,  having 
soon  been  advanced  to  the  position  of  section  foreman,  with  head- 
quarters at  Trenton,  S.  C.,  where  he  remained  three  years.  He  was 
then  made  conductor  of  a work  train,  holding  this  position  three 
years,  after  which  he  served  as  locomotive  fireman,  and  subse- 
quently as  engineer  on  the  Spartanburg  & Asheville  railroad  a few 
months.  In  1879  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Georgia  Railroad 
Company,  as  a track  layer,  being  thus  engaged  for  six  years,  and 
for  the  ensuing  four  years  was  division  supervisor.  In  1890  he  was 
promoted  to  his  present  responsible  position,  that  of  road  master, 
in  which  he  has  rendered  the  same  discriminating  and  able  ser- 
vice which  has  characterized  his  course  from  the  time  of  entering 
railroad  work.  Fie  is  a member  of  the  Roadmasters’  and  Mainte- 
nance of  Way  association;  is  a Democrat  in  politics;  a member  of 
the  First  Baptist  church  of  Augusta,  and  affiliated  with  the  lodge 
and  chapter  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Mr.  Robinson’s  first  mar- 
riage was  solemnized  on  Sept.  13,  1880,  when  Miss  Georgia  Hendry 
became  his  wife.  She  died  less  than  a year  later,  together  with  her 
Infant  child.  On  March  19,  1889,  he  married  Miss  Minnie  Allen,  of 


14— III 


210 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Covington,  Ga.,  and  they  have  three  children — William  M.,  Jr., 
Charles  E.  and  Henry  A. 

Robley,  a post-hamlet  of  Crawford  county,  is  about  three  miles 
southwest  of  Musella,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Rochelle,  a town  in  the  northern  part  of  Wilcox  county,  was 
incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1888.  It  is  located  on  the 
Seaboard  Air  Line  railroad  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of 
793,  while  the  entire  militia  district  showed  1,960  inhabitants.  It 
has  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a money  order  postoffice,  with 
rural  free  delivery,  a bank,  several  good  stores,  a large  trade  in 
lumber  and  naval  stores,  a cotton  gin  belonging  to  the  Rochelle  Gin 
Company,  and  good  educational  and  religious  advantages. 

Rockalo,  a post-village  of  Heard  county,  with  a population  of  48 
in  1900,  is  about  nine  miles  northwest  of  Franklin,  and  is  a trading 
center  for  that  neighborhood.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is 
Clem,  on  the  Rome  & Griffin  division  of  the  Central  of  Georgia. 

Rockdale  County  was  created  in  1870  from  Henry  and  Newton, 
and  derives  its  name  from  the  immense  ledge  of  rock  which  runs 
through  the  county.  It  lies  in  the  central  part  of  the  state,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  northeast  by  Walton  county,  on  the  southeast  by 
Newton,  on  the  southwest  by  Henry,  and  on  the  northwest  by  De- 
Kalb  and  Gwinnett.  The  county  is  almost  rectangular  in  shape, 
the  two  longest  sides  running  from  northeast  to  southwest,  with  a 
narrow  projection  in  the  southwestern  part.  The  land  is  watered 
by  tributaries  of  the  Ocmulgee  river,  in  some  of  which  are  natural 
falls  with  sufficient  power  to  operate  mills  or  factories.  There  are 
a number  of  factories  in  the  county,  but  there  is  water-power 
sufficient  to  operate  many  more.  Cotton,  corn,  wheat,  oats,  rye, 
sweet  and  Irish  potatoes,  field  and  ground  peas  are  raised.  There 
are  large  orchards  of  peaches,  apples  and  cherries.  The  nearness 
to  Atlanta  provides  a good  market  for  all  the  produce  that  can  be 
raised  above  that  required  for  home  consumption.  There  are  still 
thousands  of  acres  of  land  covered  with  forest  timber,  but  the 
large  trees  have  been  felled  and  but  few  sawmills  are  now  in  oper- 
ation. Conyers,  the  county  seat,  is  the  center  of  the  cotton  trade 
for  the  county.  The  Georgia  railroad  runs  through  the  county, 
and  connects  Conyers  with  Atlanta  and  the  other  large  cities  of 
the  state.  Granite  is  found,  and  several  quarries  are  in  operation. 
The  population  in  1900  was  7,515,  an  increase  of  702  since  1890. 

Rockingham,  a post-village  of  Appling  county,  is  a station  on 
the  Atlantic  & Birmingham  railroad,  not  far  from  the  Pierce 
county  line. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


211 


Rockledge,  a village  in  the  eastern  part  of  Laurens  county,  is  at 
the  junction  of  the  Wa'dley  & Mount  Vernon  and  the  Macon,  Dub- 
lin & Savannah  railroads.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with 
rural  free  delivery,  some  local  trade,  and  is  one  of  the  promising- 
towns  in  that  section  of  the  state. 

Rockmart,  so  called  from  its  large  quarries,  in  an  apparently  in- 
exhaustible supply  of  roofing  slate,  is  a town  in  the  eastern  part  of 
Polk  county,  at  the  junction  of  the  Southern,  the  Atlantic  & Bir- 
mingham, and  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railways.  It  was  incorporated 
by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1872  and  in  1900  contained  a popula- 
tion of  575  in  the  corporate  limits  and  3,477  in  the  entire  Rockmart 
district.  There  are  here  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a money 
order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  a bank,  a Portland  cement 
works,  several  successful  stores,  and  is  well  supplied  with  churches 
and  schools.  The  Piedmont  Institute  is  located  here. 

Rockspring,  a village  in  the  eastern  part  of  Walker  county,  is 
on  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  ten  miles  north  of  Lafayette. 
The  population  in  1900  was  102.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice, 
an  express  office,  some  mercantile  concerns  and  small  manufactur- 
ing enterprises,  and  is  the  principal  shipping  point  for  that  vicinity. 

Rockville,  a post-hamlet  of  Putnam  county,  is  eight  miles  east  of 
Eatonton,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Rocky  Creek,  a post-village  of  Gordon  county,  with  a population 
of  49,  is  at  the  western  base  of  Horn  mountain  and  not  far  from 
the  Chattooga  county  line.  The  most  convenient  railroad  station 
is  Reeves. 

Rocky  Creek  Church. — On  Dec.  2,  1864,  Sherman  sent  Kilpatrick 
towards  Waynesboro,  supported  by  Baird’s  division  of  infantry. 
Wheeler  checked  the  advance  at  Rocky  Creek  Church,  but  was 
flanked  from  his  position.  Next  day  he  attacked  the  enemy's  full 
force  of  infantry  and  cavalry  as  it  advanced,  and  though  he  threw 
up  barricades  and  fought  desperately,  he  was  forced  back  to 
Waynesboro.  (See  Waynesboro). 

Rocky  Face  Ridge. — (See  Military  Operations  around  Dalton). 

Rockyford,  a town  in  the  western  part  of  Screven  county,  is  at 
the  junction  of  the  Central  of  Georgia,  the  Sylvania  Central  and 
the  Foy  railroads.  Its  population  in  1900  was  300.  It  has  a money 
order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  express  and  telegraph 
offices,  several  good  stores,  school  and  church  advantages,  and 
does  an  extensive  shipping  business  in  lumber  and  naval  stores. 

Rockymount,  a town  of  Meriwether  county,  was  incorporated 
by  act  of  the  legislature  on  Oct.  6,  1891.  It  is  ten  miles  north  of 


212  CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 

Greenville,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station,  and  is  the  prin- 
cipal trading  point  for  that  section  of  the  county.  It  has  a money 
order  postoffice  and  good  church  and  school  privileges. 

Roderick,  a post-village  of  Liberty  county,  with  a population  of 
53,  is  located  on  Jones’  creek,  about  six  miles  northwest  of  John- 
ston Station. 

Roding,  a post-village  of  Bryan  county,  is  on  the  Cannouchee 
river,  four  miles  south  of  Clyde.  The  population  in  1900  was  61. 
It  has  some  stores  with  a good  local  trade.  The  nearest  railroad 
station  is  Ways,  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line,  six  miles  to  the  south- 
east. 

Roebuck,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Gilmer 
county,  is  four  miles  from  Talona,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad 
station. 

Rogers,  a town  in  Jenkins  county,  is  on  the  main  line  of  the 
Central  of  Georgia  railway,  ten  miles  west  of  Millen.  It  has  a 
money  order  postoffice,  express  office,  some  mercantile  and  ship- 
ping interests,  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  250. 

Rogers,  William,  is  one  of  the  vener- 
able and  honored  citizens  and  prominent 
business  men  of  Savannah,  where  he  has 
long  served  as  chairman  of  the  board  of 
directors  of  The  Citizens’  bank  of  Savan- 
nah, of  which  he  was  formerly  president. 
He  was  born  in  Fifeshire,  Scotland,  Nov. 
1,  1817,  a son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
Rogers,  who  passed  their  entire  lives  in 
Scotland.  William  Rogers  was  reared 
and  educated  in  his  native  land,  where 
he  remained  until  1838,  when  at  the  age 
of  twenty  years,  he  set  forth  to  seek 
his  fortunes  in  America.  He  landed  in  Charleston,  S.  C.,  where  he 
remained  a short  time,  coming  to  Savannah  in  October,  1838,  and 
has  ever  since  maintained  his  home  in  that  city.  His  first  occupa- 
tion was  that  of  clerk  in  the  office  of  R.  & W.  King,  cotton  factors, 
the  firm  at  that  time  handling  most  of  the  sea-island  cotton  that 
found  its  way  into  the  Savannah  market.  Mr.  Rogers  remained 
with  this  concern  about  three  years,  after  which  he  passed  several 
years  as  a bank  clerk.  From  1866  to  1887  he  was  identified  with 
the  Central  Railroad  and  Banking  Company  of  Georgia,  having 
been  book-keeper  in  the  Savannah  general  office  for  three  years 
and  thereafter  served  as  general  superintendent  for  eighteen  years, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


213 


retiring  in  1887,  since  which  time  he  has  given  his  attention  largely 
to  his  banking  interests.  During  the  Civil  war  he  served  about 
three  years  as  a member  of  the  Georgia  reserves,  in  the  Confed- 
erate service,  being  promoted  from  private  to  lieutenant.  He  is  a 
valued  member  of  the  St.  Andrews  society  of  Savannah,  of  which 
he  has  been  president  many  times,  and  is  also  affiliated  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  Though  he  is  approaching  the  patriarchal  age 
of  ninety  years,  Mr.  Rogers  is  well  preserved  mentally  and  phy- 
sically and  enjoys  the  golden  evening  of  his  day  to  the  fullest  ex- 
tent. He  was  first  married  to  Miss  Annie  C.  Beck,  who  was  born 
in  South  Carolina,  and  of  this  union  one  son  was  born,  John  H., 
who  was  a student  in  the  Georgia  military  institute  at  Marietta  at 
the  time  of  the  inception  of  the  Civil  war.  His  youthful  loyalty 
was  roused  to  responsive  protest  and  he  secured  his  father’s  con- 
sent to  enter  the  service  of  the  Confederacy,  being  about  seventeen 
years  of  age  at  the  time.  He  was  elected  lieutenant  of  his  company 
in  the  Sixty-sixth  Georgia  infantry,  with  which  he  took  part  in  a 
number  of  important  battles,  having  been  in  service  about  eighteen 
months  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  battle-field 
before  Atlanta,  July  22,  1864.  Mrs.  Annie  C.  Rogers  died  in  the 
year  1852  and  in  1854  Mr.  Rogers  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Millen,  of 
Savannah.  They  became  the  parents  of  four  children : William 
White  grew  to  manhood  and  was  cashier  of  the  Merchants’  Na- 
tional bank  of  Savannah  at  the  time  of  his  death ; McPherson 
Millen,  the  second  son,  died  at  the  age  of  forty-six  years,  having 
been  for  many  years  connected  with  the  New  York  agency  of  the 
Central  Railroad  and  Banking  Company  of  Georgia;  Wallace  Mil- 
len died  at  the  age  of  three  years,  and  Eliza  Millen  died  in  infancy. 
Mrs.  Rogers  is  still  living. 

Rolston,  a post-hamlet  of  Gilmer  county,  is  eight  miles  east  of 
Ellijay,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Rome,  the  metropolis  and  county  seat  of  Floyd  county,  is  lo- 
cated at  the  junction  of  the  Etowah  and  Oostanaula  rivers,  on  the 
site  of  the  old  Indian  village  of  Chiaha.  The  population 
in  1900  was  7,291,  while  the  adjacent  towns  of  East  and  North 
Rome  included  almost  as  many  more.  In  the  early  thirties,  when 
the  state  was  issuing  land  grants  to  all  this  portion  of  Georgia,  the 
town  site  was  acquired  by  five  men  from  Bartow  (then  Cass)  and 
Cherokee  counties.  The  town  was  laid  oft"  by  Daniel  R.  Mitchell 
and  Zachariah  B.  Hargrove.  At  that  time  Livingston  was  the 
county  seat,  but  the  proprietors  of  the  new  town  proposed  to  pro- 
vide free  ferries  and  bridges  and  to  give  one-half  the  proceeds  from 


214 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


the  sale  of  town  lots  for  a given  period,  as  well  as  locations  for 
county  buildings,  etc.,  if  the  county  seat  was  removed  there.  Their 
offer  was  accepted  and  in  1834  the  legislature  passed  an  act  desig- 
nating Rome  as  the  seat  of  justice.  It  was  incorporated  as  a city 
in  1847. 

Rome  is  the  principal  railroad  center  for  the  northwestern  part 
of  the  state.  Four  lines  of  the  Southern  system  center  here,  the 
Griffin  & Chattanooga  division  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  connects 
it  with  those  cities,  and  a short  branch  connects  it  with  the  main 
line  of  the  Western  & Atlantic  at  Kingston.  Among  the  manu- 
facturing industries  are  cotton  factories,  gins,  compresses,  a foun- 
dry and  machine  shop,  brick  works,  an  ice  factory,  cotton  seed  oil 
mills,  stove  works,  a carriage  and  wagon  factory,  planing  mills,  a 
furniture  factory,  an  acid  phosphate  works,  a steam  tannery  and  a 
rolling  mill  for  the  manufacture  of  bar  iron  and  cotton  ties.  The 
city  has  both  gas  and  electric  light  works,  waterworks,  an  electric 
street  railway,  which  extends  to  the  suburbs,  good  church  advan- 
tages, three  banks,  eight  newspapers  and  periodicals  and  an  ex- 
cellent system  of  public  schools.  Shorter  college  is  located  here, 
while  near  the  city  is  the  Boys’  Industrial  school,  founded  by  Miss 
Martha  Berry  in  1902. 

On  May  16,  1864,  while  Johnston  was  retiring  from  Resaca  and 
taking  up  a position  at  Adairsville,  McPherson  marched  against 
Rome,  opposed  by  a cavalry  force  alone.  On  the  19th  a division  of 
his  army  occupied  the  city,  captured  a large  amount  of  commissary 
and  quartermaster  stores,  hospital  supplies,  ammunition  and,  what 
was  to  the  Confederate  cause  a much  greater  loss,  the  valuable 
iron  works,  which  had  been  partially  destroyed  by  the  small  guard 
before  they  abandoned  the  town.  On  Oct.  13  and  14,  1864,  Hood 
passed  below  Rome  on  his  march  into  Alabama,  with  Sherman 
following,  and  there  was  some  slight  cavalry  skirmishing  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  city.  (See  Streiger’s  raid). 

Rome  Cross  Roads. — (See  Parker’s  Cross  Roads). 

Rome  Female  College. — -In  1845  Rev.  J.  M.  M.  Caldwell  and  his 
wife  opened  the  Rome  female  academy  and  continued  to  conduct 
it  until  1857,  when  the  school  was  incorporated  under  the  name  of 
the  Rome  female  college  and  began  its  work  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Presbyterian  synod  of  Georgia.  In  1862  it  became  the  property 
of  Doctor  Caldwell  and  two  years  later  was  closed,  a move  made 
necessary  by  the  war.  It  was  not  reopened  until  1871.  The  course 
of  study  was  then  made  to  include  languages,  mathematics,  physi- 
cal and  metaphysical  sciences,  music  and  art.  A medal  was 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


215 


awarded  the  exhibit  of  drawings  made  by  this  school  at  the  Paris 
Exposition  of  1878.  This  valuable  educational  institution  is  now  a 
part  of  the  public  school  system  of  Rome. 

Rome  Tannery. — This  represents  one  of  the  important  industrial 
enterprises  of  northern  Georgia  and  the  output  is  exclusively  oak 
belting  leather  of  the  best  grade.  The  Rome  Tannery  was  estab- 
lished in  1882,  by  Brazilla  A.  Connelly,  and  upon  his  death,  in 
1897,  his  widow,  Mrs.  Jennie  E.  Connelly,  became  proprietor,  the 
business  having  since  been  conducted  under  her  name.  Under  Mr. 
Connelly’s  administration  the  enterprise  rapidly  expanded  in  scope 
and  importance,  having  utilized  on  the  start  but  twenty  hides  per 
day  at  time  of  his  death,  while  one  hundred  and  twenty  hides  are 
now  demanded  each  day,  and  employment  is  given  to  a force  of  fifty 
workmen.  Lewis  W.  Palen,  the  present  manager,  has  been  iden- 
tified with  the  operation  of  the  plant  since  1890,  and  has  had  the 
practical  control  and  supervision  of  the  business  since  the  death  of 
its  founder.  The  entire  output  of  the  tannery  is  shipped  to  the 
Jewell  Belting  Company,  of  Hartford,  Conn.  Mr.  Palen  is  a thor- 
oughly practical  tanner,  as  was  also  his  father  and  his  paternal 
grandfather,  the  latter  having  followed  the  business  in  New  York, 
whither  he  immigrated  from  Germany.  Mr.  Palen  came  to  Rome 
from  the  state  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Connelly  was  also  a skilled 
workman  at  the  tanning  business,  having  learned  the  business 
under  the  direction  of  his  uncle,  IT  S.  Ladew,  one  of  the  greatest 
pioneer  belting  leather  men  of  the  United  States.  In  1904  the 
Rome  tannery  turned  out  1,252,013  pounds  of  belting  leather. 

Roney,  Henry  C.,  one  of  the  leading 
members  of  the  Augusta  bar  and  for- 
merly judge  of  the  superior  court  of  the 
Augusta  circuit,  was  born  on  the  home- 
stead plantation,  in  Warren  county,  Ga., 
Dec.  31,  1845,  a son  of  Thomas  and  Jane 
V.  (Stanford)  Roney,  both  of  whom  were 
likewise  born  in  Warren  county,  the  for- 
mer being  of  Irish  and  the  latter  of  Eng- 
lish lineage.  The  father  was  a planter 
by  vocation  and  was  a man  of  marked 
mentality  and  strong  character.  He  and 
his  wife  passed  the  closing  years  of  their 
lives  in  McDuffie  county,  this  state.  Judge  Henry  C.  Roney  was 
reared  on  the  plantation  and  was  attending  school  at  the  time  of 
the  outbreak  of  the  war  between  the  states.  In  the  autumn  of  1862 


216 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


somewhat  before  his  seventeenth  birthday  anniversary,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  H,  Twenty-second  Georgia  volunteer  infantry,  with 
which  he  went  forth  to  valiant  service  in  the  cause  of  the  Confed- 
eracy. His  command  operated  principally  in  Virginia,  and  he  con- 
tinued in  active  service  until  June  22,  1864,  when  he  was  severely 
wounded,  in  an  engagement  in  front  of  Petersburg,  being  thereby 
incapacitated  for  further  field  service  and  receiving  his  honorable 
discharge.  He  has  signified  his  abiding  interest  in  his  old  com- 
rades and  in  the  more  gracious  memories  of  the  “lost  cause,  ” by 
retaining  membership  in  the  United  Confederate  Veterans.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  Judge  Roney  resumed  his  interrupted  educa- 
tional work,  finally  being  matriculated  in  the  University  of  Georgia, 
in  which  he  was  graduated,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  in 
1870,  the  late  Hon.  Walter  B.  Hill,  who  served  afterward  as  chan- 
cellor of  the  university,  having  been  a member  of  the  same  class. 
After  his  graduation  Judge  Roney  entered  the  Uav  school  of  the 
university,  and  in  1871  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  his  native  state. 
He  initiated  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  by  locating  in 
Thomson,  the  judicial  center  of  McDuffie  county,  where  he  was 
successful  in  building  up  a representative  and  profitable  profes- 
sional business,  and  from  1879  to  1881,  both  dates  inclusive,  he 
represented  McDuffie  county  in  the  state  legislature.  In  1882  he 
was  elected  to  the  bench  of  the  superior  court  of  the  Augusta  cir- 
cuit, assuming  the  duties  of  the  office  in  January,  1883,  and  remov- 
ing to  the  city  of  Augusta  in  October  of  that  year.  He  served  on 
the  bench  three  successive  terms — a total  of  twelve  years — and  his 
judicial  record  is  one  of  marked  creditability,  without  spot  or 
blemish  and  stands  in  evidence  of  his  legal  erudition  and  fine 
judicial  acumen.  Since  January,  1895,  Judge  Roney  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  general  practice  of  his  profession  in  Augusta,  where 
he  has  a large  and  important  clientage  and  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  distinguished  lawyers  and  jurists  of  Georgia.  He  is  a member 
of  the  American  bar  association  and  the  Georgia  bar  association, 
and  of  the  directorate  of  the  Augusta  Southern  railroad.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  unswerving  in  his  loyalty  to  the  cause  of  the  Democracy, 
and  is  a member  of  the  First  Baptist  church  of  Augusta.  On  Dec. 
16,  1873,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Judge  Roney  to  Miss 
Bettie  B.  Florence,  of  Glenville,  Ala.,  and  they  have  two  daughters: 
Florence,  now  the  wife  of  William  S.  Richardson,  of  Atlanta;  and 
Willye,  wife  of  Dr.  Eugene  E.  Murphy,  of  Augusta. 

Roopville,  a town  in  the  southern  part  of  Carroll  county,  was  in- 
corporated by  act  of  the  legislature  on  Oct.  7,  1885.  The  popu- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


217 


lation  in  1900  was  109.  Clem,  on  the  Central  of  Georgia,  seven 
miles  northeast,  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Roosevelt,  a post-hamlet  in  Gilmer  county,  is  five  miles  west  of 
Ellijay,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Rosebud,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Gwinnett 
county,  is  not  far  from  the  Walton  county  line.  The  nearest  rail- 
road station  is  Loganville,  five  miles  east. 

Rosier,  a post-hamlet  of  Burke  county,  is  sixteen  miles  south- 
west of  Waynesboro  and  not  far  from  the  Jefferson  county  line. 
Louisville  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Rosin. — (See  Naval  Stores). 

Ross,  John,  Indian  Chief. — (See  Cherokees). 

Ross,  John  Nolan,  is  serving  his  sec- 
ond term  as  ordinary  of  Jackson  county 
and  is  one  of  the  honored  and  influential 
citizens  of  the  attractive  city  of  Jeffer- 
son. He  was  born  in  the  county  which 
is  now  his  home,  Nov.  7,  1855,  and  Jack- 
son  county  also  figures  as  the  native 
place  of  his  parents,  Thomas  L.  and 
Eleanor  C.  Ross,  the  former  born  Dec.  6, 
1825,  and  the  latter  March  3,  1835.  The 
paternal  grandfather  served  in  the  In- 
dian war  in  Georgia.  Eleanor  C.  Ross 
was  a granddaughter  of  one  of  the  cele- 
brated Camp  sisters  of  Jackson  county,  the  three  sisters  having 
been  distinguished  in  that  they  became  the  mothers  of  a total  of 
sixty  children,  an  average  of  twenty  children  for  each.  Thomas 
L.  Ross  went  forth  in  defense  of  the  Confederacy*  at  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  war,  enlisting,  in  July,  1861,  as  a member  of  Com- 
pany G,  Sixteenth  Georgia  volunteer  infantry.  He  was  made  first 
lieutenant  of  his  company  and  later  rose  to  the  rank  of  captain. 
He  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Seven  Pines,  South  Mountain,  the 
Wilderness,  Gettysburg,  Fredericksburg,  Knoxville,  and  Cold  Har- 
bor, being  finally  captured  by  the  enemy  and  held  a prisoner  of 
war,  at  Fort  Delaware,  until  after  the  surrender  of  General  Lee, 
and  was  discharged  from  the  prison  about  May  1,  1865.  He  served 
as  ordinary  of  Jackson  county  from  January,  1868,  until  January, 
1872,  and  is  still  a resident  of  the  county.  His  wife  died  near  Jef- 
ferson, May  31,  1904.  John  N.  Ross  was  educated  in  Martin  insti- 
tute at  Jefferson,  and  Peabody  normal  college,  Nashville,  Tenn. 
After  leaving  school  he  was  a successful  and  popular  teacher,  con- 


218 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


tinuing  his  pedagogic  labors  about  six  years,  after  which  he  was 
editor  of  the  Jackson  Herald  for  three  years.  Thereafter  he  was 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  election  to  the  office  of 
ordinary,  in  which  he  is  now  serving  his  second  term.  He  was 
mayor  of  Jefferson  two  terms,  and  also  held  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace  for  a number  of  years.  He  is  one  of  the  stalwart  sup- 
porters of  the  Democratic  party,  and  in  1898  was  chairman  of  the 
Democratic  county  committee.  It  was  during  the  campaign  of 
that  year,  under  his  direction,  that  the  Populists  who  had  been  in 
office  for  four  years  were  defeated.  This  was  one  of  the  most  ex- 
citing campaigns  the  people  of  the  county  have  ever  witnessed. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ross  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
South,  in  Jefferson;  he  is  affiliated  with  Unity  Lodge,  No.  36,  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  is  also  a Royal  Arch  Mason,  and  is  a mem- 
ber of  Jefferson  Lodge,  No.  200,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. On  Sept.  30,  1883,  Mr.  Ross  married  Miss  Lucy  Whitehead, 
daughter  of  John  C.  and  Sophia  (Wills)  Whitehead,  of  Jackson 
county,  and  the  only  child  of  this  union,  Thomas  died  in  infancy. 

Rossville,  a town  in  W alker  county,  is  on  the  Southern  railway 
close  to  the  Tennessee  line.  It  has  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a 
money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  several  stores, 
schools  and  churches,  and  by  the  census  of  1900  had  a population 
of  368.  Here  on  Sept.  21,  1864,  after  the  defeat  of  Rosecrans  at 
Chicamauga,  General  Thomas  had  his  forces  concentrated  and 
there  was  some  skirmishing  with  the  cavalry  of  General  Forrest. 

Roster  Commission. — On  Dec.  9,  1897,  the  governor  approved  an 
act  of  the  general  assembly  providing  for  a roster  of  all  Confederate 
soldiers.  The  principal  provisions  of  the  act  were  as  follows : The 
ordinary  of  each  county  was  to  appoint  three  surviving  soldiers  as 
a roster  committee  to  prepare  a muster  roll  of  each  company  raised 
in  the  county  during  the  war,  as  well  as  of  the  militia  that  were  in 
actual  service ; the  persons  thus  appointed  were  to  be  recommend- 
ed by  the  surviving  soldiers  of  the  county  and  when  the  work  of 
preparing  the  muster  roll  was  completed  the  committee  was  to 
make  report  to  the  ordinary;  this  report  was  required  to  be  com- 
pleted by  August  1,  1898,  and  was  to  remain  open  to  the  inspec- 
tion of  all  surviving  soldiers  for  four  months,  for  the  purposes  of 
revision  and  correction.  Subsequently  the  legislature  authorized 
the  “Georgia  Soldier  Roster  Commission,”  which  was  to  prepare  a 
muster  roll  of  all  Georgians  who  served  as  soldiers,  sailors  or 
marines  in  any  part  of  the  army  or  navy  of  the  Confederate  States, 
or  the  State  of  Georgia,  in  the  War  between  the  States,  including 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


219 


the  organized  militia.  Copies  of  the  muster  rolls  of  the  different 
counties  were  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  commission,  which  was 
composed  of  Gov.  J.  M.  Terrell,  Gen.  C.  A.  Evans,  Hon.  J.  W. 
Lindsey  and  Gen.  S.  W.  Harris,  and  the  work  of  revising  and  per- 
fecting these  rolls  under  the  supervision  of  the  state  commission 
was  commenced.  The  commission  organized  by  electing  General 
Evans,  chairman ; J.  W.  Lindse}r,  secretary ; and  ex-Gov.  Allen  D. 
Candler  was  appointed  superintendent.  A circular  letter  was  ad- 
dressed to  thousands  of  Confederate  soldiers  asking  their  coopera- 
tion in  the  work  of  completing  the  muster  rolls.  In  this  letter  it 
was  set  forth  that  the  purpose  of  the  commission  was  to  prepare 
the  roster  by  companies,  battalions,  legions  and  regiments,  dis- 
tinguishing the  different  departments  of  the  service — infantry,  cav- 
alry, artillery,  sailors  and  marines — and  showing  whether  in  the 
State  or  Confederate  army.  Partial  muster  rolls  were  sent  out  to  a 
large  number  of  men  who  served  in  the  armies  of  the  state  and  the 
Confederate  States,  requesting-  them  to  carefully  revise  the  rolls 
and  to  add  thereto  any  names  which  might  have  been  omitted.  The 
letter  further  stated  that  “The  war  record  of  each  officer,  soldier 
and  sailor  should  show  the  date  of  his  enlistment,  the  company  in 
which  he  enlisted,  if  transferred,  date  of  transfer  and  to  what  com- 
pany, date  of  promotion  and  to  what  rank,  if  wounded,  when  and 
where,  if  killed,  when  and  where,  if  captured,  when  and  where,  if 
he  died  of  disease,  when  and  where,  if  discharged,  give  date  and 
place  as  accurately  as  possible.” 

The  work  is  still  in  progress  at  this  time  (1906)  and  when  com- 
pleted will  furnish  a valuable  and  comprehensive  addition  to 
Georgia’s  military  history. 

Roswell,  a town  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Cobb  county,  on  the 
Chattahoochee  river,  was  incorporated  by  an  act  of  the  legislature 
in  1854.  A branch  of  the  Southern  railway  connects  it  with  the 
main  line  of  that  system  at  Chamblee.  It  has  the  usual  postoffice 
accommodations,  with  money  order  and  rural  service,  telegraph 
and  express  offices,  a bank,  and  some  successful  mercantile  con- 
cerns. The  water  power  of  the  Chattahoochee  has  been  utilized  to 
establish  several  important  manufacturing  enterprises,  among  them 
two  large  cotton  mills,  one  of  which  also  conducts  a woolen  de- 
partment, making  jeans,  cassimeres  and  tweeds,  a flour  mill,  a 
wagon  factory,  a harness  factory  and  a factory  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  men’s  pants.  Some  of  the  mills  also  use  steam  as  a motive 
power.  Good  school  and  church  privileges  are  afforded.  The  pop- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


220 

ulation  in  1900  was  1,329.  This  little  town  is  the  birth-place  of 
President  Roosevelt’s  mother. 

After  Johnston  had  fallen  back  from  Smyrna  toward  the  Chatta- 
hoochee river,  General  Garrard  led  a force  of  Federal  cavalry  to 
Roswell  and,  after  destroying  the  factories  on  the  ground  that  they 
had  furnished  much  cloth  to  the  Confederate  soldiers,  held  the 
ford  near  the  town  so  that  McPherson  and  Thomas  could  cross. 
On  July  14,  1864,  Wheeler’s  cavalry  had  a brisk  fight  near  Roswell, 
inflicting  upon  the  enemy  a loss  of  80  men  and  losing  20  of  his  own. 

Rough  and  Ready. — During  the  war  there  was  a station  by  this 
name  on  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  not  far  from  the  present 
town  of  Morrow,  in  Clayton  county.  In  the  latter  part  of  August, 
1864,  the  hostile  lines  of  the  two  contending  armies  extended  from 
this  station  to  Jonesboro,  and  a lively  skirmish  occurred  here  on 
the  last  day  of  the  month.  Again  on  November  15th,  as  Sherman’s 
army  marched  out  of  Atlanta  toward  Savannah,  his  progress  was 
here  disputed  by  a considerable  Confederate  force,  but  after  a 
sharp  skirmish  the  Confederates  were  forced  back  and  the  march 
to  the  sea  proceeded. 

Round  Oak,  a village  of  Jones  county,  is  a station  on  the  Athens 
division  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  four  miles  south  of  the 
Jasper  county  line.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural 
free  delivery,  telegraph  and  express  offices,  some  mercantile  and 
shipping  interests,  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  72. 

Round  Top,  a post-hamlet  of  Gilmer  county,  is  five  miles  west 
of  Talona,  which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Rousseau's  Raid. — During  July,  1864,  General  Rousseau  con- 
ducted a raid  from  Decatur,  Ala.,  against  the  railroads  connecting 
Atlanta  with  the  west.  On  the  14th  a division  of  Federal  cavalry 
crossed  the  Chattahoochee  near  Newnan,  but  was  defeated  and 
driven  off  by  Armstrong’s  brigade  of  Wheeler’s  cavalry. 

Rover,  a post-village  of  Spalding  county,  is  a station  of  the 
Columbus  & McDonough  division  of  the  Southern  railroad,  and  is 
not  far  from  the  Pike  county  line. 

Roxie,  a post-hamlet  of  Macon  county,  is  located  on  Whitewater 
creek,  which  forms  the  boundary  between  Macon  and  Taylor 
counties.  It  is  about  ten  miles  south  of  Butler,  which  is  the  near- 
est railroad  station. 

Roy,  a post-hamlet  of  Gilmer  county,  is  about  eight  miles  south- 
east of  Ell ij ay,  in  the  valley  of  the  Cartecay  river. 

Royal,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southern  part  of  Taylor  county,  is 
ten  miles  from  Butler,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


221 


Royston,  a town  on  the  southeastern  border  of  Franklin  county, 
is  located  on  a branch  of  the  Southern  railway  that  connects  Elber- 
ton  and  Toccoa.  It  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in 
1891  and  according  to  the  census  of  1900  had  a population  of  579  in 
its  corporate  limits,  while  the  Manley  district,  which  includes  it, 
had  1,321.  It  has  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a money  order 
postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  a bank,  an  oil  mill,  a rolling 
mill,  several  successful  stores,  and  four  establishments  which  carry 
on  a large  business  in  commercial  fertilizers.  School  and  church 

Rozier,  Edward  Alexander,  president 
of  the  Bank  of  Sparta,  Hancock  county, 
and  recognized  as  one  of  the  influential 
business  men  and  sterling  citizens  of  this 
county,  has  here  resided  from  the  time 
of  his  birth,  this  section  having  formerly 
been  a part  of  Columbia  county.  He 
was  born  near  Sparta,  June  15,  1859,  and 
is  a son  of  Hiram  French  Rozier,  who 
was  one  of  Sparta’s  most  prominent  and 
honored  business  men.  Edward  A.  se- 
cured his  early  education  in  the  schools 
of  Sparta,  and  when  but  twelve  years  of 
age  became  associated  with  his  father  in  the  general  merchandise 
business,  under  the  firm  name  of  H.  F.  & E.  A.  Rozier,  the  concern 
being  still  in  existence  under  this  name,  the  oldest  mercantile 
house  in  Sparta.  In  1877  Hiram  F.  Rozier  was  robbed  and  mur- 
dered, and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  then  assumed  entire  charge  of 
the  business  of  the  firm,  still  continuing  to  superintend  the  same, 
in  its  various  departments,  the  concern  conducting  an  extensive 
general  store  and  controlling  a large  trade  throughout  this  sec- 
tion. In  1885  Mr.  Rozier  became  associated  with  George  S.  Varde- 
man  in  the  drug  business,  Vardeman  withdrawing  from  the  firm  in 
1900,  his  place  being  filled  by  Marvin  Middlebrooks.  In  1902  he 
effected  the  organization  of  the  Sparta  Banking  Company  and  in 
1904  the  business  was  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  state  as 
the  Bank  of  Sparta,  Mr.  Rozier  being  made  president  of  the  same. 
He  owns  and  operates  a modern  cotton  gin,  is  interested  in  oil 
mills,  peach-growing  and  other  industries.  His  political  allegiance 
is  given  to  the  Democratic  party,  he  has  been  a valued  member  of 
the  village  council,  and  was  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  town 
at  the  same  time.  He  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 


privileges  are  excellent. 


222 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


church  South,  as  is  also  his  wife,  and  is  a steward  of  the  local 
organization  of  the  same.  On  Sept.  9,  1885,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Rozier  to  Miss  Ella  Louise  Shivers,  daughter  of 
Sydney  C.  Shivers,  of  Sparta,  her  family  being  one  of  the  oldest 
in  the  state.  The  father  of  Sydney  C.  Shivers  erected  the  first  cot- 
ton mill  in  this  section  of  Georgia.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rozier  have  five 
children,  namely:  Lottie  Zell,  Edward  Alexander,  Jr.,  Ella  Louise, 
Sydney  Fionne,  and  Harold  Francis. 

Ruby,  (railroad  name  Chula  Station)  a post-hamlet  of  Tift 
county,  is  a station  on  the  Georgia  Southern  & Florida  railroad, 
about  seven  miles  north  of  Tifton. 

Rucker,  Joseph. — Many  of  the  most  familiar  names  in  middle 
Georgia  may  be  traced  back  to  Virginia  and  to  that  tide  which  be- 
gan to  flow  southward  from  the  Old  Dominion  about  1786.  React- 
ing from  the  illiberal  land  laws  which  had  characterized  her  as  a 
colony,  Georgia,  after  the  Revolution,  threw  open  her  public  do- 
main to  settlers  and  invited  those  from  other  states  to  make  their 
homes  within  her  borders.  As  early  as  1784  the  general  assembly 
passed  the  act  by  which  200,000  acres  in  Wilkes  county  were  set 
apart  to  be  settled  by  Virginians.  Among  the  first  to  take  advan- 
tage of  these  land  laws  was  John  Rucker  (III),  of  Orange  county, 
Va.  He  was  a son  of  John  Rucker  (II),  who  died  in  1794,  and 
grandson  of  John  Rucker  (I),  of  St.  Mark’s  parish,  Va.,  who  died 
in  1742.  John  Rucker  (III)  settled  near  Broad  river,  in  what  was 
then  Wilkes  county,  about  1787.  His  son  Joseph  was  there  born 
in  1789,  and  there  died,  at  Ruckersville,  Elbert  county,  in  1864. 
From  the  standpoint  of  the  present,  there  was  little  in  the  locality 
at  that  time  to  commend  it  as  a center  of  influence  or  as  the  seat  of 
a great  estate.  The  land  was  young,  roads  were  bad,  markets  there 
were  none,  and  it  was  a four  days’  journey  to  Augusta,  the  nearest 
approach  to  a city.  And  yet  in  that  secluded  locality,  remote  from 
marts  and  markets,  Joseph  Rucker  not  only  created  a fortune  great 
for  his  day  and  generation,  but  also  displayed  such  wisdom  and 
executive  ability  and  manifested  such  high  traits  of  character  as  to 
mark  him  as  an  extraordinary  man.  In  this  day  of  the  subdivision 
of  labor  it  is  difficult  to  appreciate  the  kind  and  variety  of  talent 
then  required  in  the  development  and  successful  management  of 
great  landed  estates  at  points  distant  from  centers  of  trade  and, 
according  to  present  standards,  practically  inaccessible,  for  want 
of  highways,  railroads  and  means  of  transportation.  The  success- 
ful agriculturist  in  every  stage  of  the  country’s  history  has  needed 
the  highest  order  of  judgment  and  forethought  and  has  necessarily 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


223 


been  a man  of  affairs.  But  the  successful  planter  at  the  end  of  the 
eighteenth  and  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century  required  a 
combination  of  talents  which  would  now  thoroughly  equip  the 
master  minds  that  control  the  colossal  enterprises  of  the  twentieth 
century.  For  such  a planter  had  not  only  to  be  an  agriculturist, 
but  also  a manufacturer,  a financier  and,  above  all,  he  had  to  know 
how  to  manage,  care  for  and  develop  men.  In  all  these  depart- 
ments Joseph  Rucker  was  conspicuous.  The  cotton  industry  was 
in  its  infancy,  and  in  that  he  made  a marvelous  success.  But  that 
was  only  a part  of  what  was  needed  to  be  done,  and  on  his  exten- 
sive plantations  there  were  conducted  those  hives  of  industry  of 
such  varied  and  diverse  sorts  as  were  to  be  found  in  the  South 
before  the  Civil  war.  Stock  of  all  kinds — horses,  mules,  cattle  and 
sheep — were  raised.  The  cotton  was  to  be  ginned,  and  the  ginnery 
and  the  press  were  supplemented  by  the  spinning  of  the  yarn  and 
the  wool  and  the  weaving  of  cloth  for  many  bodies  that  had  to  be 
clothed.  There  were  blacksmiths  and  wheelwrights,  and  also  car- 
penters, to  build  saw  mills  in  which  to  manufacture  lumber  for  the 
“quarters.”  The  planter  had  his  own  tan-yards  and  tanners,  his 
harnessmakers  and  shoemakers.  Immense  crops  of  wheat  and 
corn  were  raised.  Corn  cribs  and  granaries  abounded.  There  were 
the  mills  to  do  the  grinding  and  millers  to  make  food  for  the 
hungry.  The  management  of  these  separate  and  varied  industries 
was  not  the  most  difficult  task  involved.  There  were  the  slaves 
themselves,  a large  and  hetrogeneous  body,  a wholly  irresponsible 
people  whose  ancestors  had  but  recently  come  from  Africa.  These 
had  to  be  trained  and  taught,  and  how  humanely  and  well  this 
was  done  by  the  planter  of  the  old  regime  is  shown  by  the  conduct 
of  these  same  slaves  when,  during  the  war,  discipline  was  neces- 
sarily relaxed  and  control  partially  suspended.  Joseph  Rucker  lived 
the  typical  life  of  the  southern  planter.  Self-centered  and  inde- 
pendent, he  lived  at  home.  He  had  little  to  buy  and  always  some- 
thing to  sell,  and  the  great  crops  of  cotton  were  shipped  in  Peters- 
burg boats  down  the  Savannah  river  to  Augusta.  The  community 
was  unusually  prosperous.  The  Harper,  Heard,  White,  Maddox, 
Clark,  Adams  and  a host  of  other  families  made  a neighborhood 
that  was  ideal  for  home  and  society.  A large  family  came  to 
Joseph  Rucker  and  his  wife,  Margaret  Speer,  and  his  house  was  the 
scene  of  a wide,  gracious  and  generous  hospitality — a social  center 
which  not  only  made  its  impress  upon  its  inmates,  but  also  left  a 
memory  which  abides  to  the  third  and  fourth  generations.  Joseph 
Rucker  was  pre-eminently  a good  neighbor,  counselor  and  friend. 


224 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


He  was  grave,  reticent,  extremely  dignified  in  his  demeanor  and 
intensely  pious.  In  politics  a Whig,  he  was  one  of  the  chosen 
friends  and  advisors  of  the  leaders  of  the  party  in  that  district  so 
noted  in  state  and  national  politics.  However,  he  never  sought 
political  preferment,  though  always  taking  an  active  interest  in 
the  questions  which  then  agitated  the  south.  He  lived  at  a time 
when  the  country  was  experimenting  with  the  banking  laws,  and 
he  organized  and,  as  president,  managed  with  phenomenal  success 
the  Bank  of  Ruckersville,  under  circumstances  that  would  now 
provoke  a smile.  We  can  not  think  of  a bank,  a moneyed  institu- 
tion, with  hardly  a human  habitation  in  sight  and  surrounded  by 
original  forests.  This  institution  was  conducted  in  a small,  unpre- 
tentious frame  building.  Its  doors  and  shutters  were  studded  with 
nails  at  close  and  regular  intervals,  to  guard  against  the  burglar’s 
ax.  It  had  a safe  without  time-lock,  opened  with  a key.  The  furni« 
ture  was  of  the  plainest,  but  the  bank  issued  bills  which  passed 
current  at  par  throughout  the  state.  It  thrived  and  prospered  and, 
with  the  assistance  of  the  wealthy  planters  in  the  neighborhood, 
became  a strong  financial  institution,  contributing  to  the  develop- 
ment and  prosperity  of  that  part  of  the  country.  In  his  old  age 
Joseph  Rucker  was  a man  of  striking  appearance — ruddy  cheeks, 
snow-white  hair,  clear  blue  eyes.  Dressed  in  the  prevailing  style, 
black  broadcloth  coat,  cut  away  to  the  waist  line  at  the  front, 
beaver  hat,  turndown  collar  and  stock  and  with  gold  watch  fob,  he 
might  be  taken  as  a type  of  the  ante-bellum  planter — one  of 
those  who  made  the  “Old  South.” 

Rue,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southern  part  of  Telfair  county,  is  near 
the  Ocmulgee  river  and  about  eight  miles  northwest  of  Barrows 
Bluff,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Ruff’s  Mill. — During  the  fighting  near  Smyrna  in  Cobb  county, 
on  July  4,  1864,  Wheeler’s  cavalry  defeated  the  Federals  at  Ruff’s 
Mill,  inflicting  on  them  a loss  of  100  men,  his  own  loss  numbering 
40. 

Ruff’s  Station,  a little  settlement  in  Cobb  county,  was  the  scene 
of  a skirmish  on  Oct.  19,  1864,  as  Hood  was  marching  northward 
toward  Tennessee  and  Sherman  following. 

Rufus,  a post-hamlet  in  the  eastern  part  of  Bulloch  county,  is 
not  far  from  the  Ogeechee  river.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is 
Brewers’  on  the  Central  of  Georgia,  about  four  miles  east. 

Rugby,  a post-hamlet  in  the  western  part  of  Union  county,  is 
not  far  from  the  eastern  base  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  Mineral  Bluff,  on 
-the  Atlanta,  Knoxville  & Northern,  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


225 


Ruger,  Thomas  Howard,  appointed  military  governor  of  Georgia 
in  1868,  was  born  at  Lima,  Livingston  county,  N.  Y.,  April  2,  1833. 
,He  was  educated  at  West  Point  military  academy  and  entered  the 
engineer  corps.  In  1855  he  resigned  and  settled  in  Janesville,  Wis., 
where  he  began  the  practice  of  laiv.  In  1861  he  enlisted  as  lieuten- 
ant-colonel of  the  Third  Wisconsin  regiment ; was  commissioned 
brigadier-general  in  1862;  brevetted  major-general  in  November, 
1864,  and  on  being  mustered  out  entered  the  regular  army  as 
colonel.  He  was  detailed  by  General  Meade  as  governor  of  Georgia 
and  performed  the  duties  of  that  office  from  January  to  July,  1868. 

Rupert,  a post-hamlet  of  Taylor  county,  is  located  about  eight 
miles  south  of  Butler,  which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  sta- 
tion. 

Ruralvale,  a post-village  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Whitfield 
county,  is  not  far  from  the  Oostanaula  river.  The  population  in 
1900  was  79.  It  is  the  principal  trading  point  in  that  portion  of  the 
county.  Varnell’s  Station  on  the  Southern  railway,  eight  miles 
west,  is  the  nearest  railroad  town. 

Rush,  (railroad  name  Leveretts  Station)  a post-hamlet  of  Web- 
ster county,  is  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railway,  about  two  miles 
north  of  the  Terrell  county  line. 

Ruskin,  a town  in  Ware  county,  is  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line 
railway,  six  miles  southwest  of  Waycross.  The  population  in 
1900  was  300.  It  has  several  good  mercantile  establishments,  a 
money  order  postoffice,  telegraph  and  express  service,  and  does  a 
large  shipping  business. 

Russell,  Albert  Henry,  of  Bainbridge, 
Decatur  county,  is  serving  as  both  city 
and  county  attorney,  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing lawyers  of  the  county  and  a repre- 
sentative of  one  of  its  honored  families. 
He  was  born  in  Bainbridge,  March  1, 
1874,  a son  of  Benjamin  E.  and  Cora 
(Cunningham)  Russell,  the  former  a na- 
tive of  Florida  and  the  latter  of  Georgia. 
Benjamin  E.  Russell  is  a prominent 
newspaper  man  of  Georgia,  having  been 
for  many  years  editor  and  publisher  of 
the  Bainbridge  Democrat,  and  later  of 
the  Bainbridge  Argus.  He  represented  the  county  in  the  state  leg- 
islature and  for  two  terms  was  representative  of  the  Second  district 
of  Georgia  in  the  Fifty-third  and  Fifty-fourth  Congresses.  Albert 

15 — III 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


226 

H.  Russell  duly  availed  himself  of  the  advantages  of  the  schools 
of  his  native  city,  after  which  he  studied  law  in  the  office  of  the  late 
D.  A.  Russell,  of  Bainbridge,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
November,  1891.  For  two  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Augusta,  and  then  returned  to  Bainbridge, 
where  he  has  since  built  up  a representative  professional  business. 
His  influence  and  franchise  are  exercised  in  support  of  the  princi- 
ples and  policies  of  the  Democratic  party  and  he  is  the  present  city 
and  county  attorney.  He  served  for  four  years,  from  December, 
1900,  as  county  solicitor.  He  is  affiliated  wtih  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  On  June  25,  1902,  Mr.  Russell 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ethel  Fleming,  daughter  of  the  late 
Judge  W.  O.  Fleming,  of  Bainbridge.  Judge  Fleming  was  a promi- 
nent lawyer  and  jurist  of  Southern  Georgia,  and  served  with  distinc- 
tion on  the  bench  of  the  superior  court  for  the  Albany  district. 

Russell,  Benjamin  Edward,  was  born  at  Monticello,  Fla.,  in 
1845.  At  the  age  of  nine  years  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Decatur 
county,  Ga.,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  that 
vicinity.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  army  as  a drum- 
mer boy  and  served  until  the  end  of  the  war,  attaining  the  rank  of 
first  lieutenant.  After  the  surrender  he  became  editor  of  the  Bain- 
bridge Democrat ; was  a delegate  to  the  state  constitutional  con- 
vention of  1877 ; to  the  Democratic  national  convention  in  1880 ; 
was  elected  mayor  of  Bainbridge  in  1881  and  again  in  1882;  was 
next  a member  of  the  legislature ; postmaster  at  Bainbridge  from 
1885  to  1890 ; was  elected  to  Congress  in  1892  and  reelected  in  1894. 
Upon  retiring  from  Congress  he  resumed  his  newspaper  work, 
again  becoming  editor  of  the  Democrat. 

Russell,  Randolph  Bolyn,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  law  at  Cairo, 
Grady  county,  is  one  of  the  enthusiastic 
and  prominent  young  representatives  of 
the  Democratic  party  in  Georgia.  He 
was  born  at  Bainbridge,  Decatur  county, 
Ga.,  Nov.  15,  1878,  and  is  a representa- 
tive of  one  of  the  honored  families  of  the 
county.  He  was  afforded  the  advantages 
of  the  common  schools,  thereafter  stud- 
ied law  under  the  preceptorship  of  Judge 
Byron  B.  Bower,  of  Bainbridge,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  Georgia  in  1897, 
lie  in  1902  he  secured  admission  to  the  bar  of  the  State  of  Texas. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


227 


On  May  4,  1898,  at  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the  Spanish-Ameri- 
can  war,  Mr.  Russell  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  C,  First 
Georgia  volunteer  infantry,  but  the  regiment  was  not  called  into 
active  service.  He  received  his  honorable  discharge,  at  Macon,  Ga., 
Oct.  1,  1898.  In  the  following  December  he  was  appointed  lieu- 
tenant-colonel and  aide-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  Gov.  Allen  D. 
Candler,  and  retained  this  position  throughout  the  governor’s  ad- 
ministration. He  is  a stanch  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party  and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  promotion 
of  its  cause  in  his  native  commonwealth.  He  was  appointed  so- 
licitor of  the  county  court  of  Miller  county,  by  Governor  Candler, 
but  resigned  the  position  a few  months  later.  He  has  never  held 
other  distinctive  political  office,  but  was  director  of  the  document 
room  in  the  headquarters  of  the  national  Democratic  committee, 
in  New  York  city,  during  the  campaign  of  1904.  Mr.  Russell  is  a 
communicant  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church. 

Ruth,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southern  part  of  Greene  county,  is 
about  six  miles  west  of  White  Plains,  which  is  the  nearest  rail- 
road station. 

Rutledge,  a town  on  the  western  side  of  Morgan  county,  is  lo- 
cated on  the  Georgia  railroad,  and  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the 
legislature  in  1872.  The  population  in  1900  was  469.  It  has  tele- 
graph and  express  offices,  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free 
delivery,  a bank,  a cotton  oil  mill  and  several  successful  stores. 
The  school  and  church  privileges  are  good. 

Ryley,  a post-hamlet  of  Macon  county,  is  about  ten  miles  north- 
west of  Oglethorpe,  which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

s 

Saffold,  a post-village  of  Early  county,  with  a population  of  47, 
is  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  railway,  at  the  point  where  it  crosses 
the  Chattahoochee  river.  It  has  a few  stores  with  a good  local 
trade  and  does  some  shipping,  both  by  rail  and  water. 

Saffold,  Frank  H.,  a leading  lawyer  of  Swainsboro  and  at  present 
a representative  of  Emanuel  county  in  the  state  legislature,  has 
achieved  success  in  an  exacting  profession  and  has  risen  through 
his  own  efforts.  He  was  born  in  Warrenton,  Warren  county,  Ga., 
Sept.  27,  1863,  and  is  a son  of  Isham  H.  and  Louisa  (Prescott) 
Saffold,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Madison  and  the  latter 
in  Linton,  Ga.,  both  being  now  deceased.  The  father  was  a 
lawyer  by  profession  and  died  when  his  son  was  a small 
child.  Owing  to  his  father's  death,  Frank  H.  Saffold  was  denied 


' 228 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


the  early  educational  advantages  which  would  otherwise  have  been 
his,  but  he  attended  the  schools  of  his  native  town  when  oppor- 
tunity afforded  and  then  entered  upon  an  apprenticeship  at  the 

printer's  trade — a discipline  that  has  well 
been  pronounced  equivalent  to  a liberal 
education.  He  began  his  work  at  this 
trade  when  a mere  lad  and  his  diminu- 
tive wages  were  contributed  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  other  members  of  the  family. 
After  following  his  trade  for  several 
years,  Mr.  Safifold  took  up  the  study  of 
law,  in  which  he  brought  to  bear  his  char- 
acteristic perseverance  and  receptivity, 
thus  making  a rapid  advancement  in  his 
knowledge  of  the  science  of  jurisprudence. 
On  Oct.  3,  1883.  he  realized  his  am- 
bition, as  he  was  then  admitted  to  the  bar  of  his  native  state. 
He  has  worked  his  way  upward  in  his  profession  until  he  is 
now  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Emanuel  county  bar, 
and  has  been  engaged  in  practice  at  Swainsboro  since  1885.  He 
has  ever  been  arrayed  as  a stanch  supporter  of  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party,  and  in  1904  he  was  elected  to  represent  his 
county  in  the  lower  house  of  the  state  legislature,  where  he  has 
proved  a valuable  working  member.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South.  He  is  identified 
with  the  lodge,  chapter,  and  commandery  bodies  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  as  well  as  with  its  adjunct  organization,  the  Ancient 
Arabic  order,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine;  is  a past  master  of  the 
lodge  and  is  at  present  chairman  of  the  board  of  district  deputies 
of  the  fraternity.  He  is  also  a past  chancellor  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  past  noble  grand  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows.  Mr.  Safifold  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Mellie  Manson,  is  survived  by  her  only 
son,  James  H.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Safifold  mar- 
ried Miss  Gertrude  Coleman  of  Swainsboro.  They  have  no  chil- 
dren. 

Saint  Andrew’s  Parish. — (See  Parishes). 

Saint  Andrew’s  Society. — On  Dec.  24,  1824,  Governor  Troup  ap- 
proved an  act  of  the  general  assembly  “to  incorporate  the  Savan- 
nah St.  Andrew’s  Society.  Among  the  incorporators  were  Alex- 
ander Telfair,  John  Balfour,  James  Wallace,  William  Robertson, 
Robert  Mitchell,  Henry  McAlpin,  John  McNish,  and  a number  of 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


229 


others  whose  names  betrayed  their  Scottish  origin.  The  society 
had  a much  earlier  existence,  however,  having  been  organized  in 
1750,  only  seventeen  years  after  the  colony  of  Georgia  was  settled. 
It  was  named  in  honor  of  the  patron  saint  of  Scotland  and  the 
membership  was  originally  restricted  to  persons  of  Scottish  ex- 
traction. James  Habersham  was  a member  in  his  time  and  in  a 
letter  to  John  Clarke,  under  date  of  Nov.  29,  1771,  states  that  “On 
tomorrow  I dine  with  a merry  saint — St.  Andrew.”  The  annual 
banquets  are  still  prominent  events  in  the  social  life  of  Savannah. 

Saint  Charles,  a town  in  the  southern  part  of  Coweta  county, 
was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  on  Dec.  9,  1893.  It  is 
on  the  Atlanta  & West  Point  railroad,  eight  miles  south  of  New- 
nan,  has  some  mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  and  in  1900  re- 
ported a population  of  66. 

Saint  Clair,  a post-town  in  the  western  part  of  Burke  county, 
reported  a population  of  154  in  1900.  It  is  the  principal  trading 
center  for  a large  agricultural  district.  Matthews  and  Keysville, 
on  the  Augusta  Southern,  are  the  nearest  railroad  towns. 

Saint  George’s  Parish. — (See  Parishes). 

Saint  James’  Parish. — (See  Parishes). 

Saint  John’s  Parish. — (See  Parishes). 

Saint  Marks,  a town  in  the  western  part  of  Meriwether  county, 
was  incorporated  b)^  act  of  the  general  assembly  on  Dec.  15,  1897. 
In  1900  the  population  was  160.  It  is  the  principal  trading  point 
in  that  part  of  the  county,  has  good  school  and  church  advantages, 
etc.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Hogansville. 

Saint  Mary’s,  the  county  seat  of  Camden  county,  is  one  of  the 
old  towns  of  Georgia,  having  been  incorporated  by  an  act  of  the 
legislature  in  1802.  It  is  beautifully  situated  in  the  extreme  south- 
eastern part  of  the  state,  upon  the  river  of  the  same  name,  and 
occupies  an  eminence  from  which  a good  view  of  the  Atlantic 
Ocean,  nine  miles  distant,  can  be  obtained.  Steamships  plying 
between  Savannah  and  Fernandina,  Fla.,  touch  at  St.  Alary’s,  the 
harbor  there  being  accessible  to  the  largest  vessels.  About  nine 
miles  west  of  the  town  runs  the  Savannah  & Jacksonville  division 
of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line.  A short  railroad  would  therefore  con- 
nect St.  Alary’s  with  this  line  and  increase  its  importance  as  a 
commercial  town,  as  it  already  has  a large  trade  in  lumber,  fruits, 
vegetables,  sea-island  cotton  and  lumber.  It  has  good  public 
schools,  churches,  and  a money  order  postoffice.  In  1900  the  popu- 
lation of  the  town  was  529  and  of  the  district  in  which  it  is  sit- 
uated 1,291. 


'230 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Saint  Mary’s  River,  which  forms  part  of  the  southern  boundary 
of  Georgia,  rises  in  the  western  part  of  the  great  Okefinokee 
swamp,  flows  southward,  then  east,  then  north,  and  finally  in  an 
eastward  direction  again  until  it  empties  into  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 
A south  fork  rises  in  Florida,  a few  miles  east  of  Lake  City.  It 
was  the  difference  of  opinion  as  to  which  was  the  main  stream 
that  caused  so  much  controversy  over  the  Georgia-Florida  boun- 
dary. The  river  is  navigable  for  steamers  of  considerable  size  as 
far  as  the  town  of  St.  Mary’s,  and  for  smaller  boats  to  Trader’s 
Hill. 

Saint  Matthew’s  Parish. — (See  Parishes). 

St.  Paul’s  Parish. — (See  Parishes). 

Saint  Philip’s  Parish. — (See  Parishes). 

Saint  Simon’s  Island. — This  island  is  a part  of  Glynn  county. 
It  lies  directly  south  of  the  mouth  of  the  Altamaha  river  and  is 
separated  from  the  main  land  and  from  Jekyl’s  island  by  St. 
Simon’s  sound.  In  length  St.  Simon’s  island  is  about  twelve  miles 
and  it  is  about  eight  miles  wide  in  the  widest  part.  It  was  ceded 
to  the  white  people  by  the  treaty  made  by  Oglethorpe  in  May, 
1133,  and  was  settled  at  Frederica  in  1136,  at  which  time  Ogle- 
thorpe established  a small  fort  at  the  south  end  of  the  island  for 
the  protection  of  the  settlers.  During  the  Spanish  invasion  in 
1142  the  buildings  around  this  fort  were  burned  by  the  Spaniards, 
who  occupied  the  island  for  about  two  weeks.  The  battle  of  Bloody 
Marsh  occurred  here  on  July  1th  of  that  year. 

Saint  Simons  Mills,  a town  of  Glynn  county,  is  located  on  the 
western  coast  of  St.  Simon’s  island,  about  six  miles  northeast  of 
Brunswick.  The  population  in  1900  was  300.  It  has  a money  or- 
der postoffice  and  several  mercantile  establishments  doing  a good 
business.  Brunswick  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Saint  Stanislaus  College. — This  school  was  founded  at  Macon 
by  the  Roman  Catholic  church  and  was  opened  in  May,  1814.  It 
was  established  through  the  efforts  of  Rt.  Rev.  William  H.  Gross, 
Bishop  of  Savannah,  and  was  at  first  called  Pio  Nono  college.  A 
thorough  preparatory  training  is  given  in  all  the  collegiate  branches, 
though  no  degrees  are  conferred.  The  buildings  of  the  school  are 
valued  at  $100,000  and  it  has  a library  of  6,000  volumes  valued  at 
$25,000. 

Sale,  Rev.  George,  A.  M.,  the  able  and  honored  president  of  the 
Atlanta  Baptist  College,  of  which  due  mention  is  made  under  the 
proper  title,  elsewhere  in  this  work,  is  a native  of  the  beautiful  citv 
of  Toronto,  Canada,  where  he  was  born  Sept.  13,  1856,  a son  of 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


231 


Julian  and  Mary  Ann  Sale,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  London, 
England,  the  former  in  1827  and  the  latter  in  1815.  President  Sale 
secured  the  best  of  educational  advantages  in  the  Dominion  of  Can- 
ada, where  he  received  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  and  later  his 

alma  mater  conferred  upon  him  the  degree 
of  Master  of  Arts.  After  being  ordained 
to  the  ministry  of  the  Baptist  church  he 
held  various  pastoral  charges  in  Canada, 
including  that  of  pastor  of  the  First  Bap- 
tist church  of  Montreal,  which  position  he 
resigned  in  1890,  to  accept  the  presidency 
of  the  Atlanta  Baptist  College.  He  is  a 
man  of  high  scholarship  and  marked  ad- 
ministrative talent,  and  under  his  execu- 
tive control  the  institution  of  which  he  is 
executive  head  is  accomplishing  a most 
beneficent  work.  He  was  married,  on 
April  1,  1889,  to  Miss  Clara  B.  Goble,  daughter  of  Jasper  G.  and 
Rose  M.  (Wolverton)  Goble,  of  Woodstock,  province  of  Ontario, 
Canada,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Margaret  Lathrop,  born  in 
1899. 

Sale  City,  a post-village  of  Mitchell  county,  is  almost  on  the 
Colquitt  county  line.  It  is  a station  on  the  Flint  River  & North- 
eastern railroad,  about  half  way  between  Doerun  and  Pelham. 

Sallacoa,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Cherokee 
county,  is  about  ten  miles  northwest  of  Ball  Ground,  which  is  the 
nearest  railroad  station. 

Salt  Springs. — (See  Lithia  Springs). 

Salzburgers. — Among  the  early  settlers  of  Georgia  were  some 
people  belonging  to  a religious  sect  called  Salzburgers.  They 
were  descended  from  the  Waldenses,  (or  Vallenses)  who  opposed 
some  of  the  tenets  and  practices  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church 
long  before  the  time  of  Luther.  The  early  part  of  the  eighteenth 
century  found  a number  of  them  gathered  at  Salzburg,  in  the  east- 
ern district  of  Bavaria,  whence  they  derived  the  name.  Here  they 
were  persecuted  by  direction  of  Leopold,  archibshop  of  Salzburg, 
'and  from  1729  to  1732  about  30,000  of  them  were  exiled.  Some 
of  these  wanderers  found  their  way  to  Great  Britain  and  in  De- 
cember, 1732,  the  trustees  of  the  Georgia  colony  offered  to  give 
homes  in  America  to  such  as  would  go  there.  About  fifty  fami- 
lies accepted  the  overture,  but  it  was  not  until  Dec.  28,  1733,  that 
they  sailed  from  Dover.  After  a stop  at  Charleston,  where  they 


232 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


were  met  by  General  Oglethorpe,  they  proceeded  to  Savannah, 
arriving  there  on  March  11,  1734.  With  them  came  their  minis- 
ter, John  Martin  Bolzius,  and  their  catechist,  Israel  Christian 
Gronau.  They  wanted  to  settle  somewhere  on  high  ground,  some 
distance  from  the  sea,  and  finally  selected  the  site  of  Ebenezer. 
(q.  v.)  Others  came  later  and,  notwithstanding  sickness  and  the 
hardships  incident  to  a new  country,  through  all  of  which  they 
exhibited  great  patience  and  fortitude,  the  settlement  became  in 
time  one  of  the  most  prosperous  in  Georgia,  owing  to  the  thrift 
and  industry  of  the  inhabitants.  Descendants  of  these  early  Salz- 
burgers are  still  to  be  found  in  the  South. 

Sancken,  Henry,  wholesale  and  retail 
dealer  in  liquors,  657-9  Broad  street, 
Augusta,  was  born  near  Bremerhaven, 
province  of  Hanover,  Germany,  Feb.  26, 
1873,  a son  of  John  and  Meta  (Dese- 
brock)  Sancken,  the  former  of  whom 
died  in  1902,  in  Germany,  where  he  was 
a farmer  by  vocation,  and  where  his 
widow  still  resides.  Three  of  their  chil- 
dren are  residing  in  the  United  States, — 
John,  who  is  general  manager  of  the 
Consumers’  Ice  Delivery  Company,  of 
Augusta ; Catharina,  wife  of  Edward 
Mollenhauer,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  Henry,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Two  sons  and  two  daughters  still  remain  residents  of 
Germany.  Henry  Sancken  was  accorded  good  educational  advan- 
tages in  the  excellent  schools  of  his  native  land,  where  he  remained 
until  1888,  when,  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  he  came  to  America, 
proceeding  directly  to  Augusta,  where  his  elder  brother,  John,  had 
located  in  1878.  For  eight  years  he  was  employed  as  a clerk  in 
a grocery  and  bar  in  this  city,  and  then  established  his  present 
prosperous  enterprise.  He  is  a member  of  the  two  leading  Ger- 
man social  organizations  of  the  city  and  is  a member  of  St.  Mat- 
thew’s Lutheran  church.  He  has  won  success  through  personal 
efforts  and  has  a wide  circle  of  friends  in  Augusta. 

Sandersville,  the  county  seat  and  largest  town  in  Washington 
county,  was  incorporated  by  act  of  legislature  in  1812.  In  1866 
its  charter  was  amended,  its  limits  extended  and  municipal  rights 
conferred.  It  is  situated  on  a ridge  between  the  Oconee  and  Ogee- 
chee  rivers,  at  an  altitude  of  480  feet  above  tide  water,  and  on  the 
Augusta  Southern  railway.  It  has  a court  house  valued  at  $40,- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


233 


000,  a jail  that  cost  $20,000,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a money 
order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  three  banks,  a number  of 
prosperous  commercial  houses,  machine  works,  a flour  mill,  oil 
and  guano  mills,  fertilizer  works,  good  schools,  both  public  and 
private,  and  several  churches.  According  to  the  census  of  1900 
the  population  of  Sandersville  was  2,023  and  of  the  entire  district 
3,013. 

On  Nov.  25,  1864,  during  Sherman’s  march  from  Atlanta  to  the 
sea,  General  Wheeler  reinforced  the  local  troops  at  Sandersville, 
who  were  attempting  to  hold  in  check  the  Federal  cavalry,  and 
by  charging  promptly  drove  back  the  enemy.  Wheeler’s  loss  was 
12  and  that  of  the  Federals  was  reported  as  70. 

Sand  Mountain  is  a spur  of  the  Allegheny  range  in  northwest 
Georgia  and  close  to  Lookout  Mountain.  There  was  some  brisk 
skirmishing  here  on  Oct.  2,  1864,  as  Hood  was  moving  northward 
into  Tennessee. 

Sandstone. — This  name  is  applied  to  any  stone  which  is  an  ag- 
glutination of  grains  of  sand.  They  occur  in  nearly  every  geolog- 
ical formation  from  the  Cambrian  to  the  Tertiary.  The  sand  may 
be  held  together  by  an  iron  oxide,  by  calcareous  matter,  or  by  sim- 
ple pressure.  Siliceous  sandstones  are  the  most  common  and  vary 
in  hardness,  or  compactness,  from  scarcely  cemented  sand  to  that 
of  quartz  rock.  Several  varieties  of  this  stone  are  found  in  north- 
western Georgia,  the  most  noted  being  the  brown  stone  near 
Graysville  and  the  deposits  on  Lookout  and  Sand  mountains,  but 
they  have  not  been  sufficiently  developed  to  be  of  commercial 
value. 

Sandtown,  a little  village  of  about  30  inhabitants  in  the  extreme 
northern  part  of  Campbell  county  on  the  Chattahoochee  river,  was 
the  scene  of  a skirmish  on  Oct.  2,  1864,  as  Hood  was  marching 
northward. 

Sanford,  a post-hamlet  of  Stewart  county,  is  ten  miles  south- 
west of  Lumpkin,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  town. 

Sanford,  Daniel  B.,  may  well  be  entitled  the  Nestor  of  the  bar  of 
Baldwin  county,  since  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Milledgeville  for  two  score  of  years,  and  for  eighteen 
consecutive  years  he  presided  on  the  bench  of  the  court  of  ordinary 
of  the  county.  He  was  captain  of  a company  in  a Georgia  regi- 
ment of  the  Confederate  service  in  the  Civil  war,  in  which  he  made 
a gallant  record,  and  has  been  a citizen  of  prominence  and  influence 
in  his  county,  having  marked  professional  prestige  and  being  dis- 
tinctively a man  of  affairs.  Judge  Sanford  was  born  on  his  father’s 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


234 

plantation,  in  Greene  county,  Ga.,  April  11,  1839,  a son  of  Daniel 
and  Elizabeth  (Totty)  Sanford,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Loudoun  county,  Va.,  in  1777,  and  the  latter  in  the  state  of  South 
Carolina,  in  1799,  both  families  having  been  founded  in  the  South 

in  the  early  colonial  epoch  of  our  national 
history.  Daniel  Sanford  was  reared  and 
educated  in  the  Old  Dominion  state, 
where  he  remained  until  1800,  when  he 
came  to  Georgia  and  located  on  a planta- 
tion near  Greensboro,  the  judicial  center 
of  Greene  county,  and  this  old  homestead 
has  ever  since  remained  in  the  possession 
of  the  family,  being  now  owned  by  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  who  purchased  the 
interests  of  the  other  heirs  more  than 
twenty  years  ago.  The  place  is  a val- 
uable one  and  is  endeared  to  him  through 
the  hallowed  memories  and  associations  of  the  days  long 
past.  Daniel  Sanford  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  Greensboro  for  many  years  as  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  D.  & B.  Sanford.  The  junior  member  was 
his  brother  Benjamin,  and  Judge  Sanford,  of  this  sketch,  was 
named  in  honor  of  the  two — Daniel  Benjamin  Sanford.  Daniel 
Sanford  was  a man  of  noble  character  and  was  influential  in  his 
community,  continuing  a resident  of  Greene  county  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1854.  His  father,  Jeremiah  Sanford,  was 
a soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution  and  was  a personal  friend 
of  George  Washington.  He  came  to  Georgia  in  1810  and  passed 
the  closing  years  of  his  life  on  the  old  Sanford  homestead,  just 
mentioned.  Elizabeth  (Totty)  Sanford  long  survived  her  hon- 
ored husband,  her  death  having  occurred  in  1889,  at  the  venerable 
age  of  ninety  years.  Judge  Sanford  secured  his  more  purely  aca- 
demic education  in  a high  school  in  Greensboro  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years  was  appointed  deputy  clerk  of  the  supreme  court  of 
the  state,  taking  up  his  residence  in  Milledgeville,  which  was  then 
the  capital  of  Georgia.  He  was  appointed  to  this  office  in  1859 
and  was  the  incumbent  at  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the  war 
between  the  states.  He  at  once  resigned  the  position  to  go  forth 
in  defense  of  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy.  He  returned  to  Greene 
county  and  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  Greene  Rifles,  which 
' organization  was  mustered  into  the  Confederate  service  as  Com- 
pany A,  Phillips’  Legion  of  Georgia  infantry.  He  enlisted  as  a 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


private  and  was  several  times  promoted,  finally  being  made  cap- 
tain of  his  company.  In  the  battle  of  Sailor’s  Creek,  V a.,  while 
in  command  of  his  company,  he  was  severely  wounded,  captured 
by  the  enemy,  and  taken  to  the  city  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  where 
he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war,  his  exchange  having  been 
effected  in  July,  1865.  He  took  part  in  a large  number  of  impor- 
tant battles,  besides  skirmishes  and  other  minor  engagements, 
making  a record  for  gallant  and  faithful  service.  At  the  close  of 
the  war  Judge  Sanford  returned  to  Milledgeville,  where  in  Octo- 
ber, 1865,  he  was  chosen  enrolling  clerk  of  the  first  state  conven- 
tion held  in  Georgia  after  the  great  conflict  had  ended.  This  con- 
vention drafted  and  adopted  a new  constitution  for  the  common- 
wealth. He  remained  in  Milledgeville,  where  he  took  up  the  study 
of  law  under  effective  preceptorship,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1866.  From  that  time  to  the  present  he  has  been  numbered 
among  the  representative  lawyers  of  Milledgeville  and  Baldwin 
county,  having  gained  distinctive  professional  precedence  and  be- 
ing fortified  by  broad  and  exact  knowledge  of  the  intricacies  of 
the  great  science  of  jurisprudence.  The  judge  is  unwavering  in 
his  allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party  and  has  done  worthy  serv- 
ice in  its  cause.  In  1873  he  was  chosen  judge  of  the  court  of  ordi- 
nary of  Baldwin  county,  and  by  successive  reelections  continued  in 
this  office  until  1891 — a period  of  eighteen  years.  He  is  chairman 
of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Georgia  military  college  at  Milledge- 
ville, and  is  president  of  the  Milledgeville  Banking  Company,  of 
whose  board  of  directors  he  has  been  a member  since  its  organiza- 
tion as  the  first  banking  institution  of  the  town  in  1889.  He  is 
affiliated  with  the  United  Confederate  Veterans.  On  Jan.  8,  1868, 
Judge  Sanford  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Stet- 
son, daughter  of  Daniel  B.  Stetson,  who  came  from  the  city  of  Bos- 
ton, Mass.,  to  Milledgeville  in  1840.  Mrs.  Sanford  died,  Feb.  13, 
1886,  and  she  is  survived  by  two  children, — Daniel  Stetson,  who  is 
associated  with  his  father  in  the  practice  of  law,  and  Elizabeth, 
who  presides  over  the  attractive  paternal  home. 

Santa  Luca,  a post-village  of  Gilmer  county,  is  three  miles  north- 
west of  Cherrylog,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Sarah,  a post-hamlet  of  Union  county,  is  in  a mountainous  dis- 
trict near  the  Lumpkin  county  line.  The  nearest  railroad  station 
is  Blueridge. 

Sardis,  a post-village  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Burke  county, 
is  near  the  Screven  county  line.  The  population  in  1900  was  51. 
The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Munnerlyn. 


2; 36 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Sarepta,  a post-hamlet  of  Dawson  county,  is  about  five  miles 
northwest  of  Dawsonville  and  fourteen  miles  east  of  Jasper,  which 
is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Sargent,  a town  in  Coweta  county,  is  on  the  Central  of  Georgia 
railroad,  about  half-way  between  Newnan  and  the  Chattahoochee 
river.  The  population  in  1900  was  200.  It  has  several  good  stores, 
some  shipping  interests,  school  and  church  advantages,  telegraph 
and  express  offices,  etc. 

Sasser,  a town  in  Terrell  county,  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the 
legislature  on  Dec.  29,  1890.  It  is  on  the  Albany  & Columbus 
division  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railway,  about  eight  miles  south- 
east of  Dawson,  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  de- 
livery, telegraph  and  express  accommodations,  some  manufactur- 
ing and  mercantile  concerns,  and  does  a large  shipping  business. 
In  1900  the  population  was  322. 

Satilla  Bluff,  a town  in  the  central  part  of  Camden  county,  is  on 
the  right  bank  of  the  Satilla  river,  about  four  miles  east  of  Wood- 
bine, which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station.  Transportation  facili- 
ties are  afforded  by  the  Satilla  river  steamers.  The  population  in 
1900  was  310.  It  is  the  most  important  town  in  that  part  of  the 

Saussy,  Gordon,  a successful  and  pop- 
ular member  of  the  bar  of  Savannah, 
was  born  in  the  city  which  is  now  his 
home,  Feb.  14,  1872,  a son  of  Robert  and 
Gertrude  L.  (Keller)  Saussy.  (See  sketch 
of  Robert  Saussy).  He  was  afforded 
the  advantages  of  the  public  schools  of 
New  York  city,  where  the  family  resided 
from  1885  until  1896,  then  entered  the 
College  of  the  City  of  New  York,  and 
later  was  matriculated  in  Cornell  uni- 
versity, in  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1896,  in  the  law  department,  securing 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws.  Since  his  graduation  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  general  practice  of  his  profession  in  Savannah, 
where  he  has  a representative  clientage  and  has  met  with  gratify- 
ing success.  He  is  a stanch  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party;  is 
a veteran  member  of  Troop  A,  First  cavalry,  National  Guard  of 
Georgia ; is  also  a member  of  the  Georgia  Hussars’  club,  the  Sa- 
vannah Yacht  club,  Ancient  Landmark  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  and  the  chapter  of  the  Phi  Delta  Phi  fraternity  at  Cor- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


237 


nell  university.  He  enjoys  uniform  popularity  in  professional, 
business  and  social  circles  in  his  native  city. 

Saussy,  Robert,  owner  of  the  Bona  Bella  farm,  one  of  the  fine 
estates  lying  between  Savannah  and  the  Isle  of  Hope,  is  a veteran 
soldier  of  the  Confederacy  and  is  also  a veteran  in  the  railway 
service,  from  which  he  retired  in  1903.  He  was  born  in  the  city 
of  Savannah,  Dec.  25,  1839,  a son  of  Dr.  Joachim  R.,  and  Margaret 
G.  (Nowlan)  Saussy,  the  former  born  in  Beaufort  District,  S.  C., 
in  1804,  and  the  latter  in  Effingham  count}',  Ga.,  in  1812.  Dr.  J.  R. 
Saussy  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Savannah 
for  a term  of  years  and  during  the  memorable  yellow-fever  epi- 
demic of  1854  he  succumbed  to  the  disease,  after  having  minis- 
tered faithfully  to  many  others  suffering  from  the  dread  malady. 
His  wife  passed  away  in  1900,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years. 
The  paternal  grandparents  of  Robert  Saussy  were  Gabriel  and 
Sarah  (Radcliffe)  Saussy,  the  family  being  of  French  Huguenot 
and  Salzburg  stock.  The  maternal  grandparents  were  George  G. 
and  Hannah  (Gugel)  Nowlan  and  on  the  maternal  side  the  an- 
cestry is  traced  back  to  Clement  Martin,  a member  of  the  Georgia 
colony  of  General  Oglethorpe,  of  whose  cabinet  he  was  also  a 
member,  thus  being  numbered  among  the  founders  of  the  colony 
of  Georgia.  Robert  Saussy  was  afforded  the  advantages  of  excel- 
lent private  schools  in  Savannah,  and  was  about  twenty-one  years 
of  age  at  the  time  of  the  inception  of  the  Civil  war.  In  May,  1861, 
he  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  F,  Jeff  Davis  Legion  of  Geor- 
gia cavalry.  His  company  was  known  as  the  Georgia  Hussars, 
served  in  Young’s  brigade,  Hampton’s  division,  Stewart’s  corps, 
and  took  part  in  many  of  the  important  engagements  of  the  great 
conflict  between  the  states.  Mr.  Saussy  remained  in  the  service 
during  the  entire  war,  except  for  a period  of  three  months  during 
which  he  was  confined  in  hospital  as  the  result  of  a severe  bullet 
wound,  received  on  Oct.  27,  1863.  He  retired  from  the  service  as 
second  lieutenant  of  his  company,  his  record  having  been  one  of 
valor  and  utmost  fidelity  to  duty.  After  the  war  he  became  identi- 
fied with  railroad  interests  and  for  twenty-five  years  he  remained 
in  the  employ  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  in  various  capacities.  In 
1903  he  purchased  the  Bona  Bella  farm,  on  LaRoche  Ave.,  be- 
tween Savannah  and  Isle  of  Hope,  where  he  has  since  resided,  giv- 
ing his  attention  to  the  management  of  what  is  undoubtedly  one 
of  the  finest  poultry,  fruit  and  dairy  farms  in  the  State  of  Georgia. 
He  has  expended  several  thousand  dollars  in  buildings  and  equip- 
ments, making  the  farm  modern  in  all  its  provisions  and  facilities, 


238 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


and  it  constitutes  an  ideal  home.  Air.  Saussy  is  a Democrat  in 
politics,  is  a member  of  the  United  Confederate  Veterans,  and  is 
identified  with  the  Hussars  club,  of  Savannah.  On  Sept.  27,  1873, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Gertrude  Keller,  of  Chatham 
county,  Ga.,  and  she  died  about  three  years  later,  leaving  two 
sons.  Gordon,  the  elder  son,  is  a graduate  of  Cornell  university, 
and  is  now  a representative  member  of  the  bar  of  Savannah.  Hugh 
was  killed  in  a football  game  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  being 
at  the  time  a student  in  the  College  of  the  City  of  New  York. 

Sautee,  a post-village  of  White  county,  is  about  eight  miles 
northeast  of  Cleveland,  in  the  valley  of  the  same  name,  and  in  1900 
reported  a population  of  80.  The  most  convenient  railroad  station 
is  Clarkesville. 

Sautee  Valley. — (See  White  County). 

Savannah,  the  county  seat  of  Chatham  county,  the  most  east- 
ern county  of  the  state,  is  not  only  the  principal  seaport  of  Geor- 
gia, but  is  the  great  maritime  mart  of  the  entire  south  Atlantic 
coast.  As  a shipping  point  it  is  well  supplied  with  transportation 
facilities,  about  a dozen  steam  ship  lines  connecting  it  with  the 
great  cities  of  the  north,  and  the  coast  to  the  southward,  while  five 
lines  of  railroad  connect  it  with  the  interior.  As  a cotton  shipping 
center  it  is  the  third  port  of  the  United  States,  and  as  a shipping 
point  for  naval  stores  it  is  the  greatest  in  the  world.  The  harbor 
of  Savannah  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  United  States.  Improve- 
ments made  in  recent  years  by  the  Federal  government  have  given 
the  harbor  a clear  depth  of  twenty-six  feet,  sufficient  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  the  largest  vessels  plying  along  the  coast.  The 
annual  tonnage  of  the  port  has  increased  from  about  1,000,000  in 
1870  to  over  3,000,000  in  1904.  Few  cities  in  the  United  States 
can  show  so  large  a volume  of  business  in  proportion  to  the  pop- 
ulation. The  principal  articles  of  commerce  are  cotton,  more  than 
a million  bales  of  which  are  annually  shipped  from  the  port ; naval 
stores,  rosin,  turpentine,  etc.,  running  into  millions  of  barrels; 
lumber,  the  shipment  of  which  is  constantly  on  the  increase,  and 
rice,  more  than  a quarter  of  a million  bushels  of  which  find  a way 
into  the  market  from  Savannah  every  year.  Among  the  manu- 
factures of  the  city  are  cotton  and  woolen  goods,  cotton  seed  oil, 
agricultural  implements,  engines  and  boilers,  rubber  goods,  car- 
riages, brick,  brass  goods,  building  materials,  cigars  and  various 
other  products.  There  are  four  large  oyster  canning  establish- 
ments in  the  county,  the  annual  output  of  which  is  about  3,000,- 
000  cans.  But  it  is  not  only  the  commercial  and  manufacturing 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


239- 

interests  of  Savannah  that  go  to  make  it  a great  city.  Its  history 
is  replete  with  interest  to  the  student  of  American  institutions;  its 
school  system  is  surpassed  by  no  city  of  its  size  in  the  country; 
its  park  system  is  one  that  many  larger  cities  might  envy,  while 
the  neatness  of  its  residences  bespeak  it  a city  of  refined  homes. 
Savannah  might  not  be  inaptly  termed  the  “Monumental  city  of 
the  South.”  In  Forsyth  Park  stands  the  Confederate  monument, 
in  Johnson  Square  is  a neat  obelisk,  erected  in  1829  to  the  mem- 
ory of  Gen.  Nathaniel  Greene,  who  commanded  the  department  of 
the  south  during  the  Revolution,  being  second  in  command  to 
General  Washington,  and  who  drove  the  British  from  Georgia  and 
the  Carolinas.  The  corner  stone  of  this  monument  was  laid  by 
LaFayette  in  1825,  while  on  a visit  to  this  country.  In  Monterey 
Square  stands  the  Pulaski  monument,  fifty-five  feet  high,  of  mar- 
ble, surmounted  by  a statue  of  “Liberty.”  It  was  erected  to  com- 
memorate the  services  of  Count  Pulaski  in  the  war  of  Independ- 
ence. On  Bull  street  stands  the  monument  erected  to  the  memory 
of  W.  W.  Gordon,  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  railroad  development 
of  the  State,  and  in  fact  of  the  South.  In  Madison  Square  stands 
a monument  to  another  Revolutionary  hero.  Every  school  boy  is 
familiar  with  the  story  of  how  Sergt.  William  Jasper  rescued  the 
fallen  colors  at  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Moultrie,  June  28,  1776, 
but  the  school  boy  of  Savannah  has  the  additional  satisfaction  of 
looking  upon  the  Jasper  monument,  which  was  unveiled  in  1888, 
President  Cleveland  being  present  at  the  ceremonies.  In  one  of 
the  prominent  squares  stand  the  monuments  to  Gen.  Francis  S. 
Bartow  and  Gen.  Lafayette  McLaws,  who  were  distinguished  of- 
ficers in  the  Confederate  service  during  the  Civil  Avar.  And  last, 
but  not  least  of  the  beauty  spots  of  Savannah,  is  the  historic  Bona- 
venture  Cemetery,  with  its  a\mnues  of  lwe-oaks,  draped  with  the 
long  gray  southern  moss. 

Sa\rannah  received  her  full  meed  of  glory  and  bore  her  full  share 
of  disaster  in  the  war  for  independence.  The  capture  of  Mait- 
land’s powder  ship  in  the  summer  of  1775  and  the  burning  of  the 
rice  vessels  the  following  spring  are  described  elsewhere  in  this 
work.  Toward  the  close  of  1778  a British  force  under  Colonel 
Campbell  occupied  the  city.  (See  Brewton’s  Hill).  Early  in  Oc- 
tober, 1779,  an  American  army  under  Gen.  Benjamin  Lincoln,  aided 
by  the  French  fleet  under  D’Estaing,  and  a large  force  of  infantry, 
laid  siege  to  the  place.  On  the  9th  an  assault  was  made,  but  it 
was  repulsed  with  a loss  of  about  1,200  in  killed  and  wounded, 
among  whom  were  Count  Pulaski  and  Sergt.  William  Jasper, 


240 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


whose  deeds  of  bravery  have  been  told  in  song  and  story.  In  May, 
1782,  the  king  ordered  Governor  Wright  to  surrender  the  city  to 
the  Americans  and  it  was  occupied  at  that  time  by  Gen.  Anthony 
Wayne. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  Civil  war  there  was  severe  fighting  at 
Forts  Pulaski  and  McAllister  and  at  Whitemarsh  island,  (q.  v.) 
After  the  fall  of  Atlanta  in  1864,  Sherman  marched  to  Savannah 
and  by  the  middle  of  December  had  his  lines  drawn  about  the  city. 
Flis  army  numbered  about  65,000  men,  while  the  Confederates  un- 
der Hardee  in  defense  of  the  place  numbered  about  17,000  in  all. 
On  the  17th  Sherman  made  a demand  for  the  surrender  of  the  city 
but  it  met  with  a refusal  from  Hardee,  who  sent  Flag-officer 
Hunter  up  the  river,  with  two  gunboats  and  a small  transport,  to 
destroy  the  Charleston  & Savannah  railroad  bridge,  so  that  Sher- 
man could  not  use  it  to  cut  off  the  Confederate  retreat  into  South 
Carolina  in  case  it  became  necessary.  Hunter  succeeded  in  de- 
stroying the  bridge,  but  in  attempting  to  return  he  was  driven 
back  by  the  Federal  batteries  and  made  his  way  up  the  river  to 
Augusta.  After  the  fall  of  Fort  McAllister  Sherman  secured  siege 
guns  for  the  reduction  of  the  city,  then  moved  around  to  Port 
Royal  and  got  possession  of  the  railroad  to  cut  off  Hardee’s  re- 
treat, intending  to  capture  his  entire  army.  But  Hardee  was  not 
to  be  caught  so  easily.  While  keeping  up  an  almost  constant  skir- 
mishing for  several  days,  against  a vastly  superior  force,  he  con- 
structed a pontoon  bridge  from  the  city  to  Hutchinson’s  island, 
a distance  of  half  a mile,  and  during  the  night  of  the  20th  moved 
out  with  all  his  army,  field  artillery  and  baggage  wagons,  reaching 
the  opposite  shore  in  safety.  This  retreat  was  one  of  the  great- 
est maneuvers  of  the  -war.  General  Slocum  discovered  the  move- 
ment about  three  o’clock  on  the  morning  of  the  21st,  but  too  late 
to  prevent  it.  He  then  moved  in  and  took  possession.  Commo- 
dore Tattnall  was  unable  to  save  his  fleet,  as  the  Federal  monitors 
blocked  every  avenue  of  escape.  He  turned  his  attention  to  the 
destruction  of  the  property,  burned  two  gunboats,  the  Milledge- 
ville  and  the  Water  Witch,  the  navy  yard  and  a large  quantity  of 
ship  timber.  The  Savannah,  the  strongest  vessel  of  the  fleet,  com- 
manded by  Captain  Brent,  was  still  left,  and  when  the  Federal 
flag  was  hoisted  over  Fort  Jackson  at  once  opened  fire,  driving  the 
invaders  from  the  fort.  All  day  on  the  21st  this  vessel  continued 
to  fly  the  Confederate  flag,  when  she  was  run  over  to  the  Caro- 
lina shore,  the  crew  was  disembarked  to  join  Hardee,  and  the  ship 
was  then  blown  up.  An  unfinished  torpedo  boat,  the  small 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


241 


steamers,  Beauregard  and  General  Lee,  150  large  cannon,  and 
32,000  bales  of  cotton  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Federals.  Sher- 
man had  gained  possession  of  the  city,  but  was  greatly  chagrined 
at  the  escape  of  Hardee’s  army  with  all  its  artillery  and  supplies. 

Savannah,  (Steamship). — The  first  steamer  to  cross  the  Atlan- 
tic was  the  result  of  Georgia  enterprise.  In  1818  the  legislature, 
at  the  request  of  William  Scarborough  and  others,  passed  an  act 
incorporating  the  Savannah  Steamship  Company.  The  organiza- 
tion was  fully  completed  in  February,  1319,  and  an  order  placed 
for  the  building  of  a vessel  at  Corlear’s  slip  in  East  river,  New 
York.  The  work  was  hastened  forward  with  all  possible  speed 
and  on  March  28th  the  “City  of  Savannah,”  as  the  steamer  was 
called,  left  New  York  for  her  trial  run  to  Savannah.  The  trip  was 
made  in  six  days  (A  “liner”  now  makes  it  in  two)  and  she  re- 
ceived an  enthusiastic  greeting  from  hundreds  of  citizens  assem- 
bled upon  the  wharf  to  witness  her  arrival.  On  May  20th  she 
sailed  in  ballast,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Moses  Rogers,  an 
experienced  engineer,  and  made  the  voyage  to  Liverpool  in  twenty- 
two  days,  eighteen  of  which  were  under  steam.  Pitch  pine  was 
used  for  fuel,  coal  not  having  come  into  use.  A description  of  her 
arrival  at  Liverpool  says : “With  wheels  plying  to  the  utmost  and 
all  sails  set,  she  went  into  the  Mersey,  proud  as  any  princess  go- 
ing to  her  crowning,  the  spectators  absolutely  astounded  at  her 
appearance.”  After  a month  in  Liverpool,  rvhere  she  was  visited 
by  thousands,  the  “Savannah”  went  on  to  Copenhagen,  Stockholm 
and  St.  Petersburg,  Captain  Rogers  and  his  novel  craft  being 
everywhere  received  with  respect  and  admiration.  On  November 
20th  she  steamed  into  the  port  of  Savannah,  having  solved  the 
problem  of  steam  as  a power  in  navigation.  Later  the  vessel  was 
sold  to  a New  York  company,  who  took  out  the  steam  machinery 
and  converted  into  a sailing  packet  between  Savannah  and  New 
York.  She  was  finally  lost  off  the  coast  of  Long  Island.  One  of 
the  cylinders  and  the  log  book  are  still  preserved  in  Crystal  Pal- 
ace, London. 

Savoy,  a post-hamlet  of  Wilkes  county,  is  on  the  Little  river, 
ten  miles  southeast  of  Washington.  Ficklin  is  the  nearest  railroad 
station. 

Saxon,  Albert  B.,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  A.  B.  Saxon  & 
Bro.,  wholesale  and  retail  grocers,  with  headquarters  at  5 66  Broad 
street,  Augusta,  was  born  on  the  home  plantation  of  his  parents,  in 
Burke  county,  Ga.,  April  4,  1846,  a son  of  Henry  and  Rebecca  (Atta- 
way)  Saxon,  both  of  whom  passed  their  declining  years  in  that 


242 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


county,  the  father  having  been  a school  teacher  and  planter  by 
vocation.  Albert  B.  Saxon  was  afforded  the  advantages  of  the 
common  schools  of  Georgia  and  was  reared  in  a home  of  distinctive 

culture  and  refinement.  Early  in  1862,  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  years,  he  tendered  his 
aid  in  upholding  the  cause  of  the  Confed- 
eracy by  enlisting  as  a private  in  Com- 
pany F,  Sixty-third  Georgia  volunteer 
infantry,  having  previously  served  in  the 
state  militia.  He  took  part  in  the  cam- 
paign from  Dalton  to  Marietta,  in  which 
latter  place  he  was  attacked  with  severe 
illness,  which  compelled  him  to  enter  the 
hospital  at  Macon.  Upon  his  recovery  he 
rejoined  his  command  and  participated  in 
Hood’s  campaign  in  Tennessee  and  North 
Alabama.  He  was  captured  at  Nashville  and  was  imprisoned 
at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when 
he  was  paroled.  Returning  to  his  home,  he,  like  others 
of  the  loyal  southern  youth,  faced  the  task  of  adjusting  him- 
self to  changed  conditions,  and  he  has  loyally  aided  in  bringing 
about  the  commercial  and  industrial  rebuilding  of  his  native  com- 
monwealth, the  Empire  state  of  the  South.  In  1866  he  located  in 
Augusta,  where  he  was  for  six  years  identified  with  the  wholesale 
and  retail  lamp  and  crockery  business,  and  for  nearly  a score  of 
years  past  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  wholesale  and  retail  gro- 
cery trade  as  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  A.  B.  Saxon  & Bro., 
his  associate  in  the  large  and  flourishing  business  being  his  brother, 
J.  J.  Saxon.  Mr.  Saxon  is  a loyal  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party;  is  a member  of  the  First  Baptist  church;  and  is 
affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  United  Confederate  Vet- 
erans, the  Royal  Arcanum,  the  Knights  of  Honor  and  the  National 
Union.  On  April  18,  1877,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Susan  Car- 
penter, who  was  born  and  reared  in  Burke  county.  They  have  six 
children,  namely:  Mamie  Virginia,  Henry  F.,  Ellen  M.,  Susie  B., 
Judson  L.  and  Emma  W.  Ellen  M.  is  now  the  wife  of  John  L. 
Janes.  Henry  F.,  the  elder  son,  was  born  in  Augusta,  Feb.  28, 
1878,  and  on  April  18,  1900,  the  twenty-third  anniversary  of  the 
marriage  of  his  parents,  he  was  united  in  matrimony  to  Miss  Isa- 
belle Coffin,  of  Augusta.  They  have  two  sons,  Francis  Amory  and 
Donald  Verdery. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


243 


Saylor,  B.  F.  A.,  geologist  and  miner- 
alogist, of  Rome,  is  vice-president  of 
the  Gulf  States  Portland  Cement  Com- 
pany, which  is  developing  one  of  the 
important  industrial  enterprises  of  the 
South.  The  company  is  incorporated 
under  the  laws  of  South  Dakota,  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $2,500,000,  while  its  mills, 
at  Demopolis,  Ala.,  have  at  the  present 
time  a daily  capacity  of  2,400  barrels  of 
Portland  cement.  Mr.  Saylor,  who  has 
been  a resident  of  Georgia  since  4888,  is 
thoroughly  schooled  in  a theoretical  and 
practical  way  in  his  technical  professional  lines.  He  was  for  sev- 
eral years  identified  with  the  Pottstown  Iron  Company,  in  Potts- 
town.  Pa.,  took  a literary  and  scientific  course  in  Muhlenburg  col- 
lege, and  later  a scientific  course  in  Lehigh  university.  He  has  the 
degrees  of  Mining  Engineer  and  Civil  Engineer,  and  is  a member 
of  the  American  Institute  of  mining  engineers.  In  1894  Mr.  Say- 
lor took  up  the  development  of  the  bauxite  deposits  in  Floyd  and 
adjoining  counties.  He  secured  control  of  the  properties  required 
and  then  effected  the  organization  of  a company  to  carry  forward 
the  work  of  development, — the  Pittsburg  Reduction  Company, 
which  opened  the  mines  on  the  Barnsley  estate  in  Bartow  county. 
Since  this  initial  work  a number  of  mines  have  been  acquired  in 
Georgia  and  Alabama,  the  properties  being  owned  by  the  Dixie 
Bauxite  Company,  which  was  organized  through  the  efforts  of 
Mr.  Saylor,  who  is  superintendent  and  general  manager.  He  also 
organized  the  Rome  Petroleum  and  Iron  Company,  which  was 
capitalized  for  $1,000,000,  the  stock  being  held  principally  by  Chi- 
cago capitalists,  and  was  made  president  and  general  manager. 
The  company  acquired  leases  on  oil  land,  bored  two  wells  near 
Rome,  one  making  a good  showing  of  oil,  and  is  engaged  in  the 
extensive  development  of  iron  properties  in  Cleburne  county,  Ala. 
Mr.  Saylor  disposed  of  his  interests  in  the  concern  some  time  ago 
and  in  1904  organized  the  Gulf  States  Portland  Cement  Company, 
and  this  corporation  will  do  much  to  further  the  industrial  prestige 
of  the  South. 

Scales,  Floyd  L.,  the  present  mayor  of  the  city  of  Waynesboro, 
and  one  of  the  able  members  of  the  bar  of  Burke  county,  was  born 
at  Waynesboro,  July  15,  1871.  He  is  a son  of  Robert  W.  and 
Frances  R.  (Martin)  Scales,  the  former  born  in  Rockingham  county, 


244 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


N.  C\,  and  the  latter  at  Mason,  Ga.  Prior  to  the  Civil  war  the 
father  was  a wealthy  planter,  owning  fine  estates  in  North  Caro- 
line, Georgia  and  Mississippi.  At  the  inception  of  the  war  he 

tendered  his  services  in  defense  of  the 
cause  of  the  Confederacy,  but  met  with  an 
accident  which  incapacitated  him  for  serv- 
ice in  the  field,  and  he  was  accorded  an 
honorable  discharge.  He  gave  largely  of 
his  means  in  upholding  the  Confederate 
government.  Before  the  war  he  had  taken 
up  his  residence  in  Burke  county,  and  he 
died,  in  the  city  of  Waynesboro,  Dec.  12, 
1872,  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
but  one  and  one-half  years  of  age.  His 
widow  still  survives  and  resides  with 
her  son  Floyd  L.  Robert  W.  Scales 
was  a brother  of  ex-Governor  Alfred  M.  Scales  of  North 
Carolina.  Mrs.  Frances  R.  (Martin)  Scales  is  a represen- 
tative of  an  old  and  influential  North  Carolina  family,  and 
her  father,  Robert  Martin,  was  an  uncle  of  the  wife  of 
Hon.  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  Mrs.  Douglas  having  been  a Martin. 
Floyd  L.  Scales  attended  Waynesboro  academy  until  he  had  at- 
tained the  age  of  sixteen  years,  and  two  years  later  began  reading 
law  under  the  direction  of  Judge  Philip  P.  Johnston,  of  that  city. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years  and  at 
once  became  a member  of  the  law  firm  of  Lawson,  Callaway  & 
Scales,  his  associates  having  been  Judge  Floyd  Lawson  and  Judge 
E.  H.  Callaway.  In  1894  the  latter  was  elected  to  the  bench  of 
the  superior  court  of  this  district  and  withdrew  from  the  firm,  and 
since  that  time  the  firm  name  has  been  Lawson  & Scales.  Owing 
to  the  impaired  health  of  Judge  Lawson  the  large  business  of  the 
firm  has  devolved  chiefly  upon  Mr.  Scales  for  several  years  past. 
The  firm  was  a representative  clientage  and  extensive  practice, 
numbering  on  its  clientele  many  prominent  eastern  persons  and 
corporations  having  interests  in  Burke  county.  Mr.  Scales  is  a 
stanch  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party,  but  has  never  been  a 
candidate  for  office  until  the  present  year,  having  been  elected 
mayor  of  his  native  city  in  February,  1906.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  and  in  a fraternal  way  is  a 
Royal-Arch  Mason  ; a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  which 
he  is  past  chancellor;  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  last 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


245 


he  is  noble  grand  of  his  lodge.  He  is  a director  of  the  Bank  of 
Waynesboro.  For  fifteen  years  Mr.  Scales  was  an  officer  in  Com- 
pany E,  First  Georgia  regiment,  known  as  the  Burke  Light  In- 
fantry, and  for  several  years  was  captain  of  his  company.  He  is 
now  captain  in  the  National  Guard  of  Georgia  (Retired). 

Scarboro,  a town  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Jenkins  county,  is 
on  the  main  line  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  and  is  the  most 
important  station  between  Millen  and  Rockvford.  It  has  a money 
order  postoffice,  telegraph  and  express  offices,  mercantile  and  ship- 
ping interests,  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  153. 

Scheetz,  Elwood  S.,  .master  car  builder,  in  the  employ  of  the 
Georgia  Railroad  Company,  in  Augusta,  is  a native  of  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  where  he  was  born  March  21,  1855,  a son  of 
John  and  Mary  (Newlin)  Scheetz,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 
Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  where  the  respective  families  were 
founded  in  the  pioneer  days.  The  father,  who  was  a contractor 
and  builder  by  vocation  and  a valiant  soldier  in  the  Mexican  war, 
continued  resident  of  Philadelphia  until  his  death,  as  did  also  his 
wife.  They  became  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  of  whom  three 
are  deceased — Annie,  John  Oliver,  and  William.  Aside  from  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  the  surviving  children  are  as  follows: 
Charles  N.,  a resident  of  the  state  of  Virginia;  George  W.,  a resi- 
dent of  Philadelphia ; Mary  E.,  wife  of  Samuel  Thorn,  of  Phila- 
delphia; Laura  E.,  wife  of  Samuel  Birkmire,  of  that  city;  Frank  L., 
who  resides  in  Augusta,  Ga.,  Andrew  J.,  a resident  of  Louisiana ; 
and  Florence  I.,  wife  of  Henry  Neil,  of  Chicago,  111.  Elwood  S. 
Scheetz  attended  the  public  schools  of  Philadelphia  until  he  was 
sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  entered  the  shops  of  the  Baldwin 
Locomotive  Works,  of  that  city,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of 
pattern  maker  and  became  especially  skillful  in  this  line.  For  four 
years  he  was  employed  as  pattern  maker  in  different  institutions  in 
Philadelphia.  In  1878  he  came  to  Georgia  and  located  in  Barnes- 
ville,  where  he  was  employed  a few  months  in  the  Barnesville  iron 
works.  In  1879  he  removed  to  Atlanta,  where  he  remained  four 
years  in  the  employ  of  the  Atlanta  bridge  works,  later  being  with 
the  Atlanta  machine  works.  He  then  passed  six  months  in  the 
city  of  Macon,  where  he  was  employed  in  the  Schofield  iron 
works.  In  1885  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Augusta,  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Georgia  Railroad  Company,  in  whose  service  he 
has  since  continued,  initiating  his  efforts  as  a pattern  maker  in 
the  Augusta  shops,  and  was  promoted  to  his  present  office  of  mas- 
ter car  builder  in  1891.  He  is  a member  of  the  American  Railway 


246 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Master  Car  Builders’  association;  is  affiliated  with  the  lodge,  chap- 
ter and  commander  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  as  well  as  its  ad- 
junct, the  Ancient  Arabic  Order,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine; 
and  also  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks, 
and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
First  Baptist  church.  On  Jan.  4,  1881,  Mr.  Scheetz  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Agnes  H.  Martin,  who  was  born  and  reared  in 
the  town  of  King  of  Prussia,  Montgomery  county,  Pa.  They  have 
four  children:  Eva  T.,  wife  of  James  L.  Hunter,  of  Augusta, 
Mary  N.,  Frank  M.,  and  Sarah  B. 

Schlatterville,  a post-village  of  Pierce  county,  is  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast  Line  railway,  ten  miles  east  of  Waycross,  and  in  1900  had  a 
population  of  90.  It  has  a few  stores,  etc.,  and  does  some  shipping. 

Schley,  a post-hamlet  in  the  county  of  the  same  name,  is  between 
the  forks  of  Buck  creek,  six  or  seven  miles  north  of  Ellaville. 

Schley  County  was  created  Dec.  22,  1857,  from  Macon,  Marion, 
and  Sumter,  and  was  named  for  William  Schley,  governor  of 
Georgia  from  1835  to  1837.  It  is  in  the  western  part  of  the  state 
and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Taylor  and  Macon  counties,  on  the 
east  by  Macon  and  Sumter,  on  the  south  by  Sumter  and  on  the 
west  by  Marion.  The  surface  is  nearly  level,  much  of  it  being 
covered  with  a heavy  growth  of  long  leaf  pine,  oak,  hickory,  ash 
and  maple,  which  numerous  sawmills  are  employed  in  converting 
into  lumber  for  the  market.  The  tributaries  of  the  Flint  river 
drain  the  land  and  supply  ample  waterpower,  which  is  utilized 
by  a number  of  mills  and  factories.  The  soil  is  a gray  sandy  loam, 
with  an  outcrop  of  red  clay  in  the  southern  part,  and  produces 
cotton,  sweet  and  Irish  potatoes,  field  and  ground  peas  and  sugar- 
cane. There  are  many  peach  and  apple  orchards  and  some  pears, 
plums  and  cherries  are  raised.  The  Columbus  & American  divi- 
sion of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway  system  crosses  the  central 
part  of  the  county  from  west  to  east.  Ellaville,  the  county  seat,  is 
on  this  road.  The  population  of  the  county  in  1900  was  5,499,  a 
gain  of  56  since  1890. 

Schley,  Julian,  of  Savannah,  one  of  the  representative  insurance 
men  of  the  state,  is  a member  of  one  of  the  old  and  honored  fam- 
ilies of  the  commonwealth  and  has  been  a resident  of  the  city  of 
Savannah  from  his  childhood  days.  He  was  born  at  Richmond 
Hill,  the  old  Schley  homestead,  in  Richmond  county,  about  four 
miles  from  the  city  of  Augusta,  Aug.  7,  1852.  The  original  Amer- 
ican ancestors  were  two  brothers,  John  Jacob  and  Thomas  Schley, 
who  came  to  America  from  Germany  in  1745,  and  settled  in  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


247 


mountains  of  Maryland,  near  Hagerstown  and  Frederick.  About 
the  year  1800  John  Jacob  Schley,  Jr.,  son  of  John  Jacob  Schley,  Sr., 
just  mentioned,  came  to  Georgia  and  settled  at  Louisville,  Jefferson 

county,  which  was  then  the  capital  of  the 
state.  The  Schleys  have  been  noted  jur- 
ists and  physicians,  as  well  as  leading  men 
in  the  history  of  Maryland,  Georgia  and 
the  United  States.  Admiral  Winfield  Scott 
Schley,  of  the  United  States  navy,  the 
hero  of  Santiago,  and  Judge  William 
Schley,  of  Baltimore,  for  many  years  a 
leading  jurist  of  Maryland,  are  cousins  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Julian  Schley 
is  the  great-grandson  of  John  Jacob 
Schley,  the  founder  of  the  Georgia  branch 
of  the  family,  and  is  a grandson  of 
Judge  John  Schley,  who  presided  on  the  bench  of  the 
middle  circuit  of  Georgia  from  1841  to  1845,  and  whose 
brother,  Hon.  William  Schley,  was  governor  of  Georgia  from 
1835  to  1837,  inclusive.  Both  of  these  brothers  were  pioneers 
in  connection  with  the  building  of  the  first  railroads  and  cot- 
ton mills  in  Georgia,  and  the  charter  of  the  Central  railway 
of  Georgia  was  granted  by  Governor  Schley  within  his  term 
of  office.  He  and  his  brother,  Judge  John  Schley,  were  asso- 
ciated in  building  and  operating  the  second  and  third  cotton 
factories  established  in  the  state.  The  father  of  Julian  Schley  was 
John  Schley,  Jr.,  eldest  son  of  Judge  John  Schley  and  a lawyer 
and  jurist  of  note.  Fie  married  Miss  Ellen  McAlpin,  eldest  daugh- 
ter of  Hon.  Henry  McAlpin,  who  was  born  in  Scotland  and  who 
built  up  the  magnificent  estate,  “The  Hermitage,”  near  Savannah — 
a place  that  even  to  this  date  remains  an  attraction  to  strangers 
visiting  that  section  of  the  state.  Julian  Schley  has  lived  in  and 
near  Savannah  since  he  was  two  years  of  age,  his  parents  having 
removed  here  in  1854,  from  their  former  home  near  the  city  of 
Augusta.  His  father  purchased  a beautiful  sea-island  cotton  plan- 
tation about  twelve  miles  distant  from  Savannah,  on  the  sea  coast, 
the  same  being  known  as  “Beaulieu.”  There  the  family  resided 
until  the  second  year  of  the  Civil  war,  when  they  were  compelled 
to  vacate,  as  the  site  was  required  by  the  Confederate  government 
for  the  erection  of  a fortification,  known  in  history  as  Beaulieu  bat- 
tery. The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  been  in  active  business  in 
Savannah  since  1872,  and  has  always  been  held  in  high  esteem  in 


248 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


his  city  and  the  state.  Besides  many  positions  of  honor  held  by 
him  in  the  past  he  is  now  prominently  identified  with  the  general 
insurance  business,  having  been  general  agent  of  the  Penn  Mutual 
Life  Insurance  Company,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  for  the  past  eighteen 
years.  During  that  time  he  has  built  up  a notable  business  in  his 
jurisdiction,  having  increased  the  amount  of  insurance  from  $12,- 
000  to  more  than  $4,000,000.  He  also  represents  three  fire-insur- 
ance companies,  writing  a large  line  for  each.  He  is  president  of 
the  Life  Underwriters’  association  of  Savannah ; president  of  the 
St.  Andrew’s  society ; a member  of  the  chamber  of  commerce ; a 
Knight  Templar  Mason;  is  one  of  the  charter  members  of  Alee 
Temple  of  the  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine;  an  ex-commodore  of  the  Savannah  Yacht  club,  of  which 
he  has  been  a member  for  more  than  twenty  years,  during  the 
greater  portion  of  which  he  has  held  office  in  the  same ; is  a Dem- 
ocrat in  politics,  and  since  the  age  of  sixteen  years  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Presbyterian  church  in  Savannah. 
On  Dec.  31,  1878,  Mr.  Schley  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza 
Ann  Larcombe,  of  Savannah,  and  they  have  four  children : Julian 
Larcombe,  the  eldest,  is  a first  lieutenant  of  engineers  in  the  United 
States  army,  having  been  graduated  at  West  Point  as  a member 
of  the  class  of  1903,  which  comprised  ninety-three  members  and 
in  which  he  stood  seventh ; Richard  Larcombe,  is  a student  in 
Princeton  college,  N.  J. ; Eliza  Champion,  and  Henry  McAlpin 
Schley  remain  at  the  parental  home.  Mr.  Schley  has  a lovely  sum- 
mer home  built  upon  the  site  of  the  old  plantation  home  at  Beau- 
lieu, which  is  delightfully  located  on  the  Vernon  river,  an  arm  of 
the  sea.  There  he  is  now  living  over  again  his  boyhood  days  with 
his  children. 

Schley,  William,  lawyer,  legislator  and  governor,  was  born  at 
Frederick,  Md.,  Dec.  10,  1786.  In  early  life  he  removed  to  Geor- 
gia ; received  an  academic  education  at  Louisville  and  Augusta ; 
studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1812 ; practiced  at  Afi- 
gusta  until  1825,  when  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  superior  court, 
which  position  he  held  for  three  years.  In  1830  he  was  elected  rep- 
resentative in  the  state  legislature  and  in  1832  to  the  lower  house 
of  Congress  ; was  reelected  representative  in  Congress  in  1834,  and 
governor  of  Georgia  in  1835.  In  his  first  message  to  the  legisla- 
ture he  recommended  the  construction  of  the  Western  & Atlantic 
railroad  and  before  the  expiration  of  his  administration  signed  the 
act  authorizing  the  road.  He  also  recommended  a geological  sur- 
vey and  the  creation  of  a lunatic  or  insane  asylum.  Governor 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


249 


Schley  was  a pronounced  Democrat.  He  believed  in  a strict  con- 
struction of  the  Federal  constitution.  His  views  were  fully  em- 
bodied in  his  “Digest  of  the  English  Statutes  in  Force  in  Geor- 
gia,” which  was  published  in  1826.  Schley  county  was  named  in 
his  honor.  His  death  occurred  at  Augusta  on  Nov.  20,  1858. 

Schneider,  Charles  H.,  proprietor  of 
one  of  the  largest  and  best  equipped  de- 
partment stores  in  the  city  of  Augusta, 
and  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  C.  H. 
Schneider  & Bro.,  manufacturers  and 
jobbers  of  clothing,  skirts,  jackets,  etc., 
was  born  in  Drohobicz,  Austria,  March 
21,  1869.  He  is  a son  of  Mayer  and 
Schpvintze  (Grad)  Schneider,  who  still 
reside  in  the  city  of  his  birth.  Mr. 
Schneider  was  afforded  the  advantages 
of  the  excellent  schools  of  his  native 
town  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years 
he  severed  the  home  ties  to  come  to  the  United  States.  . He  passed 
two  years  in  New  York  city,  where  he  was  employed  as  salesman 
in  mercantile  establishments.  He  then  spent  one  year  as  traveling 
salesman  for  a New  York  wholesale  house,  resigning  this  position 
in  1891  and  taking  up  his  residence  in  Augusta,  wherg  he  has  since 
been  established  in  business  and  has  built  up  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant mercantile  enterprises  in  the  city,  his  department  store 
being  located  in  most  eligible  quarters,  at  1114-1116  Broad  street. 
The  firm  of  C.  H.  Schneider  & Bro.  controls  an  excellent  business 
in  the  manufacturing  and  jobbing  of  clothing,  skirts,  cloaks,  jackets, 
etc.,  giving  employment  to  four  traveling  salesmen  and  having  a 
trade  extending  throughout  Georgia  and  adjoining  states.  Mr. 
Schneider  is  a Democrat  in  his  political  allegiance  and  is  identified 
with  the  Jewish  synagogue  in  Augusta.  He  is  an  alert,  progres- 
sive business  man  and  is  held  in  unqualified  esteem  in  the  city 
in  which  he  makes  his  home.  He  is  a member  of  the  Augusta 
chamber  of  commerce  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  On  Aug.  3,  1903,  Mr. 
Schneider  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Edna  Lipfeld,  of  Au- 
gusta, where  she  was  born  and  reared.  Immediately  after  his 
marriage,  he  and  his  wife  made  an  extended  bridal  tour  in  Europe, 
visiting  his  parents  and  the  scenes  of  his  childhood,  as  well  as 
many  of  the  principal  points  of  historic  interest. 


.250 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Schneider,  John  R.,  a successful  whole- 
sale and  retail  merchant  of  Augusta, 
was  born  in  Bremerhaven,  near  the  city 
of  Bremen,  Germany,  July  14,  1841,  and 
was  reared  and  educated  in  the  city  of 
Bremen,  duly  availing  himself  of  the  ad- 
vantages of  the  excellent  schools  of  that 
famous  old  city.  At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen years  he  came  to  America,  landing 
in  Charleston  S.  C.,  in  April,  1858, 
and  thence  came  forthwith  to  Augusta, 
where  he  has  since  continued  to  reside 
and  has  risen  to  prominence  as  a suc- 
cessful business  man  and  loyal  citizen. 
His  uncle,  Ernest  R.  Schneider,  came  to  the  United  States  in  1841 
and  became  one  of  the  representative  business  men  of  Augusta, 
having  been  the  founder  of  the  large  wholesale  and  retail  liquor 
business  now  owned  and  conducted  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
with  headquarters  at  601-603  Broad  street — a location  which  has 
long  been  known  as  Schneider’s  corner, 
been  the  sole  owner  of  the  fine  prop- 
erty and  extensive  business  since  his 
uncle’s  death,  which  occurred  July  1, 

1893.  His  uncle,  who  was  a native  of 
Bremen,  remained  a bachelor  until  his 
death,  and  John  R.  became  his  heir.  Mr. 

Schneider  is  a direct  importer  of  the  fin- 
est of  wines  and  liquors  and  his  jobbing 
trade  is  one  of  the  best  of  the  sort  in 
this  section  of  the  state.  He  is  a stanch 
supporter  of  the  principles  and  policies 
of  the  Democratic  party  and  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Au- 
gusta free  schools.  His  religious  faith 
is  that  of  the  Lutheran  church,  under  whose  influences  he  was 
reared.  He  is  a man  of  sterling  character,  generous  and  fair- 
minded,  progressive  and  public-spirited,  and  ever  ready  to  lend  his 
influence  and  tangible  aid  in  the  support  of  measures  and  enter- 
prises advanced  for  the  general  good  of  his  adopted  city  and  state. 
His  business  methods  have  been  direct,  unequivocal  and  honor- 
able and  he  commands  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens. On  Jan.  10,  1865,  Mr.  Schneider  was  united  in  marriage  to 


John  R.  Schneider  has 


ERNEST  R.  SCHNEIDER. 


JOHN  R.  SCHNEIDER. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


251 


Miss  Augusta  Erdman,  who  died  in  July,  1902,  leaving  no  chil- 
dren. In  May,  1903,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Kohler,  a na- 
tive of  Hanover,  Germany,  who  presides  graciously  over  their 
attractive  home. 

School  for  the  Deaf. — The  proposition  to  establish  an  institu- 
tion for  the  care  and  education  of  the  deaf  and  dumb  first  came 
before  the  legislature  in  1833,  when  the  governor  was  directed  to 
obtain  information  on  the  subject  and  submit  the  same  to  the 
next  session  of  the  assembly.  Nothing  came  of  this  movement  and 
for  about  twelve  years  after  it  was  inaugurated  the  Georgia  deaf 
mutes  were  sent  to  Hartford,  Conn.,  to  receive  their  schooling. 
In  1844  Prof.  O.  P.  Fannin,  associate  principal  of  the  Hearn  In- 
stitute, at  Cave  Spring,  began  teaching  a few  deaf  mutes  in  con- 
nection with  that  school.  The  following  year  those  at  Hartford 
were  brought  back  to  Georgia  and  placed  in  charge  of  Professor 
Fannin.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  school  as  a state  institu- 
tion. In  1847  an  appropriation  was  made  for  the  erection  of  suit- 
able buildings.  During  the  war  the  school  was  closed  but  at  the 
first  meeting  of  the  legislature  in  1866  steps  were  taken  to  reopen 
it  and  increase  its  scope.  In  1875  an  additional  ten  acres  of  ground 
were  obtained  and  a negro  department  authorized.  Buildings  were 
erected  and  the  department  was  opened  in  1878.  The  primary  ob- 
ject of  the  institution  is  to  give  to  the  deaf  a thorough  knowledge 
of  the  common  school  branches  and  to  instruct  them  in  some  trade, 
so  that  they  can  earn  a living  in  spite  of  their  misfortunes.  In  1904 
the  school  received  state  aid  to  the  amount  of  $38,750,  of  which 
$8,500  was  for  buildings  and  $2,750  for  special  purposes. 

School  of  Technology. — The  Georgia  School  of  Technology  was 
established  as  a branch  of  the  state  university  under  the  act  of 
Oct.  13,  1885.  Five  “fit  and  discreet  persons,  citizens  of  the  state,” 
were  to  be  appointed  as  a commission  to  secure  the  grounds  and 
erect  the  necessary  buildings.  The  act  further  provided  for  the 
location  of  the  school  “within  or  near  the  corporate  limits  of  that 
city  or  town  in  the  state  which  shall  offer  the  best  inducements 
for  such  location  in  the  opinion  of  the  commission.”  Atlanta  was 
selected  and  the  first  term  of  the  school  was  opened  in  1888,  the 
first  president  being  Dr.  Isaac  S.  Hopkins,  formerly  connected  in 
a similar  capacity  with  Emory  college.  The  attendance  in  1904 
was  over  500  students.  The  president  at  that  time  was  Capt.  Ly- 
man Hall,  a graduate  of  West  Point,  who  remained  in  charge  of 
the  institution  until  his  death,  and  who  did  much  to  give  it  the 
excellent  reputation  it  bears  in  educational  circles.  The  equip- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


ment  of  the  school  includes  wood-working,  machine  and  black- 
smith shops  and  a foundry.  The  buildings  are  of  the  most  mod- 
ern designs  and  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Science  is  conferred 
in  mechanical,  electrical,  civil  and  textile  engineering  and  in  en- 
gineering chemistry. 

Schroder,  Earnest  A.  M.,  a member  of 
the  board  of  aldermen  of  Savannah,  where 
he  is  now  engaged  in  the  real-estate  busi- 
ness, has  here  maintained  his  home  from 
his  youth  and  he  has  long  been  identified 
with  business  enterprises  in  the  city, 
where  he  now  has  diversified  capitalistic 
interests.  He  was  born  in  the  province  of 
Hanover,  Germany,  Feb.  28,  1854,  and  in 
that  province  his  parents,  John  H.  and 
Gesche  Adaline  (Wreden)  Schroder, 
passed  their  entire  lives.  Mr.  Schroder 
secured  his  early  educational  training  in 
the  excellent  schools  of  his  native  land,  where  he  remained  until 
he  had  attained  to  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  when  he  set  forth  to 
seek  his  fortunes  in  America.  He  made  Savannah  his  destination, 
and  here  entered  the  employ  of  his  older  brother,  who  had  located 
here  a number  of  years  before,  and  who  was  then  engaged  in  the 
retail  grocery  business.  He  was  employed  by  his  brother  for  a 
period  of  four  years,  then  engaged  in  the  fancy-grocery  business 
on  his  own  account,  building  up  a large  and  profitable  enterprise 
and  continuing  to  be  identified  with  the  same  until  1890,  when  he 
practically  retired  from  active  business,  though  he  has  since  given 
no  little  attention  to  dealing  in  real  estate,  in  which  connection 
he  has  been  very  successful.  He  is  a director  of  the  National  bank 
of  Savannah,  the  Oglethorpe  Savings  and  Trust  Company  and 
the  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  of  Savannah,  being  held  in 
unqualified  esteem  in  the  business  circles  of  his  adopted  city.  He 
was  elected  a member  of  the  board  of  aldermen  in  1900,  and  by 
successive  reelections  still  remains  the  incumbent  of  this  office. 
He  is  a supporter  of  the  principles  and  policies  of  the  Democratic 
party,  takes  a loyal  interest  in  public  affairs  of  a local  nature,  and 
is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  the 
Beavers.  He  is  president  of  the  German  Friendly  society,  one  of 
the  oldest  social  organizations  in  Savannah,  and  is  ex-president 
of  the  German  Social  club.  He  and  his  wife  are  prominent  mem- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


' 253 


bers  of  the  local  Lutheran  church,  in  which  he  is  deacon,  being 
also  vice-president  of  the  Lutheran  association  of  the  city.  His 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Minna  M.  Lange,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, a daughter  of  J.  Henry  Lange.  They  have  no  children. 

Schroeder,  John  H.,  is  a successful 
business  man  of  Augusta,  where  he  has 
maintained  his  residence  for  a quarter  of 
a century.  He  was  born  in  the  Province 
•of  Hanover,  Germany,  March  4,  1866, 
a son  of  Claus  and  Greta  (Desebrock) 
Schroeder,  the  former  of  whom  was  a 
well-to-do  farmer  in  his  native  Province 
of  Hanover,  where  he  died  in  1877,  and 
where  his  widow  still  resides.  John  H. 
Schroeder  was  reared  and  educated  in 
his  native  land,  where  he  remained  until 
1880,  when,  as  a youth  of  fourteen 
years,  he  immigrated  to  America,  taking  up  his  residence  in  Au- 
gusta in  that  year  and  finding  employment  in  connection  with  the 
retail  grocery  and  liquor  trade,  with  which  he  thus  continued  to  be 
identified  until  1897,  when  he  engaged  in  the  retail  liquor  business 
for  himself,  on  the  corner  of  Broad  and  Center  streets,  where  he 
has  a large  and  finely  appointed  establishment.  He  is  a Democrat 
in  his  political  adherency,  is  a member  of  St.  Matthew’s  Lutheran 
church,  and  is  identified  with  various  German  social  organizations 
in  Augusta.  Since  taking  up  his  residence  in  Augusta  he  has  made 
three  visits  to  his  old  home  in  Germany.  On  Nov.  15,  1905,  Mr. 
Schroeder  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Wilhelmina  Jessen,  of 
Summerville,  S.  C. 

Schumpert,  John  E.,  cashier  of  the  Citizens’  bank,  of  Vidalia, 
Toombs  county,  was  born  in  Newberry  county,  S.  C.,  June  13, 
1859.  He  is  a son  of  Elisha  K.  Schumpert,  likewise  a native  of 
Newberry  county,  where  he  was  born  in  the  year  1829.  The  father 
was  a planter  by  vocation  and  was  a loyal  soldier  of  the  Confed- 
eracy during  the  entire  course  of  the  Civil  war  and  was  brought 
home  ill  after  the  surrender  of  General  Lee.  John  E.  Schumpert, 
the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  afforded  the  advantages 
of  Newberry  college,  in  his  native  county.  He  attended  this  excel- 
lent institution,  in  the  preparatory  and  collegiate  departments,  for 
five  years,  completing  the  work  of  the  junior  year  and  was  then 
compelled  to  withdraw  from  school  to  assume  the  responsibilities 
entailed  on  account  of  the  death  of  his  father.  He  remained  on  the 


254 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


homestead  plantation  one  year  and  then,  in  1880,  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business,  operating  a saw  mill  for  four  years  in  his  home 
county.  For  the  ensuing  four  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  general 
merchandise  business  at  Prosperity,  that  county.  He  devoted  the 
following-  year  to  the  work  of  weighing  cotton  and  then  accepted 
a position  as  general  manager  of  the  business  of  the  firm  of  Ram- 
sey & Bland,  dealers  in  furniture,  funeral  supplies  and  vehicles. 
Four  years  later  he  severed  his  connection  with  this  firm  and  re- 
entered the  lumber  business,  with  which  line  of  enterprise  he  con- 
tinued to  be  actively  identified  for  seven  years,  six  of  which  were 
passed  at  Vidalia.  He  then  sold  his  interest  in  this  business  and, 
in  1901,  was  elected  to  his  present  office,  that  of  cashier  of  the 
Citizens’  bank,  of  Vidalia.  He  has  proven  a most  excellent  admin- 
istrative and  executive  officer,  has  handled  the  detailed  affairs  of 
the  bank  with  marked  discrimination  and  has  been  a potent  factor 
in  the  upbuilding  of  its  very  substantial  business.  He  has  a wide 
circle  of  friends  in  the  business  and  social  circles  of  Toombs  county 
and  is  one  of  the  representative  business  men  of  Vidalia.  In  pol- 
itics Mr.  Schumpert  is  found  aligned  as  an  uncompromising  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  for  which  the  Democratic  party  stands 
sponsor.  Fie  is  affiliated  with  Vidalia  Lodge,  No.  355,  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons,  in  which  he  has  held  the  office  of  junior  warden 
several  years,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  South.  In  December,  1882,  Mr.  Schu-mpert 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Kate  S.  Bland,  daughter  of  John- 
son A.  and  Sallie  (Watson)  Bland,  of  Johnston,  S.  C.,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  five  children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  namely: 
Ruby  Selma,  Helen  May,  Alice  Mobley,  John  E.,  Jr.,  and  Marion. 
Ruby  Selma  is  now  the  wife  of  Herman  C.  White,  of  Macon,  Ga. 
Mrs.  Schumpert  was  summoned  into  eternal  rest  in  June,  1903, 
and  in  August,  1904,  Mr.  Schumpert  wedded  Mrs.  Annie  L.  Dick- 
inson. 

Schwarz,  John,  the  present  able  and  honored  sheriff  of  Chatham 
county  and  ex-mayor  of  the  city  of  Savannah,  has  long  been  identi- 
fied with  the  business  and  civic  interests  of  that  historic  old  city 
and  from  the  same  went  forth  to  serve  his  adopted  country  as  a 
soldier  of  the  Confederacy  in  the  Civil  war,  now  being  a retired 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  National  Guard  of  Georgia.  He  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Zweibrucken,  Rhenish  Bavaria,  Germany,  Sept. 
23,  1840,  a son  of  John  and  Margaret  (Braun)  Schwarz,  both  of 
whom  were  likewise  native  of  that  province,  where  the  father 
was  engaged  in  the  general  merchandise  business  until  1855,  when 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


255 


he  came  with  his  family  to  America.  They  first  located  in  the  city 
of  New  York,  where  the  father  was  identified  with  the  same  line 
of  enterprise  until  1885,  when  he  retired  from  active  business  and 

came  to  Savannah,  Ga.,  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  his  wife  having 
died  in  New  York  city.  They  became  the 
parents  of  four  sons  and  one  daughter : 
Charles,  was  a successful  merchant  in  Sa- 
vannah and  is  now  deceased ; Emil  A.  is 
engaged  in  the  furniture  business  in  that 
city;  Nicholas,  now  deceased,  was  a 
manufacturer  of  jewelry  boxes  in  New 
York  city;  Lena  is  the  wife  of  August 
Scheonaur,  of  New  York  city;  and  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  fourth  in 
order  of  birth.  Major  Schwarz  re- 
ceived his  educational  training  in  the  excellent  schools  of  his  native 
land,  where  he  also  served  a thorough  apprenticeship  at  the 
baker’s  trade.  He  was  sixteen  years  old  at  the  time  his  par- 
ents immigrated  to  the  United  States.  Upon  arriving  in  New  York 
he  was  for  a time  employed  at  his  trade  and  finally  shipped  as 
cook  on  a line  of  vessels  plying  between  New  York  and  Savan- 
nah. He  followed  this  line  of  work  about  six  months,  then  located 
in  Savannah,  where  he  followed  his  trade  as  a journeyman  until 
January,  1860,  when  he  opened  a modest  bakery  of  his  own  and 
conducted  it  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  when  he  put  aside 
all  personal  ambitions  to  go  out  in  defense  of  the  cause  of  the 
Confederacy.  In  1859  he  had  become  a member  of  the  German 
Volunteers,  a local  military  organization,  and  on  Jan.  24,  1861, 
this  company  became  a part  of  the  First  Georgia  infantry,  taking 
quarters  in  Fort  Pulaski  and  serving  through  the  remainder  of  the 
year  on  general  duty  along  the  coast.  Major  Schwarz  then  with- 
drew from  this  regiment  and  became  a member  of  Captain  Phil- 
lips’ company  in  the  Thirty-second  Georgia  infantry.  Early  in 
1863  he  was  detailed  to  take  charge  of  the  Confederate  bakery 
in  Savannah  under  command  of  Major  Robertson.  Here  he  re- 
mained until  Sherman’s  army  entered  the  city,  when  he  was  cap- 
tured and  held  as  a prisoner  until  Jan.  8,  1865,  when  he  was  re- 
leased on  parole,  the  war  closing  before  his  exchange  could  be 
effected.  After  the  reorganization  of  the  state  militia  the  German 
Volunteers  again  effected  an  organization,  as  a part  of  the  National 
Guard  of  Georgia,  he  became  second  lieutenant  and  thereafter  was 


25  6 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


successively  promoted  first  lieutenant,  captain  and  major  in  the 
First  Georgia  infantry,  serving  thirteen  years  as  major,  being  then 
placed  on  the  retired  list,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel.  He 
served  four  years  on  the  staff  of  Governor  Atkinson,  and  for  an 
equal  period  on  the  staff  of  Governor  Candler,  being  well  known 
in  the  military  circles  of  the  state  and  enjoying  marked  popularity 
therein,  as  does  he  also  in  the  other  relations  of  life.  After  the 
war  Major  Schwarz  again  established  himself  in  the  bakery  busi- 
ness in  Savannah,  beginning  operations  on  a small  scale  and  bring- 
ing to  bear  that  technical  knowledge,  concentration  of  purpose  and 
indefatigable  energy  which  enabled  him  to  build  up  the  most  ex- 
tensive enterprise  of  the  sort  in  the  city,  his  finely  equipped  plant 
being  maintained  at  the  highest  modern  standard  and  the  trade 
controlled  being  large  and  representative.  Fie  continued  to  re- 
main actively  identified  with  the  business  until  1900,  when  he 
turned  it  over  to  his  elder  son,  Frederick,  who  now  has  charge. 
In  politics  Major  Schwarz  gives  an  uncompromising  support  to 
the  Democratic  party,  in  whose  cause  he  has  rendered  efficient 
service.  In  1869  he  was  elected  a member  of  the  board  of  aider- 
men  of  Savannah,  and  his  membership  in  this  body  was  continued 
by  consecutive  reelections,  for  twenty  years,  retiring  in  1889,  when 
he  was  accorded  still  farther  distinction  by  his  appreciative  fellow 
citizens,  being  then  elected  mayor  of  the  city,  in  which  office  he 
served  one  term,  giving  a most  able  and  satisfactory  administra- 
tion, as  his  long  identification  with  the  municipal  government 
rendered  him  a specially  eligible  candidate  for  the  mayoralty.  He 
was  a member  of  important  committees  in  the  aldermanic  body 
and  his  interest  in  all  that  concerns  the  welfare  and  progress  of  his 
home  city  has  been  of  the  most  insistent  type.  In  1900  he  was 
elected  sheriff  of  Chatham  county  and  has  since  remained  in  tenure 
of  this  office,  where  he  is  again  able  to  render  to  his  city  and  county 
valuable  service.  He  is  a valued  member  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias, and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  In  1866 
Major  Schwarz  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Geil,  of  Sa- 
vannah, a daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Breckman)  Geil,  who  came 
from  Germany  to  this  city  in  1845.  Major  and  Mrs.  Schwarz  have 
four  children:  Frederick  has  charge  of  the' bakery  business,  as  al- 

ready noted ; Mary  is  the  wife  of  Howard  Scherer,  of  Savannah ; 
Theckla  is  the  wife  of  Frederick  Morgan,  of  Batesville,  Ind. ; and 
John  M.  G.  is  a successful  farmer  and  dairyman  near  Savannah. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


257 


Frederick  married  Miss  Mamie  Dietler,  of  Savannah,  and  they  have 
four  children. 

Schwarz,  Julius  C.,  one  of  the  representative  business  men  of  the 
younger  generation  in  Savannah,  is  secretary  and  general  manager 
of  the  London-Savannah  Naval  Stores  Company,  of  which  he  was 
the  organizer.  He  was  born  in  New  York  city,  Oct.  7,  1871,  a son 
of  Carl  E.  F.  and  Elizabeth  (Roesing)  Schwarz,  both  of  whom  were 
born  and  reared  in  Bremen,  Germany.  Carl  E.  F.  Schwarz  came  to 
America  in  1864  and  located  in  New  York  city,  where  he  became 
an  exporter  of  petroleum.  He  remained  a resident  of  the  national 
metropolis  until  1873,  when  he  removed  to  Wilmington,  N.  C., 
where  he  engaged  in  the  exporting  of  naval  stores.  He  bulit  up 
a prosperous  enterprise  and  continued  a resident  of  Wilmington 
until  1893,  when  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Savannah,  organized 
the  Antwerp  Naval  Stores  Company,  doing  a large  general  ex- 
porting business,  and  continued  to  be  actively  engaged  until  1903, 
when  he  retired,  returning  with  his  wife  to  his  old  home,  in  Bre- 
men, Germany,  where  they  now  reside.  After  availing  himself 
of  the  advantages  of  Cape  Fear  academy,  at  Wilmington,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review  was  sent  to  the  polytechnic  school  of  Leipsic, 
Germany,  and  graduated  in  this  celebrated  institution  as  a member 
of  the  class  of  1890.  He  then  returned  to  the  United  States  and 
became  a representative  of  the  New  York  produce  exchange  as 
supervising  inspector  of  foreign  cargoes,  covering  southern  ports. 
He  remained  thus  engaged  until  1903,  when  he  effected  the  orga- 
nization of  the  London-Savannah  Naval  Stores  Company,  which  is 
incorporated  under  the  laws  of  Georgia,  and  of  which  he  is  sec- 
retary and  general  manager.  The  company  controls  a large  and 
constantly  expanding  business,  maintaining  offices  in  Savannah 
and  London,  England.  Mr.  Schwarz  devotes  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  the  Savannah  office,  though  he  makes  yearly  trips  to  Lon- 
don, where  the  large  export  trade  of  the  company  centers.  He  is 
a member  of  the  directorate  of  the  Savannah  board  of  trade ; a 
director  of  the  Hibernia  bank;  is  identified  with  the  Savannah  Yacht 
club;  with  Landrum  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  and  in 
political  matters  maintains  an  independent  attitude.  Oct.  24,  1894, 
recorded  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Schwarz  to  Miss  Caroline  Theresa 
Dock,  daughter  of  Charles  H.  and  Dorothy  (Gade)  Dock,  of  Wil- 
mington, N.  C.,  and  they  have  two  children, — Julius  C.,  Jr.,  and 
Dorothy  Elizabeth. 

Scogin,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northern  part  of  Meriwether  county, 


17— III 


258 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


is  only  about  two  miles  from  the  Coweta  county  line.  Grantville 
is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Scophalites. — In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1778  about  five  or 
six  hundred  men  came  from  the  upper  part  of  Carolina,  crossed  the 
Savannah  river  just  below  Augusta,  where  they  captured  a number 
of  trading  boats,  after  which  they  crossed  the  state,  committing 
depredations  as  they  went,  and  joined  the  British  garrison  at  St. 
Augustine.  They  were  commanded  by  one  Colonel  Scophal,  from 
whom  they  took  their  name,  and  who  has  been  described  as  a 
“fuming  and  illiterate  partisan.”  On  their  way  through  Georgia 
they  were  joined  by  the  disaffected  tories  in  the  districts  through 
which  they  passed.  The  action  of  these  desperadoes  cemented  the 
people  of  Georgia  together  for  defense  and  made  them  more  earnest 
in  the  cause  of  independence. 

Scotchville,  a post-village  of  Camden  county,  with  a population 
of  66  in  1900,  is  about  seven  miles  northwest  of  St.  Marys  and  a 
short  distance  from  the  Florida  line.  The  nearest  railroad  station 
is  Kingsland,  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line. 

Scotland,  a town  in  Telfair  county,  is  on  the  Macon  & Bruns- 
wick division  of  the  Southern  railway,  about  five  miles  south- 
east of  McRae.  It  has  some  mercantile,  manufacturing  and  ship- 
ping interests,  a money  order  postoffice,  telegraph  and  express 
offices,  school  and  church  privileges,  and  in  1900  had  a population 
of  150. 

Scott,  a town  of  Johnson  county,  is  on  the  Dover  & Brewton 
branch  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  about  three  miles  west 
of  Adrian.  The  population  in  1900  was  70.  On  August  6,  1904, 
it  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  general  assembly. 

Scott,  Llewellyn  Davis,  is  numbered 
among  the  prominent  educators  of  Geor- 
gia, being  now  principal  of  Washington 
seminary,  of  Atlanta,  one  of  the  largest 
and  best  boarding  schools  for  girls  to 
be  found  within  the  limits  of  this  com- 
monwealth. Professor  Scott  has  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  a native  of  the  Old  Do- 
minion, where  was  cradled  so  much  of 
our  national  history.  He  was  born  in 
Bowling  Green,  Caroline  county,  Va., 
Nov.  6,  1871,  a son  of  Frank  W.  and 
Julia  I.  (Mann)  Scott,  the  former  born 
at  Ruther  Glen,  that  county,  in  1845,  and  the  latter  in  Essex  coun- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


259 


ty,  Va.,  in  1847.  Professor  Scott  was  graduated  in  Randolph- 
Macon  college,  Virginia,  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1890,  receiving 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  He  began  teaching  at  the  age 
of  nineteen  years,  as  professor  of  Latin  in  the  Marion  military 
institute,  Marion,  Ala.,  where  he  did  very  successful  work,  remain- 
ing there  for  four  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which,  in  1894,  he  came 
to  Atlanta  and  became  associate  principal  of  Washington  seminary, 
with  Mrs.  W.  T.  Chandler.  Mrs.  Chandler’s  death  occurred  in 
1904  and  since  the  demise  of  this  honored  coadjutor  he  has  been 
the  principal  of  this  thriving  and  ably  conducted  institution,  which 
now  has  a faculty  of  eighteen  persons  and  a student  enrollment 
of  more  than  two  hundred.  Professor  Scott  is  not  only  a strong 
factor  in  the  pedagogic  department  of  the  school,  but  is  also  rec- 
ognized as  a capable  administrative  and  executive  officer  and  main- 
tains the  seminary  at  a high  standard.  He  is  a member  and  direc- 
tor of  the  Atlanta  Athletic  club,  having  always  taken  a lively 
interest  in  athletic  matters ; is  also  a member  of  the  executive 
committee  of  the  United  States  National  lawn  tennis  association, 
and  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Southern  lawn  tennis  asso- 
ciation. He  gives  his  allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  St.  Mark’s  church,  Methodist 
Episcopal  South.  On  Aug.  22,  1894,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Lila  Wyatt  Lovelace,  daughter  of  John  B.  and  Mary 
(Wyatt)  Lovelace,  of  Marion,  Ala.,  and  she  was  summoned  to  the 
life  eternal  in  January,  1902,  being  survived  by  two  children, — 
Francis  Wyatt,  born  in  1898 ; and  Kendick  Lovelace,  born  in  1900. 
In  1904  Professor  Scort  married  Miss  Josephine  Lovelace,  a sister 
of  his  first  wife. 

Scottdale,  a post-hamlet  of  Dekalb  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Georgia  railroad,  about  half-way  between  Decatur  and  Stone 
Mountain. 

Screven,  a small  town  in  the  western  part  of  Wayne  county, 
is  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  railway,  ten  miles  southwest  of 
Jesup.  The  population  in  1900  was  100.  It  has  a money  order 
postoffice,  an  express  office,  a few  stores,  and  does  some  shipping. 

Screven  County,  which  was  formed  from  the  counties  of  Burke 
and  Effingham  in  1793,  was  named  for  Gen.  James  Screven.  Three 
years  after  it  was  laid  out  a part  was  set  ofif  to  Bulloch  and  in 
August,  1905,  its  size  was  further  reduced  by  the  erection  of  Ten- 
kins  county.  It  lies  in  the  eastern  tier  of  counties  and  prior  to  the 
last  division  was  bounded  on  the  east  and  northeast  by  the  Savan- 
nah river,  which  separates  it  from  the  State  of  South  Carolina, 


2G0 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


on  the  southeast  by  Effingham  county  and  on  the  southwest  by  the 
Ogeechee  river,  which  separated  it  from  the  counties  of  Bulloch 
and  Emanuel.  The  climate  is  mild  and  the  land  is  level  and  well 
watered.  Agriculture  is  the  leading  occupation,  the  principal 
products  being  cotton,  corn,  wheat,  oats,  potatoes,  field  and  ground 
peas,  rice,  sorghum  and  sugar-cane.  Fruits  are  easily  raised  and 
large  quantities  of  apples,  peaches  and  melons  are  shipped  to  Sa- 
vannah. Next  to  agriculture  lumbering  and  the  production  of 
naval  stores  give  employment  to  the  people.  Much  of  the  origi- 
nal forest  remains.  The  timber  consists  of  oak,  cypress,  ash,  maple, 
poplar  and  the  long  leaf  pine.  Few  minerals  are  found,  the  most 
important  being  buhrstone  and  a fine  quality  of  clay,  the  latter 
being  developed  to  some  extent.  The  main  line  of  the  Central  of 
Georgia  railway  runs  through  the  southern  part,  along  the  banks 
of  the  Ogeechee  river,  and  there  is  a short  railroad  called  the  Syl- 
vania  Central,  which  connects  with  the  Central  at  Rockyford. 
These  lines  with  the  Savannah  river  steamers  afford  good  transpor- 
tation facilities.  The  battle  of  Brier  Creek  was  fought  in  this 
county.  In  1900  the  population  was  19,252,  a gain  of  4,828  over  the 
preceding  census. 

Screven,  James,  a hero  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  was  a native 
of  South  Carolina,  but  settled  near  Medway  church  a few  years 
before  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution.  In  the  battle  at  Medway 
church  on  Nov.  24,  1778,  he  received  a mortal  wound.  Col.  Samuel 
Elbert,  commander  of  the  Americans,  sent  a flag  of  truce  to  the 
enemy  and  asked  permission  to  send  physicians  to  care  for  General 
Screven.  This  request  was  granted  and  Doctors  Braidie  and  Alex- 
ander entered  the  British  lines.  They  soon  saw,  however,  that  the 
brave  man  had  but  a few  hours  to  live  and  could  do  nothing  more 
than  to  relieve  his  suffering  as  much  as  possible  during  the  brief 
period  he  had  to  live.  His  death  occurred  the  following  day. 
Screven  county  bears  his  name,  and  several  of  his  family  have  been 
intimately  and  prominently  identified  with  Georgia’s  progress. 

Screven,  John,  was  born  in  Savannah,  Ga.,  Sept.  18,  1827.  His 
father,  Dr.  James  P.  Screven,  mayor,  state  senator  and  railroad 
president,  was  of  English  descent,  his  ancestor,  Rev.  William 
Screven  having  come  over  first  to  Maine  and  then  to  South  Caro- 
lina, where  he  founded  the  first  Baptist  church  in  the  colony. 
Another  of  Doctor  Screven’s  ancestors  was  Thomas  Smith,  colo- 
nial governor  of  South  Carolina.  John  Screven’s  mother  was  Han- 
nah Georgia  Bryan,  a descendant  of  Jonathan  Bryan,  associate 
justice  and  councilman,  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  colony  of 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


261 


Georgia.  John  Screven  attended  Franklin  college  (of  the  univer- 
sity of  Georgia)  but  did  not  continue  until  graduation,  studied 
law  under  Judge  William  Law,  went  abroad  in  1848,  spent  some 
time  in  Heidelberg,  returned  home  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  Savannah  in  1849.  He  soon  left  his  profession  to  manage  the 
estate  of  his  father.  In  1852  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  inferior 
court  and  held  this  position  until  1866.  He  was  elected  president 
of  the  Atlantic  & Gulf  railroad  in  1859,  but  being  a captain  in  the 
Savannah  volunteer  guards,  he  obtained  leave  of  absence  from  his 
railroad  duties  to  serve  in  the  Confederate  army.  He  was  com- 
missioned major  of  artillery  in  1861  and  placed  in  command  of  the 
Eighteenth  Georgia  battery,  but  the  next  year  was  ordered  back 
to  railroad  dudes.  In  1864  he  was  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel 
and  assigned  to  the  defense  of  the  inner  lines  of  Savannah.  In 
1865  upon  the  close  of  hostilities  he  began  the  rehabilitation  of  his 
road,  from  the  presidency  of  which  he  retired  when  it  became  a 
part  of  the  Savannah,  Florida  & Western  system.  In  1859  Colonel 
Screven  was  elected  representative  in  the  state  legislature  and  in 
1869  mayor  of  Savannah,  to  which  latter  office  he  was  twice  after- 
ward elected.  Fie  was  a member  of  the  Constitutional  convention 
of  1877 ; in  1880  was  associate  arbitrator  of  the  Southern  railroad 
and  steamship  association,  and  in  1889  was  elected  a trustee  of  the 
University  of  Georgia.  He  has  also  held  the  honorable  positions 
of  president  of  the  Savannah  university  club,  trustee  of  the  Chat- 
ham academy,  Fellow  of  the  New  York  geographical  society,  and 
president  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  in  Georgia.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1849  to  Mrs.  Mary  Footman,  who  died  in  1863,  and  in  1865 
he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Mary  Eleanor  Brown,  daughter  of  Dr. 
H.  O’K.  Nesbitt  and  niece  of  United  States  Senator  Berrien,  who 
died  in  1883.  Colonel  Screven  died  in  Savannah  about  eighteen 
years  later. 

Seabrook,  a post-village  of  Liberty  county,  is  between  the  Med- 
way and  North  Newport  rivers,  and  is  six  miles  southeast  of  Ar- 
cadia, which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station.  The  population  in  1900 
was  111. 

Seal  of  State. — Since  the  first  settlement  of  Georgia  various  de- 
signs have  been  used  on  the  official  seal,  to  correspond  to  the  form 
of  government  under  which  the  affairs  of  the  colony  or  state  have 
been  administered. 

1 — The  Seal  of  the  Trustees.  Soon  after  the  original  charter 
was  granted  in  1732  the  trustees,  in  accordance  with  its  provisions, 
ordered  a seal  to  be  made.  The  device  was  that  of  two  figures 


262 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


resting  upon  urns,  representing  the  Savannah  and  Altamaha  rivers, 
which  formed  the  northeastern  and  southwestern  boundaries  of  the 
colony,  and  between  those  figures  was  seated  the  genius  of  the 
province  with  a cap  of  liberty  on  her  head,  a spear  in  one  hand  and 
a cornucopia  in  the  other,  with  the  inscription  “Colonia  Georgia 
Aug.”  On  the  other  side  of  the  seal  were  some  silk  worms — some 
beginning  and  others  having  finished  their  webs — with  the  motto 
“Non  sibi  sed  aliis.” 

2 —  The  Seal  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  Trade  and  Planta- 

tions. The  last  meeting  of  the  trustees  was  held  on  June  23,  1752. 
At  that  time  the  charter  was  surrendered,  the  old  seal  destroyed,  and 
the  inhabitants  of  the  colony  commended  to  His  Majesty’s  protec- 
tion. The  affairs  of  the  colony  were  turned  over  to  the  Lords 
Commissioners  of  Trade  and  Plantations,  who  adopted  a new  seal. 
It  was  made  of  silver,  bearing  on  one  side  a figure  representing  the 
genius  of  the  province  offering  some  skeins  of  silk  to  the  king, 
with  the  motto : “Hinc  laudem  sperate  Coloni,”  and  around  the 

margin  were  the  words : “Sigillum  Provincise  nostrae  Georgise  in 

America.”  The  obverse  bore  His  Majesty’s  arms,  crown,  garter, 
supporters,  and  motto,  with  the  inscription : “Georgius  II.  Dei 

Gratia  Magnse  Brittanniae  Fr.  et  Hib,  Rex.  Fidei  Defensor  Bruns- 
vici  et  Luneburgi  Dux.  Sacri  Romani  Imperii  Archi  Thesaurarius 
et  Princeps  Elector.” 

3 —  First  Seal  of  State.  The  Savannah  convention,  which  as- 

sembled on  Feb.  5,  1777,  discarded  the  old  seal  of  the  royal  govern- 
ment and  adopted  a new  one  bearing  on  one  side  a scroll,  upon 
which  was  the  legend:  “The  Constitution  of  the  State  of  Georgia,” 
and  the  motto  “Pro  Bono  Publico.”  On  the  other  side  was  repre- 
sented several  buildings,  fields  of  corn,  meadows  with  herds  of 
sheep  and  cattle,  a river  running  through  the  landscape,  with  a 
ship  under  full  sail,  and  the  motto : “Deus  nobis  haec  otia  fecit.” 

This  remained  the  seal  of  state  until  after  the  independence  of  the 
United  States  was  fully  established  and  a majority  of  the  states 
had  ratified  the  Federal  constitution. 

4 —  The  Present  Seal.  The  legislature  that  met  in  June,  1799, 

decided  upon  a new  design  for  a seal,  to  wit : On  one  side  a ship 

receiving  a cargo  of  cotton  and  tobacco  and  flying  the  flag  of  the 
United  States  at  her  masthead ; in  the  background  a man  plowing, 
herd  of  sheep,  and  around  the  margin  the  words : “Agriculture 

and  Commerce,  1799.”  On  the  other  an  arch,  representing  the  con- 
stitution, rested  upon  three  pillars,  about  which  was  entwined  a 
scroll  bearing  the  words,  “Wisdom,  Justice  and  Moderation,”  while 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


263 


below  the  design  was  the  date  1776.  With  some  slight  modifica- 
tions this  has  continued  as  the  Great  Seal  of  State  until  the  pres- 
ent time.  Under  an  act  of  the  legislature,  approved  Dec.  14,  1861, 
commissioners  were  appointed  to  alter  the  seal  in  accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  the  Confederate  constitution,  but  no  record 
of  their  acts  has  been  obtained.  There  is  a story  to  the  effect  that 
when  Governor  Jenkins  was  deposed  from  office  by  the  order  of 
General  Meade,  in  1868,  he  carried  the  great  seal  away  with  him, 
but  when  Gov.  James  M.  Smith  was  inaugurated  in  1872  the  seal 
was  returned  accompanied  by  a communication  from  Governor 
Jenkins,  the  closing  words  of  which  were  as  follows:  “I  derive 

high  satisfaction  from  the  reflection  that  it  has  never  been  dese- 
crated by  the  grasp  of  a military  usurper’s  hand,  never  been  pros- 
tituted to  authenticate  official  misdeeds  of  an  upstart  pretender. 
Unpolluted  as  it  came  to  me,  I gladly  place  it  in  the  hands  of  a 
worthy  son  of  Georgia — -her  freely  chosen  Executive — my  first 
legitimate  successor.”  This  story  is  literally  true,  except  that  the 
seal  carried  away  by  Governor  Jenkins,  when  he  was  deposed  from 
office  was  not  the  great  seal  but  the  seal  of  the  executive  office. 
The  great  seal  was  in  the  possession  of  its  lawful  custodian,  the 
secretary  of  state,  the  venerable  Col.  N.  C.  Barnett.  At  the  time 
when  Governor  Jenkins  carried  away  the  seal  of  the  executive 
office  Colonel  Barnett  carried  the  great  seal  to  his  house  and  his 
wife,  Mrs.  Barnett,  a loyal  and  patriotic  Georgia  woman,  buried  it 
under  the  floor  of  a pig  pen  where  it  remained  for  many  months, 
until  peace  was  fully  restored,  when  she  restored  it  to  the  office 
of  the  secretary  of  state.  And  thus,  in  the  language  of  Governor 
Jenkins,  the  great  seal  of  Georgia  “was  never  desecrated  by  the 
grasp  of  a military  usurper’s  hand.” 

Seals,  a post-village  of  Camden  county,  is  a station  on  the  Sea- 
board Air  Line  railway,  at  the  point  where  it  crosses  Crooked 
river. 

Secession. — In  the  early  years  of  the  Federal  government  the 
ideas  of  union  and  secession  might  be  said  to  have  been  concur- 
rent. Although  only  occasionally  alluded  to  as  a possibility,  there 
were  some  who  held  tenaciously  to  the  theory  that  if  a state  volun- 
tarily entered  into  a compact  she  had  a right  to  voluntarily  with- 
draw, while  others  just  as  tenaciously  clung-  to  the  idea  that  no 
state,  having  once  been  admitted  into  the  Union,  had  the  right  to 
withdraw  without  the  full  consent  of  the  sister  states.  The  first 
important  discussion  of  the  advisability  of  secession  as  a corrective 
for  governmental  measures  was  in  the  Hartford  convention,  which 


264 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


met  on  Dec.  15,  1814.  This  convention  was  made  up  of  delegates 
from  the  New  England  States,  the  call  for  it  having  emanated 
from  the  legislature  of  Massachusetts,  and  grew  out  of  the  declar- 
ation of  war  against  England  in  1812.  As  the  war  injured  the  com- 
merce of  the  New  England  States  there  was  a violent  opposition 
from  that  quarter  to  the  action  of  Congress  in  declaring  war, 
and,  although  the  sessions  of  the  convention  were  held  behind 
closed  doors,  it  is  known  that  secession  was  seriously  considered 
as  a remedy. 

Phillips,  in  his  work  on  “Georgia  and  State  Rights,”  says:  “Se- 
cession as  a remedy  for  the  ills  of  the  South  was  first  mooted  in 
Georgia  about  the  year  1849.  The  compromise  of  1850  tended  to 
check  the  discussion,  but  the  theoretical  privilege  of  secession  was 
one  of  the  contentions  of  the  local  Southern  Rights  party  in  1851. 
Early  in  1854  Gen.  James  N.  Bethune  established  the  ‘Corner  Stone’ 
at  Columbus,  Ga.,  which  for  some  length  of  time  had  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  only  newspaper  in  the  South  which  advised 
the  immediate  dissolution  of  the  Union.  From  the  beginning  of 
the  Kansas  struggle,  secession  as  a last  resort  for  the  protection  of 
Southern  rights  was  never  completely  out  of  the  contemplation 
of  Southern  statesmen.  Eliram  Warner,  in  accepting  a Democratic 
nomination  to  Congress  in  1855,  expressed  his  approbation  of  with- 
drawal from  the  Union  should  it  become  necessary  in  defending 
the  rights  of  the  State  of  Georgia.  Herschel  V.  Johnson,  while 
governor  of  Georgia,  wrote  in  1856  that  the  election  of  Fremont 
as  President  would  drive  the  Southern  States  to  dissolve  the  Union, 
while  Plowed  Cobb,  in  discussing  the  same  contingency,  declared 
that  he  would  hasten  home,  in  the  event,  to  take  the  stump  for  im- 
mediate secession.” 

Besides  these  examples  mentioned  by  Phillips  there  were  a 
number  of  statesmen  who  advocated  similar  views.  Opinion  on  the 
subject  was  divided,  but  the  division  was  not  marked  by  sectional 
lines.  All  over  the  South  could  be  found  honest  and  sincere  men 
who  opposed  secession,  some  of  whom,  while  not  questioning  the 
right,  deemed  it  inexpedient,  while  in  every  Northern  state  were 
men,  equally  honest  and  sincere,  who  maintained  that  the  South 
had  not  only  the  right  to  secede  but  that  it  was  her  duty  to  do  so, 
and  that  the  Federal  government  had  no  constitutional  power  to 
coerce  a state  into  remaining  in  the  Union  against  the  dictates  of 
the  people’s  judgment.  Abraham  Lincoln,  who  was  elected  to  the 
presidency  in  1860,  through  a division  in  the  Democratic  party, 
said  in  a speech  in  the  national  house  of  representatives,  on  Jan. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


265 


12,  1848 : “Any  people  any  where,  being  inclined  and  having  the 
power,  have  the  right  to  rise  up  and  shake  off  the  existing  govern- 
ment, and  form  a new  one  that  suits  them  better.  This  is  a most 
valuable,  a sacred  right — a right  which,  we  hope  and  believe,  is  to 
liberate  the  world.  Nor  is  this  right  confined  to  cases  in  which 
the  whole  people  of  an  existing  government  may  choose  to  exer- 
cise it.  Any  portion  of  such  people  that  can,  may  revolutionize, 
and  make  their  own  of  so  much  territory  as  they  inhabit.  More 
than  this,  a majority  of  any  portion  of  such  people  may  revolution- 
ize, putting  down  a minority,  intermingled  with,  or  near  about 
them,  who  may  oppose  their  movements.” 

On  Nov.  9,  1860,  two  days  after  Mr.  Lincoln  was  elected  to  the 
presidency  of  the  United  States,  Horace  Greeley,  one  of  the  most 
uncompromising  advocates  of  the  abolition  of  negro  slavery,  used 
the  following  language  in  an  editorial  in  the  New  York  Tribune: 
“The  telegraph  informs  us  that  most  of  the  Cotton  States  are 
meditating  a withdrawal  from  the  Union,  because  of  Lincoln’s 
election.  * * * * We  hold,  with  Jefferson,  to  the  unalienable 

right  of  communities  to  alter  or  abolish  forms  of  government  that 
have  become  oppressive  or  injurious;  and,  if  the  Cotton  States 
shall  decide  that  they  can  do  better  out  of  the  Union  than  in  it, 
we  insist  on  letting  them  go  in  peace.  The  right  to  secede  may  be 
a revolutionary  one,  but  it  exists  nevertheless ; and  we  do  not  see 
how  one  party  can  have  a right  to  do  what  another  party  has  a 
right  to  prevent.  We  must  ever  resist  the  asserted  right  of  any 
State  to  remain  in  the  Union,  and  nullify  or  defy  the  laws  thereof; 
to  withdraw  from  the  Union  is  quite  another  matter.  And,  when- 
ever a considerable  section  of  our  Union  shall  deliberately  resolve 
to  go  out,  we  shall  resist  all  coercive  measures  designed  to  keep  it 
in.  W e hope  never  to  live  in  a Republic,  whereof  one  section  is 
pinned  to  the  residue  by  bayonets.” 

Of  the  Georgia  statesmen  who  opposed  secession  the  leader  was 
unquestionably  Alexander  H.  Stephens.  His  speech  before  the 
Georgia  legislature  on  Nov.  14,  1860,  was,  all  things  considered, 
the  greatest  of  his  life.  Small  of  stature  but  a giant  in  intellect 
and  force  of  character,  he  stood  firmly  against  disunion,  and  urged 
the  people  to  be  guided  by  the  motto  of  the  state — “Wisdom,  Jus- 
tice, and  Moderation.”  Shoulder  to  shoulder  with  Mr.  Stephens 
stood  Herschel  V.  Johnson  and  Ben.  H.  Hill,  both  men  of  un- 
doubted loyalty  to  their  state,  but  who  saw  in  secession  a drastic 
remedy  for  the  existing  evils.  One  of  the  prominent  leaders  of  the 
secessionists  was  Robert  Toombs  who  at  that  time  occupied  a seat 


266 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


in  the  United  States  senate.  Among  others-  equally  prominent 
were  Gov.  J.  E.  Brown,  Senator  Iverson,  Howell  Cobb,  Thomas 
R.  R.  Cobb  and  Alfred  H.  Colquitt.  It  was  largely  through  the 
influence  of  Toombs  that  the  Crittenden  resolutions  were  offered 
as  a solution  to  the  problem.  These  resolutions  proposed  amend- 
ments to  the  Federal  constitution  reestablishing  the  old  dividing 
line  of  36°  30' ; depriving  Congress  of  the  power  to  interfere  with 
slavery  south  of  that  line,  or  to  abolish  slavery  in  the  territory 
under  exclusive  Congressional  supervision ; prohibiting  the  free 
transportation  of  slaves  from  one  state  to  another  in  which  slavery 
was  permitted ; and  providing  for  the  enforcement  of  the  fugitive 
slave  law.  Mr.  Toombs  was  a member  of  the  committee  of  thir- 
teen, to  which  the  resolutions  were  referred,  and  voted  against  the 
proposed  amendments,  though  he  declared  himself  ready  to  sup- 
port them  if  the  Republicans  would  do  so  in  good  faith.  Upon  the 
defeat  of  the  resolutions  as  a compromise  measure  Toombs  sent 
an  address  to  the  people  of  Georgia  counseling  secession  before  the 
inauguration  of  Lincoln  as  president.  The  address  gave  an  ir- 
resistible impetus  to  the  cause  of  secession  and  the  movement 
sped  onward  to  its  consummation.  On  the  afternoon  of  Dec.  20, 
1860,  the  telegraph  flashed  the  tidings  to  all  the  towns  and  cities 
of  Georgia  that  South  Carolina  had  passed  an  ordinance  of  seces- 
sion and  declared  her  sovereign  independence.  This  added  to  the 
determined  spirit  of  Georgia  and  when,  eight  days  later,  the  Fed- 
eral war  department  ordered  the  garrison  at  Fort  Moultrie  to  de- 
stroy that  fortification  and  to  occupy  Fort  Sumter,  no  course  other 
than  secession  appeared  to  remain. 

In  his  message  to  the  legislature,  which  assembled  a few  days 
after  the  presidential  election  in  1860,  Gov.  Joseph'  E.  Brown  ad- 
vised a convention  of  the  people,  and  recommended  an  appropria- 
tion of  $1,000,000  for  a military  fund,  to  be  used  in  putting  Georgia 
in  a state  of  defense.  Both  suggestions  were  acted  upon  favorably 
by  the  assembly  and  the  convention  was  called  to  meet  at  Milledge- 
ville  on  Jan.  16,  1861.  Before  that  date  Governor  Brown  ordered 
Col.  A.  R.  Lawton,  commanding  the  First  Georgia  regiment,  to 
seize  and  occupy  Fort  Pulaski,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Savannah 
river,  as  a measure  of  self  defense.  At  the  time  he  issued  this  order 
Georgia  was  still  in  the  Union  and  it  was  regarded  as  an  act  of  war 
against  the  government  of  the  United  States.  Delegates  to  the 
convention  were  elected  on  the  first  Monday  in  January.  Out  of 
a total  of  87,336  votes  the  majority  in  favor  of  immediate  disunion 
was  13,120,  the  anti-secessionists  carrying  many  of  the  counties. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


267 


Cobb  and  Chatham  counties  were  almost  unanimous  in  favor  of 
secession,  while  in  the  counties  of  Tatnall  and  Taliaferro  the  sen- 
timent was  so  much  the  other  way  that  no  secession  candidate  was 
presented.  These  incidents  go  to  show  how  much  the  people  were 
divided  on  the  issue. 

George  W.  Crawford,  an  ex-Governor  of  Georgia,  and  secretary 
of  war  under  President  Taylor’s  administration,  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  convention,  and  Albert  R.  Lamar,  a well  known  journal- 
ist, was  chosen  secretary.  Soon  after  the  organization  the  conven- 
tion was  addressed  by  James  L.  Orr  and  John  G.  Shorter,  commis- 
sioners from  South  Carolina  and  Alabama  respectively,  explaining 
the  attitude  of  those  states  and  urging  Georgia  to  cooperate.  On 
the  18th  Eugenius  A.  Nisbet  offered  two  resolutions,  the  first 
declaring  the  state  had  a right  to  secede,  and  the  second  asking 
the  appointment  of  seventeen  to  report  an  ordinance  to  that  effect. 
The  next  day  the  committee  reported  the  following: 

“An  Ordinance  to  dissolve  the  Union  between  the  State  of  Geor- 
gia and  other  States  united  with  her  under  a Compact  of  Govern- 
ment, entitled  ‘the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  of  America.’ 

“We,  the  people  of  the  State  of  Georgia,  in  Convention  as- 
sembled, do  declare  and  ordain,  and  it  is  hereby  declared  and  or- 
dained : 

“That  the  Ordinance  adopted  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  Geor- 
gia, in  Convention,  on  the  second  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord,  seventeen  hundred  and  eighty-eight,  whereby  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States  of  America  was  assented  to,  ratified  and 
adopted ; and  also  all  acts  and  parts  of  acts  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  this  State  ratifying  and  adopting  amendments  of  the  said 
Constitution,  are  hereby  repealed,  rescinded  and  abrogated. 

“We  do  further  declare  and  ordain,  That  the  Union  now  sub- 
sisting between  the  State  of  Georgia  and  other  States,  under  the 
name  of  the  United  States  of  America,’  is  hereby  dissolved,  and 
that  the  State  of  Georgia  is  in  the  full  possession  and  exercise  of 
all  those  rights  of  Sovereignty  which  belong  and  appertain  to  a 
free  and  independent  State.” 

The  opponents  of  secession  had  ready  a substitute  for  the  or- 
dinance and  as  soon  as  the  report  of  the  committee  was  read  the 
substitute  was  offered  by  Benjamin  H.  Hill.  It  had  been  prepared 
by  Herschel  V.  Johnson  and  had  been  offered  the  day  before,  when 
Judge  Nisbet  introduced  his  resolutions,  but  had  been  cut  off  from 
consideration  by  the  operation  of  the  previous  question.  It  declared 
that  Georgia  was  attached  to  the  Union  and  desired  to  preserve  it 


268 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


if  it  could  be  done  with  due  regard  for  her  rights  and  safety; 
invited  the  slave  states  to  send  delegates  to  a convention  to  be 
held  at  Atlanta  on  February  16th;  pledged  the  state  to  make  com- 
mon cause  with  those  which  had  already  seceded  in  case  any  at- 
tempt should  be  made  to  coerce  any  one  of  them ; provided  for  the 
appointment  of  commissioners  to  each  of  the  slaveholding  states 
that  had  not  yet  passed  ordinances  of  secession,  to  urge  their  con- 
formity to  the  policy  indicated,  and  also  a commissioner  to  the 
convention  called  at  Montgomery  for  February  4th;  and  then 
pledged  the  state  to  secede  if  nothing  could  be  accomplished  toward 
a reconciliation  between  the  free  and  slave  states.  The  debate 
that  followed  was  a battle  of  Titans.  On  the  side  of  immediate 
secession  were  Judge  Nisbet,  Robert  Toombs,  T.  R.  R.  Cobb, 
Augustus  Reese  and  Francis  Bartow,  and  among  the  opponents 
were  Ben.  H.  Hill,  Herschel  V.  Johnson,  Alexander  H.  Stephens 
and  his  brother  Linton,  who  was  one  of  the  justices  of  the  supreme 
court.  The  substitute  was  defeated  by  a vote  of  164  to  133,  after 
which  the  ordinance  as  reported  by  the  committee  was  adopted 
by  a vote  of  208  to  89,  many  of  the  anti-secessionists  voting  for  it 
to  give  all  the  moral  force  possible  to  the  act  of  the  convention. 
Among  those  who  changed  was  Mr.  Hill.  The  ordinance  was 
finally  signed  by  all  the  delegates  except  seven,  and  these  de- 
clared their  intention  to  “yield  to  the  will  of  the  majority  of  the 
state  as  expressed  by  their  representatives,  and  to  pledge  their 
lives,  their  fortunes,  and  their  sacred  honor  to  the  defence  of 
Georgia.” 

The  news  of  the  passage  of  the  ordinance  was  everywhere 
hailed  with  delight.  Although  the  contest  had  been  a stubborn  one 
it  was  a fair  fight,  and  the  people  stood  unanimously  by  the  action 
of  their  representatives.  As  soon  as  it  became  known  in  Wash- 
ington that  the  state  had  seceded  the  Georgia  senators  and  repre- 
sentatives in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  withdrew  from 
that  body  and  cast  in  their  lot  with  their  state.  On  the  22nd  the 
convention  adopted  resolutions  revoking  all  cessions  of  land  to  the 
Federal  government  and  claiming  all  public  buildings  erected  there- 
on. On  the  23d  ten  delegates  were  elected  to  the  Confederate 
Congress,  to  be  held  at  Montgomery,  Ala.,  on  February  4th.  They 
were  Robert  Toombs,  Francis  S.  Bartow,  Martin  J.  Crawford, 
Eugenius  A.  Nisbet,  Benjamin  H.  Hill,  Howell  Cobb,  Augustus 
R.  Wright,  Thomas  R.  R.  Cobb,  Augustus  H.  Kenan  and  Alexan- 
der H.  Stephens.  When  the  convention  adjourned  on  the  29th  it 
was  to  meet  at  Savannah  on  March  7th.  There  it  ratified  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


269 


constitution  of  the  Confederate  States,  authorized  the  governor 
to  raise  and  expend  all  the  funds  necessary  to  carry  out  the  acts 
for  the  public  defense,  passed  a resolution  to  cede  ten  miles  square 
for  a capital  of  the  Confederate  States,  transferred  the  forts  and 
arms  to  the  Confederate  government,  adopted  a new  state  con- 
stitution, and  on  the  23d  adjourned  sine  die.  The  state  constitu- 
tion was  submitted  to  a vote  of  the  people  in  July  and  was  ratified, 
thus  completing  the  secession  of  the  state. 

Georgia  soon  took  a position  in  the  vanguard  of  the  great  move- 
ment. She  was  signally  honored  in  the  election  of  Alexander  H. 
Stephens  to  the  office  of  vice-president  of  the  Confederate  States. 
Notwithstanding  his  early  opposition  he  became  an  earnest  and 
consistent  supporter  of  the  Confederacy.  His  “corner-stone” 
speech  at  Savannah,  in  April,  1861,  went  all  over  the  civilized  world 
as  the  representative  philosophy  upon  which  the  new  Federation 
of  States  was  founded.  Jefferson  Davis,  soon  after  his  inaugura- 
tion as  provisional  president,  appointed  three  persons,  in  pursuance 
of  a resolution  adopted  by  the  Confederate  Congress,  to  go  to 
Washington  and  make  an  effort  to  establish  friendly  relations  with 
the  United  States  government.  This  commission  consisted  of 
Martin  J.  Crawford,  of  Georgia;  John  Forsyth,  of  Alabama;  and 
A.  B.  Roman,  of  Louisiana.  Mr.  Crawford  was  not  only  the  nomi- 
nal head  of  the  commission,  but  was  also  its  leading  spirit.  It  ac- 
complished nothing,  however,  and  after  remaining  in  Washington 
until  April  9th  the  members  separated  and  returned  to  their  re- 
spective states,  after  addressing  a communication  to  William  H. 
Seward,  Lincoln’s  secretary  of  state,  censuring  him  for  his  re- 
fusal to  entertain  their  overtures  of  peace. 

Although  the  election  of  Lincoln  was  the  immediate  cause  of 
secession  it  is  worthy  of  note,  and  in  the  light  of  subsequent  events 
a ground  for  felicitation,  that  none  of  the  Georgia  statesmen  made 
any  attack  upon  the  character  of  the  president.  Those  who  knew 
him  personally  spoke  highly  of  his  worth,  and  some  even  expressed 
the  opinion  that  he  would  not  resort  to  force  of  arms  to  prevent 
the  formation  of  a new  government.  No  war  was  proposed  against 
him,  nor  no  threat  made  to  endeavor  to  set  aside  his  election. 
While  some  of  the  other  states  made  personal  attacks  upon  the 
newly  elected  executive,  Georgia  assailed  the  principles  rather  than 
the  man.  Her  aim  was,  as  she  expressed  it,  “simply  to  enter  into 
concert  of  action  with  the  sister  Southern  States  which  will  secure 
their  common  rights  under  the  constitution  in  the  Union,  or  if  that 
be  no  longer  possible,  their  independence  and  security  out  of  it.” 


270 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Seed,  a post-hamlet  of  Habersham  county,  is  on  a branch  of  the 
Soquee  river,  eight  miles  northwest  of  Clarkesville,  which  is  the 
nearest  railroad  station. 

Selina,  a post-village  of  Clayton  county,  is  a station  on  the  At- 
lanta & Fort  Valley  branch  of  the  Southern  railroad,  and  is  five 
miles  west  of  Jonesboro.  It  has  a few  stores  with  a local  trade, 
express  and  telegraph  offices,  and  does  considerable  shipping. 

Semmes,  Paul  J.,  was  a resident  of  Columbus  at  the  beginning 
of  the  war  and  captain  of  one  of  the  finely  drilled  military  com- 
panies of  that  city.  When  the  state  seceded  he  at  once  enlisted 
and  was  made  colonel  of  the  Second  Georgia  regiment.  The  fol- 
lowing spring  he  was  commissioned  brigadier-general,  assigned 
to  Me  Laws’  division,  and  participated  in  all  the  principal  engage- 
ments of  the  Maryland  and  Virginia  campaigns.  He  was  mortally 
wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  died  July  10,  1863. 

Semmes,  Raphael  Thomas,  president 
of  the  Semmes  Hardware  Company,  one 
of  the  representative  wholesale  concerns 
of  Savannah,  was  born  at  Canton,  Madi- 
son county,  Miss.,  July  27,  1857.  His 
father,  Dr.  Alphonso  Thomas  Semmes, 
was  born  in  Washington,  Wilkes  county, 
Ga.,  April  28,  1830,  and  his  mother,  Mary 
Sabina  (Semmes)  Semmes,  was  born  in 
Georgetown,  now  a portion  of  the  city 
of  Washington,  D.  C.,  Dec.  6,  1832.  Doc- 
tor Semmes  was  a son  of  Thomas  Sem- 
mes, Jr.  and  Harriet  Shepherd  (Bealle) 
Semmes,  the  latter  being  a native  of  Columbia  county,  Ga.,  and 
a descendant  of  early  settlers  from  Charles  county,  Md.,  whence 
her  grandparents  removed  to  Georgia.  Thomas  Semmes,  Jr.  was 
born  in  Wilkes  county,  Ga.,  Jan.  19,  1802;  was  married  Jan.  7, 
1829 ; removed  to  Mississippi  in  1852,  and  died  at  Canton,  in  May, 
1862.  He  was  a son  of  Roger  and  Jane  (Sanders)  Semmes,  of 
Charles  county,  Md.,  the  latter  having  been  a lineal  descendant  of 
one  of  the  Roman  Catholic  gentlemen  who  came  to  Maryland  with 
Lord  Baltimore  in  1634.  Roger  Semmes  was  born  in  Charles 
county,  Md.,  in  December,  1779,  and  removed  to  Wilkes  county, 
Ga.,  where  he  died  in  September,  1804.  He  was  a son  of 
Thomas  Semmes,  Sr.,  who  married  a widow,  Mrs.  Mary  Ann 
(Ratcliff)  Brawner,  their  marriage  occurring  in  February,  1779, 
in  Charles  county,  Md.  Thomas  Semmes,  Sr.  was  born  in  1754, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


271 


in  Charles  county.  In  1800  he  removed  to  Wilkes  county,  Ga., 
where  he  died  June  14,  1824.  He  was  a lieutenant  in  the  Maryland 
line  of  troops  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  (See  Maryland  Ar- 
chives). He  was  a son  of  James  and  Mary  (Simpson)  Semmes, 
the  latter  a daughter  of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  (Green)  Simpson. 
Elizabeth  (Green)  Simpson  was  a granddaughter  of  Thomas  Green, 
the  first  proprietary  governor  of  the  province  of  Maryland.  James 
Semmes  II  was  a son  of  James  and  Mary  (Goodrick)  Semmes, 
of  Charles  county.  James  Semmes  I was  a son  of  Marmaduke 
Semmes,  of  St.  Alary's  county,  Aid.,  and  his  mother,  Fortune 
Semmes  was  the  widow  of  Bulmer  Aledford,  who  immigrated  to 
Alaryland  in  1664.  Her  first  husband  died  in  1666  and  in  July, 
1668,  she  married  Marmaduke  Semmes,  who  had  been,  in  1662, 
sworn  in  as  doorkeeper  of  the  upper  house  of  the  province  of 
Alaryland.  (See  Alaryland  Archives).  Alary  Sabina  Semmes,  ‘ 
nee  Semmes,  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  seventh 
child  of  Raphael  and  Alary  Matilda  (Jenkins)  Semmes,  of  George- 
town, D.  C.  The  former  was  an  uncle  of  Adm.  Raphael  Semmes 
of  the  Confederate  States  Navy,  whom  he  formally  adopted  in  child- 
hood. Raphael  Semmes  I was  born  in  Charles  county,  Aid.,  Aug. 
21,  1786,  and  died  Oct.  12,  1846,  in  Georgetown,  D.  C.  He  was  a 
son  of  Joseph  and  Henrietta  (Thompson)  Semmes,  of  Charles 
county,  the  former  of  whom  served  in  the  Revolution  and  the  lat- 
ter was  a daughter  of  Richard  Thompson,  of  Charles  county,  son  of 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Maryland.  Joseph  Semmes  was  born 
in  1753,  in  Charles  cofmty,  and  was  a brother  of  Thomas  Semmes, 
Sr.,  who  became  a resident  of  Georgia.  They  were  sons  of  James 
Semmes  II,  of  Charles  county,  and  hence  Joseph  also  descended 
from  Alarmaduke  Semmes  I and  from  Gov.  Thomas  Green,  pre- 
viously mentioned.  Two  other  sons  of  James  Semmes  II  served  in 
the  Revolution  and  both  were  killed  in  the  battle  of  Long  Island. 
One  of  these  was  Andrew  Green  Semmes  I,  uncle  of  Andrew 
Green  Semmes  II,  of  Wilkes  county,  Ga.,  who  was  the  father  of 
Gen.  Paul  J.  Semmes,  a distinguished  officer  in  the  Confederate 
service  during  the  Civil  war.  Alary  Alatilda  (Jenkins)  Semmes, 
maternal  grandmother  of  the  subject  of  this  review,  was  born 
Dec.  28,  1800,  in  Charles  county,  a daughter  of  Capt.  Thomas  Jen- 
kins/of the  Revolution,  so  long  imprisoned  by  the  British,  and  his 
wife,  Mary  (Neale)  Corry,  widow  of  Benjamin  Leslie  Corry  and 
daughter  of  Richard  Neale,  son  of  Henry  Neale  of  James  Neale 
II,  son  of  Capt.  James  Neale,  who  was  an  early  immigrant  to 
Alaryland,  whither  he  came  from  Spain,  in  whose  navy  he  had 


272 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


been  a commander.  An  ancestress  was  a lady  of  the  court  of  Spain. 
He  was  also  a direct  descendant  of  the  famous  Hugh  O’Neale, 
king  of  Ulster.  During  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  of  England, 
when  France  and  Spain  incited  Ireland  to  revolt  against  England, 
the  O’Neale  estates  were  confiscated  and  all  of  the  family  perished 
except  the  two  youngest  children,  who  were  small  boys.  At  the 
instigation  of  the  Pope,  the  kings  of  France  and  Spain  each  took 
one  of  these  boys.  One  became  the  ancestor  of  the  famous  French 
General,  Marechal  Niel.  The  other  married  a lady  of  the  Spanish 
court  and  died  a number  of  years  later  while  on  a visit  to  Rome, 
his  remains  being  buried  in  the  Spanish  church  (Church  of  St. 
Peter  of  the  Rock),  in  the  “Eternal  City,”  where  his  tomb  can 
yet  be  seen.  He  was  the  ancestor  of  Capt.  James  Neale,  who  set- 
tled in  Maryland,  as  noted  above.  Dr.  Alphonso  T.  Semmes, 
father  of  him  to  whom  this  sketch  is  dedicated,  was  an  able  phy- 
sician, and  during  the  Civil  war  he  served  the  Confederacy  for  a 
time  as  surgeon  in  the  army,  but  was  in  the  hospital  service  the 
greater  portion  of  the  time.  Thomas  Semmes,  Jr.,  of  Georgia 
and  later  of  Mississippi,  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
crippled  from  paralysis  and  unable  to  fight  for  his  country,  equipped 
at  his  own  expense  a company,  the  Semmes  Rifles,  in  Canton, 
Miss.,  and  this  company  rendered  valiant  service  in  the  Confed- 
erate ranks.  Raphael  Thomas  Semmes  secured  his  earlier  educa- 
tional training  in  private  schools  in  Canton,  and  supplemented  this 
by  careful  discipline  in  the  Christian  Brothers’  college,  Memphis, 
Tenn.  In  January,  1873,  he  became  a clerk  in  a hardware  store  in 
Canton,  and  on  Dec.  9,  1879,  he  located  in  Atlanta,  Ga.,  where  he 
became  a clerk  in  the  hardware  establishment  of  Tommey,  Gregg 
& Beck.  Two  or  three  years  later,  when  the  firm  was  merged 
into  a stock  company,  under  the  title  of  the  Beck  & Gregg  Hard- 
ware Company,  Mr.  Semmes  became  a minority-stockholder,  and  in 
1891,  when  the  concern  increased  its  capital  stock,  he  considerably 
increased  his  holdings.  In  January,  1896,  he  resigned  his  associa- 
tion with  this  concern,  having  formed  a business  connection  in 
Savannah,  where  he  took  up  his  residence  in  March  of  that  year. 
In  1898  he  individually  established  himself  in  the  wholesale  hard- 
ware business  in  Savannah,  being  the  sole  owner  of  the  enterprise 
but  adopting  the  title  of  R.  T.  Semmes  & Co.  In  1901  he  organized 
the  Semmes  Hardware  Company,  for  the  purpose  of  broadening 
and  facilitating  his  business,  and  he  has  since  been  president  of 
the  company,  whose  business  now  takes  rank  among  the  leading 
enterprises  of  the  sort  in  the  southeastern  states,  the  substantial 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


273 


growth  and  expansion  of  the  same  being  due  to  the  able  and  hon- 
orable methods  and  the  energy  and  discrimination  which  Mr. 
Semmes  has  brought  to  bear  in  the  connection.  He  is  also  a director 
of  the  Savannah  Trust  Company.  In  politics  he  is  a stanch  Demo- 
crat, and  he  and  his  wife  are  communicants  of  the  Catholic  church, 
with  which  his  ancestors  have  been  identified  for  generations.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Maryland  Historical  Society  and  Savannah 
Yacht  club.  On  April  30,  1891,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Semmes  to  Miss  Mary  Katherine  Flannery,  daughter  of  Capt. 
John  and  Mary  Ellen  (Norton)  Flannery,  of  Savannah.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Semmes  have  no  children. 

Seney,  an  incorporated  town  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Polk 
county,  is  on  the  Southern  railroad,  and  in  1900  had  a population 
of  121.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  telegraph  and  express  of- 
fices, some  mercantile  and  manufacturing  interests,  schools, 
churches,  etc. 

Senoia,  a town  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Coweta  county,  is 
located  on  the  branch  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway  that  con- 
nects Griffin,  Newnan  and  Rome.  It  was  incorporated  by  act 
of  the  legislature  in  1866  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  782 
within  the  corporate  limits,  and  in  its  entire  district  2,290.  It  has 
express  and  telegraph  offices,  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural 
free  delivery,  a bank,  a cotton  oil  mill,  prosperous  stores,  a public 
cotton  gin,  a grist  mill,  a cotton  factory  and  good  schools  and 
churches. 

Sessoms,  a post-town  in  the  southwest  corner  of  Appling  county, 
is  a station  on  the  Nicholls  & Waycross  division  of  the  Atlantic 
& Birmingham  railroad,  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  105. 

Sessoms,  Alexander,  a prominent  bus- 
iness man  of  Waycross,  Ware  county, 
and  an  honored  veteran  of  the  Confeder- 
ate service  in  the  war  between  the  states, 
was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  N.  C., 
Jan.  2,  1834,  a son  of  Amos  and  Marga- 
ret (Antry)  Sessoms,  both  of  whom  were 
likewise  born  in  Cumberland  county  and 
passed  their  entire  lives  in  North  Caro- 
lina, where  the  respective  families  were 
early  founded,  the  Sessoms  family  being 
of  Welsh  extraction.  Alexander  Ses- 
soms was  reared  to  manhood  in  the  old 
state,  and  his  youthful  training  was  that  of  the  plantation. 


18— III 


274 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


In  February,  1862,  about  one  month  after  celebrating  his  twenty- 
eighth  birthday,  he  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  C,  Thirty- 
sixth  North  Carolina  heavy  artillery,  was  stationed  for  some  time 
at  Fort  Fisher,  and  later  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Savannah.  He 
rose  to  the  rank  of  sergeant,  was  with  his  command  at  Fort  Fisher 
when  captured  by  the  Union  forces,  Jan.  15,  1865,  and  was  paroled 
at  the  end  of  the  war.  He  maintains  a lively  interest  in  his  old  com- 
rades and  signifies  the  same  by  his  membership  in  the  United 
Confederate  Veterans.  Mr.  Sessoms  has  been  a resident  of  Geor- 
gia since  1877  and  has  been  successful  in  his  business  operations, 
as  a manufacturer  and  producer  of  naval  stores.  He  has  ever  re- 
tained the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  men  and  is  one  of 
the  representative  citizens  of  Waycross,  where  he  has  made  his 
home  since  1893.  In  politics  he  is  a stanch  adherent  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  but  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  public  office. 
In  February,  1869,  Mr.  Sessoms  married  Miss  Hannah  Jane  Bul- 
lard, who  died  in  1879,  and  who  is  survived  by  three  children — 
Blanch,  Albert  Henry,  and  John  Gordon.  In  November,  1880, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lou  W.  Cogdell,  and  of  their 
eight  children  seven  are  living — Alexander  K.,  Pauline,  Ruby, 
Ralph,  Robert  Lee,  Lewis  and  Dorothy. 

Seville,  a town  in  the  western  part  of  Wilcox  county,  on  the  Sea- 
board Air  Line  railway  between  Americus  and  Savannah,  was  in- 
corporated by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1891.  Being  in  the  midst 
of  the  lumber  and  turpentine  section  it  has  had  a steady  growth 
and  according  to  the  census  of  1900  had  within  its  corporate  limits 
1,277  inhabitants.  It  is  in  one  of  the  best  peach  and  grape  grow- 
ing sections  of  the  South,  has  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural 
free  delivery,  express  and  telegraph  offices  and  prosperous  mercan- 
tile houses,  and  its  people  enjoy  excellent  school  and  church  priv- 
ileges. 

Seward,  James  L.,  was  born  in  Georgia  and  after  completing 
his  education  began  to  practice  law  at  Thomasville.  He  served 
for  several  terms  in  the  legislature;  was  elected  to  Congress  in 
1852,  reelected  in  1854  and  again  in  1856. 

Shack,  a post-hamlet  of  Chattahoochee  county,  is  on  the  Chat- 
tahoochee river,  near  the  mouth  of  Upatoie  creek.  The  nearest 
railroad  station  is  Fort  Mitchell,  Ala. 

Shadydale,  an  incorporated  town  in  the  eastern  part  of  Jasper 
county,  is  on  the  Athens  division  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  rail- 
road, four  miles  north  of  Machen,  and  in  1900  had  a population 
of  300.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice  from  which  free  delivery 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


275 


routes  supply  mail  to  the  rural  districts,  telegraph  and  express 
offices,  and  is  a trading  and  shipping  point  for  that  part  of  the 
county. 

Shady  Grove,  sometimes  called  Millen’s  grove,  was  in  the  line 
of  the  Federal  advance  upon  Savannah  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
year  1864.  On  the  first  day  of  December,  as  the  army  moved 
from  Louisville  toward  Waynesboro,  a foraging  party  of  the 
Eighty-eighth  Indiana  infantry  came  in  contact  with  a small  de- 
tachment of  Wheeler’s  cavalry  and  a sharp  skirmish  ensued  near 
this  grove,  but  without  serious  loss  to  either  side. 

Shannon,  a post-village  of  Floyd  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Southern  railway,  about  ten  miles  northeast  of  Rome.  It  has  some 
mercantile  interests,  an  express  office,  and  in  1900  had  a popula- 
tion of  62. 

Sharon,  a town  in  Taliaferro  county,  was  incorporated  by  act  of 
the  legislature  on  Dec.  24,  1884.  It  is  on  the  Washington  branch 
of  the  Georgia  railroad,  five  miles  north  of  Barnett,  and  in  1900 
reported  a population  of  216.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice, 
telegraph  and  express  offices,  some  mercantile  concerns,  and  does 
considerable  shipping.  A skirmish  between  the  Americans  and 
British  occurred  near  the  site  of  this  toAvn  on  May  24,  1782. 

Sharp,  Lemuel  Johnson,  M.  D.,  a rep- 
resentative medical  practitioner  of  Jack- 
son  county,  is  established  in  practice  in 
the  town  of  Commerce,  where  he  is  held 
in  high  regard  both  as  a physician  and 
as  a citizen.  Fie  was  born  in  a log  cabin 
in  Jackson  county,  Feb.  10,  1862,  and  this 
county  was  also  the  birthplace  of  his 
father,  Edmond  Johnson  Sharp,  who  was 
born  Tan.  9,  1826.  The  maiden  name  of 
his  mother,  also  native  of  Georgia,  was 
Margaret  Harrison.  After  due  prelimi- 
nary training  in  Martin  institute,  at  Jef- 
ferson, Ga.,  Doctor  Sharp,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  took  up  the 
study  of  medicine,  for  which  he  early  manifested  a distinct  predi- 
lection. He  finally  entered  the  Ohio  medical  college,  at  Cincinnati, 
and  was  there  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1883,  duly 
receiving  his  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  He  has  never  abated 
his  vigilance  in  keeping  abreast  with  the  advances  made  in  the 
sciences  of  medicine  and  surgery,  and  this  has  been  indicated  by 
his  taking  exceptionally  advanced  post-graduate  courses,  in  the 


2?6 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


following  named  institutions : The  Post-Graduate  medical  col- 

lege and  hospital,  the  New  York  school  of  clinical  medicine  and  the 
New  York  polyclinic,  all  of  New  York  city;  the  Metroplitan  school 
of  medicine  and  the  Post-Graduate  college  of  medicine  and  surgery 
in  London,  England.  Doctor  Sharp  initiated  the  practice  of  his 
profession  by  locating  in  Jefferson,  where  he  was  a resident  in 
1883-84,  since  which  time  he  has  maintained  his  professional  head- 
quarters in  Commerce,  where  he  has  a large  and  representative 
practice.  He  is  a member  of  the  American  medical  association, 
the  Medical  Association  of  Georgia,  and  the  Jackson  county  med- 
ical society.  He  is  a Royal  Arch  Mason,  is  a stanch  adherent  of 
the  Democratic  party,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  South.  On  Nov.  29,  1893,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Esther  Gunnels,  daughter  of  Daniel 
P.  and  Sarah  E.  (Cunningham)  Gunnels,  and  she  died  in  August, 
1901.  On  Nov.  26,  1902,  he  married  Miss  Pauline  Shankle,  daughter 
of  Seaborn  and  Victoria  (Park)  Shankle,  of  Commerce.  Two  chil- 
dren, Kathleen  and  Herbert  Johnson, — one  by  the  first  and  one 
by  the  second  marriage — are  living. 

Sharpe,  a post-village  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Walker  coun- 
ty, is  a station  on  the  Chattanooga  Southern  railroad  and  in  1900 
reported  a population  of  93.  It  is  the  principal  trading  point  for 
the  surrounding  country. 

Sharpe,  Charles  W.,  who  has  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  first  judge  of  the 
court  of  ordinary  of  Jenkins  county, 
whose  organization  was  effected  in  1905, 
with  Milieu  as  the  county-seat,  is  one  of 
the  well  known  and  popular  citizens  of 
this  section  of  the  state.  He  was  born 
on  the  homestead  plantation  in  Screven 
county,  Aug.  14,  18134.  In  Screven  coun- 
ty were  born  his  parents,  Judge  Robert 
D.  and  Martha  Ann  (Enneis)  Sharpe, — 
the  former  in  1825  and  the  latter  in  1830. 
Judge  Robert  D.  Sharpe  was  one  of  the 
successful  planters  and  influential  and  honored  citizens  of  Screven 
county,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1902.  He  served  several 
terms  as  judge  of  the  court  of  ordinary,  clerk  of  the  superior  court, 
and  county  commissioner,  and  held  the  unqualified  respect  and 
esteem  of  all  who  knew  him.  His  widow  still  survives,  and  re- 
sides at  Scarboro,  which  is  now  in  Jenkins  county,  eight  miles 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


277 


distant  from  Millen,  that  also  being  the  home  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  though  Millen  is  his  official  address.  Judge  Charles  YV. 
Sharpe  attended  Scarboro  academy  in  his  youth  and  also  a school 
conducted  by  Prof.  James  R.  Drake,  in  Screven  county,  securing 
excellent  scholastic  discipline  and  continuing  to  attend  school  until 
he  had  attained  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  He  has  been  identified 
with  plantation  enterprises  from  his  youth  up,  while  his  business 
career  has  also  included  successful  operations  as  a merchant  and 
a manufacturer  of  turpentine.  He  is  at  the  present  time  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Sharpe  Company,  of  Scarboro,  of  which  his 
brother,  Milburn  C.,  is  president.  The  company  is  incorporated 
with  a capital  stock  of  $100,000,  carries  on  a large  general  mer- 
chandise business,  has  large  and  important  turpentine  and  distil- 
ling interests,  and  owns  and  controls  large  plantation  property  in 
Jenkins  county.  Judge  Sharpe  accords  an  unwavering  allegiance 
to  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  has  been  an  effective  worker  in 
its  local  councils.  When  the  new  county  of  Jenkins  was  organized, 
in  August,  1905,  he  was  made  the  first  judge  of  the  court  of  ordi- 
nary, and  has  given  a most  admirable  administration,  bringing  the 
affairs  of  the  office  into  the  best  of  order  and  having  successfully 
accomplished  the  initial  work  of  systematizing  and  adjusting  after 
the  new  county  was  brought  into  being.  He  is  well  known  through- 
out the  county,  his  circle  of  friends  is  circumscribed  only  by  that 
of  his  acquaintances,  and  he  is  recognized  as  a liberal  and  public- 
spirited  citizen.  His  brother,  Benjamin  P.  Sharpe,  an  extensive 
turpentine  farmer  and  manufacturer,  and  prominent  in  business 
circles  in  both  Georgia  and  Florida,  died  near  Halcyondale,  Bul- 
loch county,  May  27,  1906. 

Sharpsburg,  an  incorporated  town  of  Coweta  county,  is  on  the 
Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  about  ten  miles  east  of  Newnan.  It 
has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  telegraph 
and  express  service,  some  mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  and  in 
1900  had  a population  of  137. 

Sharptop,  a post-village  of  Cherokee  county,  with  a population 
of  59  in  1900,  is  about  six  miles  west  of  Ball  Ground,  which  is  the 
nearest  railroad  station. 

Shaw,  (railroad  name  Estelle  Station)  a village  of  Walker  coun- 
ty, is  a station  on  the  Chattanooga  Southern  railroad  where  it 
passes  through  the  gap  in  the  Pidgeon  mountain.  It  has  a money 
order  postoffice,  some  stores  doing  a good  business,  and  in  1900 
had  a population  of  108. 


278 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Shearwood,  a post-town  in  the  eastern  part  of  Bulloch  county, 
is  a station  on  the  Savannah  & Statesboro  railway,  and  in  1900  re- 
ported a population  of  200.  It  is  a shipping  point  of  some  im- 
portance and  its  stores  have  a good  local  trade. 

Shelbine,  a post-hamlet  of  Camden  county,  is  near  the  mouth 
of  Crooked  river  and  on  the  sound  opposite  Cumberland  island. 
Seals  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Sheldon,  James  R.,  is  numbered 
among  the  prominent  business  men  and 
influential  citizens  of  Savannah  and  is  a 
veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  in  which  he 
served  as  a member  of  a Georgia  regi- 
ment. He  is  a representative  of  stanch 
colonial  stock,  in  both  the  paternal  and 
maternal  lines.  He  was  born  in  Paw- 
tuxet,  near  the  city  of  Providence,  R.  I., 
Tune  2,  1840,  a son  of  Capt.  Pardon  and 
Rebecca  (Aborn)  Sheldon,  who  were 
likewise  natives  of  Pawtuxet.  The  fath- 
er was  born  in  1801  and  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1849.  He  was  a ship  owner  and  sea  captain  and  his  death 
occurred  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  about  eight  years  of 
age.  Captain  Sheldon  was  a son  of  Remington  and  Huldah 
(Greene)  Sheldon,  the  former  born  in  1753  and  died  in  1829,  and 
the  latter  born  in  1758  and  died  in  1822,  having  been  a representa- 
tive of  the  same  family  of  which  Gen.  Nathaniel  Greene,  of  Revo- 
lutionary fame,  was  a distinguished  member.  Rebecca  (Aborn) 
Sheldon  was  born  in  180G  and  died  in  1869.  She  was  a daughter 
of  Jonathan  and  Dorcas  (Tourtellot)  Aborn,  the  former  born 
in  1778  and  died  in  1826,  and  the  latter  was  born  in  1774  and  died 
in  1850.  James  R.  Sheldon  attended  the  schools  of  his  native  vil- 
lage until  he  attained  to  the  age  of  fourteen  years  and  has  been 
dependent  upon  his  own  resources  from  early  youth.  He  came  to 
the  state  of  Georgia  in  1858  and  went  forth  from  this  state  to  lend 
his  aid  in  defending  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy.  On  March  2, 
1862,  he  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  E,  Fiftieth  Georgia  in- 
fantry, and  soon  afterward  proceeded  with  his  command  to  rein- 
force Lee’s  army,  below  the  city  of  Richmond,  Va.,  taking  part  in 
the  engagement  at  Malvern  Hill  and  in  all  the  later  engagements 


in  which  Longstreet’s 


involved.  Mr.  Sheldon  never 


corps  was 

asked  or  received  a furlough  nor  was  he  absent  from  duty  at  any 
time,  continuing  in  service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  a 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


279 


non-commissioned  officer  until  after  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg, 
when  he  was  promoted  commissary  of  his  regiment,  succeeding 
Capt.  S.  M.  Colding  who  was  transferred  to  post  duty  in  Savan- 
nah. For  six  months  he  served  as  commissary  of  the  brigade  com- 
manded by  Generals  Benning  and  Bryan,  receiving  the  rank  of 
major  and  succeeding  Major  Hankel  who  was  transferred  to 
Charleston,  S.  C.  He  remained  on  duty  until  the  great  conflict 
terminated  with  the  surrender  of  General  Lee,  at  Appomattox, 
Va.,  his  regiment  having  been  captured  on  Sailor’s  creek,  Va., 
on  April  6,  1865,  three  days  before  Lee’s  capitulation.  Major  Shel- 
don managed  to  escape  at  the  time  of  his  regiment’s  surrender, 
and  then  made  his  way  on  foot  to  Georgia.  Soon  afterward  he 
went  to  Florida,  and  from  Oct.  1,  1865,  until  the  same  relative  date 
of  the  following  year  he  held  a clerical  position  at  Madison,  that 
state.  He  then  returned  to  Georgia  and  located  in  Savannah, 
where  he  was  in  the  employ  of  a commission  house  until  1870, 
when  he  engaged  in  the  cotton  commission  business  on  his  own 
account.  In  1880  he  was  one  of  the  three  organizers  of  the  Savan- 
nah Guano  Company,  erecting  a plant  on  the  east  side  of  the  city 
and  eventually  building  up  an  important  and  prosperous  enterprise, 
the  scope  of  the  industry  being  such  that  a number  of  enlargements 
have  been  made  on  the  plant  from  time  to  time.  He  has  been 
vice-president  of  the  company  from  the  start,  and  has  capitalistic 
interests  in  the  city  which  has  been  his  home  for  two  score  of 
years.  In  politics  Mr.  Sheldon  maintains  an  independent  attitude, 
giving  his  support  to  the  men  and  measures  meeting  the  approval 
of  his  judgment.  He  has  served  as  a member  of  the  board  of  aider- 
men  of  Savannah  and  was  a member  of  the  city  health  and  sanitary 
board  for  about  six  years.  He  is  identified  with  the  United  Con- 
federate V eterans ; served  for  about  six  years  on  the  staff  of  Gen. 
Clement  A.  Evans,  commander  of  the  order  in  Georgia,  and  is  now 
assistant  adjutant-general  on  the  staff  of  General  Willy.  He  is 
also  identified  with  the  Savannah  Volunteer  Guards  and  the  Ogle- 
thorpe club.  He  is  not  a member  of  any  religious  organization, 
but  attends  the  services  of  St.  John’s  church,  Protestant  Episcopal, 
of  which  Mrs.  Sheldon  is  a communicant.  He  has  advanced  to  the 
fourteenth  degree  of  Scottish  Rite  Masonry  and  takes  a deep 
interest  in  the  time-honored  fraternity.  On  April  7,  1875,  Major 
Sheldon  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Louisa  C.  Roberts,  daugh- 
ter of  Hiram  and  Mary  T.  Roberts,  of  Savannah.  Mrs.  Sheldon 
died  in  1881,  and  on  Nov.  16,  1882,  he  married  her  sister,  Miss  Bes- 


280 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


sie  Roberts.  Their  only  child  is  James  R.,  Jr.,  who  was  born  on 
Nov.  5,  1893. 

Shell  Bluff,  a post-village  of  Burke  county,  is  about  ten  miles 
northeast  of  Waynesboro,  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  61. 
Green’s  Cut  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Shellman,  a town  in  the  eastern  part  of  Randolph  county,  is 
located  on  a branch  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad.  It  was 
reincorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1889  and  in  1900  was 
credited  with  a population  of  584.  It  has  express  and  telegraph 
offices,  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  two  banks, 
several  prosperous  mercantile  establishments,  saw  mills  in  the 
town  and  its  vicinity,  a cotton  oil  mill  and  fertilizer  factory, 
churches,  a good  academy,  and  schools  of  lower  grade  belonging 
to  the  public  school  system. 

Sheltonville,  a post-town  in  the  eastern  part  of  Milton  county, 
reported  a population  of  120  in  1900.  It  is  four  miles  west  of 
Suwanee,  which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station,  and  is  the 
principal  trading  point  in  that  part  of  the  county. 

Shepherd,  a village  of  Coffee  county,  is  about  five  miles  north- 
east of  Douglas,  which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station.  It 
has  a money  order  postoffice,  some  stores  with  good  local  trade, 
and  in  1900  had  a population  of  53. 

Shepherd’s  Plantation. — On  June  9,  1S36,  while  the  whites  and 
the  Creeks  were  at  war  with  each  other,  a battle  was  fought  at 
the  plantation  of  Doctor  Shepherd,  in  Stewart  county.  Captain 
Garmany’s  company  of  Georgia  militia  was  at  dinner  when  firing 
was  heard  a short  distance  away.  The  men  were  ordered  to  leave 
the  dinner  and  in  light  marching  order  they  moved  in  the  direction 
of  the  firing.  After  a brisk  march  of  about  half  a mile  they  came 
upon  a party  of  Indians  prepared  for  battle.  Garmany’s  men 
fired  at  a distance  of  one  hundred  yards  and  several  of  the  enemy 
were  seen  to  fall.  The  Creeks  retreated  a short  distance,  when 
they  again  formed  in  line,  but  a second  volley  compelled  them  to 
again  fall  back.  At  each  retreat  they  were  reinforced  until  the 
number  was  about  250,  while  Garmany  had  but  42  men  in  action. 
Seeing  the  Indians  were  trying  to  turn  his  flanks  Garmany  ordered 
his  men  to  retreat.  Half  of  the  men  were  faced  to  the  right  and  the 
other  half  to  the  left,  with  instructions  to  keep  up  a fire  on  the 
savages  to  prevent  the  flank  movements  from  being  successful. 
After  retreating  some  distance,  a small  field  containing-  a gin  house 
and  some  other  buildings  was  reached  and  the  fence  used  as  a 
breastwork  until  two  rounds  were  fired.  Here  the  company  was 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


281 


divided  by  the  Indians  and  Captain  Garmany  was  seriously 
wounded.  Major  Jarnigan,  who  was  stationed  at  Fort  Jones,  three 
miles  from  the  scene  of  the  conflict,  arrived  just  at  this  moment 
with  a small  detachment  of  troops  and  charged  the  Creeks,  which 
diverted  their  attention  and  enabled  Garmany  to  escape.  Another 
body  of  reinforcements  arrived  soon  after  from  Fort  McCreay  and 
the  Indians  were  put  to  flight.  The  whites  lost  in  this  engage- 
ment 12  killed  and  7 wounded.  The  loss  of  the  Indians  was  esti- 
mated at  25  or  30  killed  and  a number  wounded,  but  it  was  never 

Sheppard,  Walter  W.,  a successful 
member  of  the  Savannah  bar  and  an  ex- 
member of  the  state  senate,  was  born  in 
Liberty  county,  Ga.,  Aug.  31,  1866,  a son 
of  David  B.  M.  and  Marian  C.  (Fraser) 
Sheppard,  both  natives  of  Georgia,  the 
former  born  in  Screven  county  in  1812, 
and  the  latter,  in  Liberty  county,  Jan. 
10,  1830.  The  paternal  grandfather  served 
as  a soldier  in  the  Continental  line  dur- 
ing the  Revolution,  principally  in  North 
Carolina,  and  the  maternal  grandfather 
was  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  David 
B.  M.  Sheppard  was  judge  of  the  inferior  court  of  Liberty  county 
for  a number  of  years,  and  there  resided  until  his  death.  His  wife, 
who  is  now  deceased,  was  a daughter  of  Simon  Fraser,  who  was 
born  in  Inverness,  Scotland,  in  1782,  came  to  America  in  1801,  first 
locating  in  Nova  Scotia,  whence  he  soon  afterward  removed  to  the 
United  States,  taking  up  his  residence  in  Georgia  in  1806,  and  serv- 
ing as  a representative  of  this  state  in  the  war  of  1812.  William 
Sheppard,  paternal  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  Cowpens  in  the  Revolution.  After  the 
close  of  the  war  he  removed  to  Georgia  and  settled  in  the  parish 
of  St.  George,  which  later  became  Screven  county.  Two  uncles  of 
Walter  W.  Sheppard,  Alexander  and  Donald  Fraser,  were  soldiers 
in  the  Confederate  service  during  the  Civil  war,  as  was  also  one 
of  his  brothers,  William  A.  Sheppard.  Walter  W.  Sheppard  se- 
cured his  preparatory  educational  discipline  in  Bradwell  institute, 
Hinesville,  Ga.  In  1889  he  graduated  at  the  University  of  Geor- 
gia, with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  and  in  1893  he  secured 
from  the  law  department  of  the  same  institution  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Laws.  In  1894  the  degree  of  Master  of  Laws  was  con- 


fully  ascertained. 


282 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


ferred  upon  him  at  the  close  of  a post-graduate  course  in  George- 
town university,  Washington,  D.  C.  Mr.  Sheppard  was  identified 
with  agricultural  pursuits  in  Liberty  county  for  a number  of  years, 
and  was  also  there  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  until 
1896,  when  he  removed  to  Savannah,  where  he  now  controls  a very 
satisfactory  law  business,  being  known  as  one  specially  well  forti- 
fied for  the  successful  work  of  his  exacting  profession.  He  is  a 
stanch  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party  and  in 
1894-5  represented  the  second  district  in  the  state  senate.  His  re- 
ligious faith  is  that  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  he  is  identified 
with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows,  Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics, 
and  the  Phi  Theta  college  fraternity. 

Sherman,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southern  part  of  Pickens  county, 
is  almost  on  the  Cherokee  county  line.  The  nearest  railway  sta- 
tion is  Tate,  some  five  miles  northeast,  on  the  Atlanta,  Knox- 
ville & Northern  road. 

Sherrill’s  Fort. — In  1751  a number  of  Quaker  families  made  a 
settlement  about  seven  miles  west  of  Augusta,  at  a place  after- 
ward known  as  Quaker  Springs.  The  hostility  of  the  Indians  soon 
compelled  them  to  abandon  their  farms.  Subsequently  they  re- 
turned and  in  January,  1774,  under  the  leadership  of  one  Sherrill, 
were  engaged  in  erecting  a fort  for  their  protection,  when  a party 
of  Creek  Indians,  led  on  by  the  chief  Big  Elk,  made  a descent  upon 
the  settlement.  At  the  time  there  were  five  white  men,  three  negro 
men  and  twelve  women  and  children  in  the  fort.  Sherrill  and  two 
others  fell  at  the  first  fire.  The  remainder  retreated  to  the  houses, 
where  they  were  encouraged  by  one  of  the  negroes  to  put  up  a 
defense.  The  Indians  fired  the  fort  and  the  houses  but  the  flames 
were  extinguished  without  doing  much  damage.  A small  party 
coming  to  the  relief  of  the  fort  were  discovered  and  pursued  by 
the  savages  and  this  gave  the  inmates  of  the  houses  an  oppor- 
tunity to  seek  safer  quarters,  but  not  until  seven  had  been  killed 
and  five  wounded.  Captain  Barnard  collected  about  forty  men 
and  went  in  pursuit  of  Big  Elk.  Attacking  the  Indians  from  the 
rear  he  drove  them  into  a swamp,  where  the  pursuit  was  aban- 
doned. 

Shiloh,  a village  in  the  eastern  part  of  Harris  county,  is  a sta- 
tion on  the  Columbus  & McDonough  division  of  the  Southern  rail- 
way, and  in  1900  had  a population  of  160.  It  has  a money  order 
postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  express  and  telegraph  offices, 
and  is  the  chief  trading  and  shipping  point  in  that  section. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


283 


Ship’s  Gap. — This  is  a passage  through  Taylor’s  Ridge  in  north- 
west Georgia.  As  Hood  was  marching  northward  in  the  fall  of 
1864  Gist’s  brigade  passed  through  the  gap  on  October  15th  and 
camped  in  the  Chattooga  valley.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the 
16th  Col.  Ellison  Capers  was  ordered  to  march  back  with  his  regi- 
ment, the  Twenty-fourth  South  Carolina,  and  hold  Ship’s  Gap  un- 
til ordered  to  retire.  He  placed  two  of  his  companies  under  Captain 
Roddey,  about  a quarter  of  a mile  in  advance,  with  order  to  detain 
the  enemy  as  long  as  possible.  From  his  position  on  the  ridge 
Colonel  Capers  saw  seventeen  flags  and  thus  knew  that  he  was 
greatly  outnumbered.  The  Federals  successfully  flanked  Roddey’s 
force  and  captured  the  greater  part  of  it.  They  then  advanced  up 
the  mountain  but  met  a withering  fire  from  Capers’  main  body  and 
were  driven  back.  Learning  soon  after  that  a detachment  of  the 
enemy  was  marching  to  cut  off  his  retreat,  Capers  fell  back  slowly 
until  relieved  by  cavalry  at  the  foot  of  the  ridge  and  conducted 
to  the  bivouac  of  Gist’s  brigade  on  the  Summerville  road. 

Shoal  Creek,  a post-village  in  the  northern  part  of  Hart  county, 
had  a population  of  102  in  1900.  It  has  some  stores  with  a good 
local  trade,  schools,  churches,  etc.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is 
Lavonia. 

Shoals,  a post-village  in  the  extreme  southwest  corner  of  War- 
ren county,  is  on  the  North  fork  of  the  Ogeechee  river  near  the 
mouth  of  Long  creek.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Mitchell. 

Shorter  College. — Sometime  in  the  summer  of  1873  a number 
of  citizens  of  Rome  organized  a company  and  bought  the  eminence 
known  as  “Shelton  Hill”  for  the  location  of  a female  college.  The 
name  of  Cherokee  female  college  was  at  first  bestowed  on  the  in- 
stitution, but  in  1877  the  entire  property  was  conveyed  to  Col. 
Alfred  Shorter,  whose  name  it  now  bears.  He  erected  new  build- 
ings, revised  the  course  of  study,  employed  a corps  of  instructors 
and  soon  placed  the  school  in  the  front  rank  of  those  of  its  kind. 
Colonel  Shorter  generously  donated  the  college  to  the  Baptist  de- 
nomination calling  it  “a  gift  to  our  daughters.”  The  regular 
course  of  study  comprehends  five  years  and  embraces  ancient  and 
modern  languages,  mathematics,  philosophy,  natural  science,  music 
and  art. 

Shoulder,  a post-village  of  Hancock  county,  with  a population 
of  50,  is  in  the  valley  of  Shoulderbone  creek,  ten  miles  northwest 
of  Sparta,  which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 


284 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Shumate,  Ignatius  Elgin,  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  law  firm  of  Shumate,  Maddox 
& Shumate,  Dalton,  Ga.,  was  born  in 
Loudoun  county,  Va.,  Dec.  5,  1834.  For 
a number  of  years  he  has  been  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  useful  citizens  of 
North  Georgia,  taking  high  rank  among 
the  distinguished  lawyers  of  his  section, 
and  being  a leader  in  all  educational 
and  reform  movements  affecting  his 
city,  county  and  state.  His  grandfathers, 
Louis  Shumate  and  Gustavius  Elgin, 
the  former  of  French  and  the  latter  of 
Scotch  lineage,  were  large  landholders  and  highly  respected  citi- 
zens, the  former  of  Fauquier  and  the  latter  of  Loudoun  county, 
Va.  They  were  men  of  affairs  and  of  marked  influence  in  their 
respective  counties,  among  the  oldest,  richest  and  most  advanced 
counties  in  the  state.  They  both  entered  the  military  service  of 
the  State  of  Virginia  when  it  was  invaded  by  the  British  army 
in  the  war  of  1812.  His  father,  Murphy  C.  Shumate,  was  also  a 
successful  Loudoun  county  farmer,  liberally  educated,  and  a man 
of  unquestioned  probity,  standing  always  positively  and  influen- 
tially for  the  best  things ; in  politics  a Whig,  and  in  religion  a 
Methodist.  During  his  young  manhood  Mr.  Shumate  was  engaged 
in  educational  work.  Before  his  majority,  for  two  years  he  was 
one  of  a corps  of  teachers  in  charge  of  the  Masonic  institute  at 
Germanton,  N.  C.,  a school  then  largely  patronized  and  one  of  the 
most  important  in  the  western  portion  of  that  state.  He  com- 
pleted his  education  at  Emory  and  Henry  college,  Virginia,  gradu- 
ating with  distinction  in  the  class  of  1858.  The  degree  of  Mas- 
ter of  Arts  was  conferred  upon  him  by  that  institution  a few  years 
later.  For  two  years  he  was  a member  of  the'  faculty  of  that  re- 
nowned institution,  in  the  most  prosperous  period  of  its  history. 
Afterwards  he  had  charge  of  a high  school  in  Jefferson  city,  Mo., 
and  later  of  the  Old  Dominion  female  institute  at  Richmond, 
Va., — both  schools  of  excellent  grade  in  their  day.  At  the  out- 
break of  the  war  between  the  states,  army  movements  and  the 
military  atmosphere  about  Richmond  had  the  effect  of  suspending 
most  of  the  schools  of  that  city.  Mr.  Shumate  removed  his  young 
family  to  the  home  of  his  wife’s  mother,  at  Dalton,  Ga.  While  he 
remained  at  Dalton,  Maj.  W.  F.  Ayre,  who  had  been  placed  in 
charge  of  the  quartermaster's  department  at  that  post,  procured 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


285 


his  assistance  in  the  management  of  the  important  and  rapidly  in- 
creasing business.  Dalton  soon  became  one  of  the  largest  depots 
for  army  supplies,  and  one  of  the  most  important  distributing 
points  of  such  supplies  in  the  state.  Commissary,  ordnance,  and 
medical  departments  were  estatblished,  and  very  extensive  hos- 
pitals were  erected,  and  that  city  became  the  most  important  mili- 
tary post  in  Georgia,  with  the  possible  exception  of  Atlanta.  Mr. 
Shumate  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  transportation  office,  was  the 
confidential  clerk  of  the  post  quartermaster,  under  his  direction 
conducted  all  the  official  correspondence  of  his  office,  and  was 
also  a post  purchasing  agent.  His  work  was  so  rapid,  accurate 
and  satisfactory  and  his  services  became  so  valuable  to  the  post 
that  upon  the  application  of  Major  Ayre,  by  order  of  the  proper 
commanding  officers,  he  was  permanently  assigned  to  duty  in  the 
quartermaster’s  department,  and  remained  with  Major  Ayre  until 
he  became  chief  quartermaster  of  Hood’s  army.  During  the  last 
year  of  the  war  he  was  in  active  field  service  with  the  Georgia 
state  troops,  under  the  command  of  General  G.  W.  Smith.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  he  entered  upon  the  practice  of  the  law  as  partner 
with  that  distinguished  lawyer,  Cicero  D.  McCutcheon,  at  Dalton, 
and  rose  rapidly  in  his  profession.  When  Mr.  McCutcheon  was 
promoted  to  the  bench  in  1872,  the  firm  had  a very  large  and  lu- 
crative practice  throughout  the  circuit,  and  adjoining  circuits.  Mr. 
Shumate  retained  this  practice  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  clients, 
and  became  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  successful  representa- 
tives of  his  profession  in  the  Cherokee,  Rome  and  Tallapoosa  cir- 
cuits, standing  in  the  front  rank  of  the  bar  in  those  circuits.  Few, 
if  any,  lawyers  have  presented  more  causes  before  the  supreme 
court  of  Georgia,  and  with  greater  average  success  than  he.  He 
has  thus  acquired  a state-wide  reputation  as  an  able  lawyer.  Dur- 
ing the  whole  of  his  professional  career  he  has  represented  in 
North  Georgia,  with  pronounced  satisfaction,  the  railroads  which 
are  now  consolidated  under  the  management  of  the  Southern  Rail- 
way Company.  His  course  has  always  been  such  as  to  retain  for 
himself  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  professional  confreres,  as 
well  as  of  the  general  public.  Mr.  Shumate  is  a stanch  supporter 
• of  the  principles  and  policies  for  which  the  Democratic  party 
stands.  He  was  elected  to  the  first  legislature  that  convened  un- 
der the  constitution  of  1868,  and  served  in  that  legislature  as  the 
representative  of  Whitfield  county  during  the  sessions  of  1868- 
69-70,  and  was  regarded  one  of  the  Democratic  leaders  in  that 
memorable  assembly.  Several  of  the  leading  cities  of  the  state, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


'28G 

among  them  Savannah  and  Augusta,  having  no  Democratic  rep- 
resentative in  that  legislature,  entrusted  to  Mr.  Shumate  the  man- 
agement of  bills  affecting  their  government,  and  intended  to  pro- 
tect them  from  Radical  domination.  These  bills  he  successfully 
engineered  to  their  passage.  He  also  introduced  into  the  legisla- 
ture the  six  months  statute  of  limitations  as  to  ante  war  debts,  and 
engineered  it  to  its  passage.  This  bill  was  drafted  by  the  then 
chief  justice  of  the  supreme  court,  Joseph  E.  Brown,  ex-governor 
of  Georgia.  Avery,  in  his  History  of  Georgia,  in  speaking  of  this 
tempestuous  legislature,  gives  a list  of  a number  of  intelligent 
young  men  on  the  Democratic  side  of  the  house,  who  were  active 
in  preventing  or  modifying  extreme  legislation  detrimental  to  the 
best  interests  of  the  state,  and  in  thwarting  the  revolutionary  meas- 
ures proposed  by  the  Republican  party  to  prolong  its  power  in  the 
State  of  Georgia.  In  this  list  appears,  among  others,  the  name  of 
I.  E.  Shumate.  Avery  adds:  “Of  these  Mr.  Shumate,  of  Whitfield, 
was  the  most  brilliant ; a slender  dark-eyed,  heavy  whiskered  gen- 
tleman, with  a clear  ringing  voice,  of  unusual  compass,  and  a flu- 
ent flow  of  vivid  language.  He  was,  and  is  today,  a most  charm- 
ing orator,  with  few  equals  in  the  state.  He  became  instantly  a 
leader  in  the  body,  and  was  placed  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  most 
important  committees.”  He  was  for  twenty  years  thereafter  a 
delegate  to  every  Democratic  state  convention  that  convened  in 
Georgia,  and  was  frequently  a member  of  the  Democratic  execu- 
tive committee  of  the  state.  He  always  was  active  and  influential 
in  state  conventions,  notably  in  the  memorable  convention  that 
assembled  June  9,  1880,  known  in  the  history  of  the  party  as  the 
Colquitt  convention.  This  convention  remained  in  session  for 
seven  days  without  effecting  a nomination,  but  recommended  Al- 
fred H.  Colquitt  by  almost  a two  thirds  majority  as  the  Democratic 
candidate  for  governor.  A contemporaneous  writer  says  of  that 
convention : “There  never  has  been  just  such  another  parlia- 

mentary battle  in  the  state.  It  was  a large  body,  of  unusual  intel- 
ligence. It  was  an  unbroken  majority  against  a solid  minority. 
The  leaders  on  both  sides  were  men  of  ability  and  splendid  wit.” 
That  writer  says,  of  Air.  Shumate:  “Both  in  caucus  and  conven- 

tion, he  was  very  impressive  and  strong.  His  oratory  was  stir- 
ring, his  matter  and  manner  dignified,  conservative  and  magnetic. 
He  evinced  a rare  quality  of  leadership.”  He  has  been  frequently 
importuned  to  become  a candidate  for  judicial  honors  and  for 
Congress,  but  has  persistently,  except  on  two  occasions,  refused 
to  consider  these  overtures,  having  no  taste  or  ambition  for  po- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


287 


litical  preferment,  and  finding  his  profession  worthy  of  his  un- 
qualified allegiance.  At  one  time  he  was  a candidate  before  the 
legislature  for  associate  justice  of  the  supreme  court,  and  though 
he  received  a flattering  vote  failed  of  election,  Spencer  R.  Atkinson 
winning  the  prize.  Mr.  Shumate  is  affiliated  with  the  . Masonic 
fraternity,  and  for  several  terms  has  been  the  worshipful  master 
of  his  lodge,  and  high  priest  of  his  chapter.  He  has  been  since 
his  maturity  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South, 
has  a number  of  times  served  as  a lay  delegate  in  the  North  Geor- 
gia annual  conference,  and  twice  as  a member  of  the  general  con- 
ference of  his  church,  at  Richmond,  Va.,  and  Memphis,  Tenn., 
respectively.  In  all  of  these  ecclesiastical  conventions  he  has  been 
prominent  and  active  in  their  deliberations.  He  has  been  promi- 
nently concerned  with  educational  interests ; was  for  twenty  years 
president  of  Whitfield  county  board  of  education ; for  a long  time 
president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Dalton  female  college, 
and  is  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Emory  college,  Ox- 
ford, Ga.  He  has  written  extensively  for  his  church  papers  and 
magazines,  and  his  contributions  have  gained  significant  com- 
mendation. These  contributions,  published  at  Nashville  and  St. 
Louis,  have  given  him  distinguished  consideration  among  the  lead- 
ing men  of  his  church  throughout  the  connection.  He  has  been 
three  times  married ; his  present  wife  was  Miss  S.  M.  Smith,  daugh- 
ter of  that  excellent  citizen  of  revered  memory,  the  late  Robert  S. 
Smith,  of  Washington,  Ga.  Of  his  seven  children,  the  eldest  son, 
Lewis  M.  Shumate,  died  soon  after  graduating  from  Emory  and 
Henry  college.  His  married  daughters  are,  Mrs.  R.  D.  Bridges, 
of  Leesburg,  V a.,  Mrs.  R.  E.  Parker,  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  Mrs. 
E.  C.  Coffey,  of  Dalton,  Ga.  His  two  living  sons  are,  John  H.  and 
Frank  E.,  the  former  of  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  the  latter  of  Dalton.  A 
single  daughter,  Miss  Lou  Shumate,  is  still  a member  of  his  fam- 
ily. These  children  are  all  intelligent,  active  and  useful  members 
of  their  respective  communities.  Mr.  Shumate  has  made  a distinct 
impression  for  good  in  all  the  relations  of  life  throughout  a large 
section  of  the  state,  and  at  this  writing,  (1906)  he  is  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  without  material  abatement 
of  his  mental  and  physical  vigor,  and  is  still  recognized  as  a lead- 
ing lawyer  of  North  Georgia,  and,  indeed,  of  the  State  of  Georgia. 

Shuptrine,  James  T.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  drug  business  in  the 
city  of  Savannah  and  treasurer  of  the  Georgia  State  pharmaceuti- 
cal association,  is  a member  of  one  of  the  oldest  pioneer  families 
of  Georgia,  the  founder  having  been  Nicholas  Shuptrine,  or  Schub- 


2 88 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


trein,  as  the  name  was  originally  spelled,  who  immigrated  from 
Salzburg,  Germany,  to  America,  in  1734,  settling  at  Ebenezer,  in 
what  is  now  Effingham  county,  about  a year  after  the  landing  of 
General  Oglethorpe,  the  founder  of  the  colony.  James  T.  Shup- 
trine  was  born  on  the  homestead  plantation,  in  Effingham  county, 
Oct.  29,  1850,  a son  of  Daniel  C.  and  Carolina  A.  (Newton)  Shup- 
trine,  the  former  born  in  Effingham  county  in  1823,  and  the  latter 
in  Screven  county  the  same  year.  Daniel  C.  was  a planter  by  oc- 
cupation throughout  his  active  career  and  died  in  June,  1892,  his 
wife  having  passed  away  in  February  of  the  previous  year.  Both 
were  residing  in  the  home  of  their  son  James  T.  at  the  time  of 
death.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  of  whom  only 
three  are  living.  John  S.  resides  in  Liberty  county,  Ga. ; Daniel  R. 
is  a resident  of  Saratoga,  Ark.;  and  James  T.  is  the  immediate  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  Israel  Shuptrine,  grandfather  of  James  T., 
was  born  in  Effingham  county,  and  was  a son  of  Daniel,  also  born 
in  that  county,  a son  of  Nicholas,  who  was  the  founder  of  the 
family  in  Georgia,  as  already  noted.  Daniel  C.  Shuptrine  was  a 
loyal  soldier  of  the  Confederacy  during  the  Civil  war,  having  en- 
listed, in  1861,  in  Captain  McAllister’s  company  of  Georgia  cav- 
alry, with  which  he  served  about  one  year,  and  soon  afterward  re- 
enlisted as  a member  of  Company  B,  Millen’s  battalion  of  cavalry, 
with  which  he  served  as  sergeant  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
thereafter  located  in  Liberty  county,  where  he  resided  until  his 
retirement  from  active  business  life.  James  T.  Shuptrine  secured 
his  educational  training  in  the  schools  of  Liberty  county  and  in 
1870,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Sa- 
vannah, where  he  became  a clerk  in  a drug  store.  In  1877  he  en- 
gaged in  the  same  line  of  business  for  himself  and  now  controls  a 
large  wholesale  and  retail  trade,  handling  both  drugs  and  seeds, 
as  well  as  druggists’  sundries  and  specialties.  He  was  the  first 
president  of  the  Savannah  retail  druggists’  association.  For  ten 
years  he  was  an  active  member  of  the  Georgia  Hussars,  and  is 
now  an  honorary  member  of  the  organization.  He  accords  alle- 
giance to  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  is  a member  of  Trinity 
church,  Methodist  Episcopal  South,  of  whose  board  of  trustees  he 
is  chairman.  On  Feb.  15,  1876,  Mr.  Shuptrine  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Sarah  Savannah  Newton,  daughter  of  Barnett  and 
Jane  A.  (Edwards)  Newton,  of  Effingham  county,  and  they  have 
three  children : Herman  C.,  a member  of  the  Shuptrine  Drug  and 
Seed  Company;  Eulalia  Newton,  wife  of  Francis  E.  Johnston,  of 
Atlanta;  and  Jane  C.,  who  remains  at  the  parental  home. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


289 


Sibbie,  a post-village  of  Wilcox  county,  is  five  miles  northwest 
of  Bowen’s  Mill,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station,  and  in  1900 
had  a population  of  60.  It  is  a trading  center  for  the  neighbor- 
hood in  which  it  is  located. 

Sibley,  a town  of  Crisp  county,  is  on  the  Georgia  Southern  & 
Florida  railroad,  twelve  miles  south  of  Cordele.  It  has  a money 
order  postoffice,  express  and  telegraph  service,  mercantile  and 
shipping  interests,  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  173. 

Sidney,  a post-hamlet  of  Jenkins  county,  is  about  four  miles 
southeast  of  Thrift,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Sigsbee,  a post-town  of  Colquitt  county,  is  a station  on  the  Geor- 
gia Northern  railroad,  ten  miles  northwest  of  Moultrie,  and  in  1900 
reported  a population  of  227.  It  has  some  mercantile  establish- 
ments and  is  an  important  shipping  point. 

Sigurd,  a post-hamlet  of  Dodge  county,  is  about  six  miles  north- 
east of  Godwinsville,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Silco,  a post-village  of  Camden  county,  with  a population  of  52, 
is  on  the  headwaters  of  Crooked  river,  six  miles  west  of  Seals, 
which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Silk  Culture. — In  the  early  settlement  of  America  it  was  the 
dream  of  the  English  economists  that  the  new  country  would  be- 
come a great  producer  of  silk.  The  experiment  was  first  tried  in 
the  Jamestown  colony,  where  the  cultivation  of  the  mulberry  tree, 
the  food  of  the  silk  worm,  was  enforced  by  a system  of  fines  and 
bounties.  The  effort  proved  unsuccessful  in  Virginia  and  when, 
in  1732,  the  colony  of  Georgia  was  chartered  it  was  intended  by 
the  trustees  that  silk  should  be  the  chief  article  of  export.  One  of 
the  requirements  was  that  on  every  ten  acres  of  cleared  land  one 
hundred  white  mulberry  trees  should  be  planted.  General  Ogle- 
thorpe expressed  the  opinion  that  several  thousand  people  could 
be  profitably  employed  in  the  culture  of  silk.  In  1735  enough  Geor- 
gia silk  wras  taken  to  England  to  make  a robe  for  Queen  Caroline, 
the  first  exportation  from  the  new  colony.  Six  years  later  Ben- 
jamin Martyn’s  “Impartial  Inquiry  into  the  State  and  Utility  of 
the  Province  of  Georgia”  was  published,  in  which  it  was  stated 
that  “Some  was  brought  over  by  one  Mr.  Samuel  Auspourquer, 
who  has  made  an  affidavit  that  he  saw  the  Italian  family  winding 
it  off  from  the  balls.  It  was  viewed  by  Mr.  Zachar}q  an  eminent 
raw  silk  merchant,  and  Mr.  Booth,  one  of  our  greatest  weavers, 
who  affirmed  it  to  be  as  fine  as  any  Italian  silk,  or  any  they  would 
wish  to  use,  and  that  it  was  worth  at  least  twenty  shillings  per 
pound.”  Notwithstanding  this  favorable  opinion  of  experts  the 


19— III 


290 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


industry  began  to  dwindle  a few  years  later  and  finally  was  given 
up  altogether.  Ebenezer,  the  settlement  founded  by  the  Salz- 
burghers,  led  in  the  production  of  silk  and  in  1747  raised  one  half 
of  all  that  was  produced  in  the  colony.  They  continued  in  the 
occupation  for  several  years  after  it  had  been  abandoned  by  the 
other  colonists,  who  found  the  cultivation  of  rice  and  cotton  far 
more  remunerative.  In  1772,  485  pounds  of  raw  silk  was  reported 
from  Ebenezer.  Between  the  years  1755  and  1772  the  entire 
amount  of  silk  exported  was  8,829  pounds.  The  greatest  amount 
in  any  one  year  was  in  1766,  when  20,000  pounds  of  cocoons  were 
produced.  While  entertaining  the  notion  that  Georgia  would  be- 
come a great  silk-producing  colony  a filature  was  built  at  Savan- 
nah to  properly  care  for  the  product.  Operations  ceased  at  this 
establishment  in  1771,  and  in  1774  Governor  Wright  recommended 
that  the  building  be  converted  to  some  other  use.  With  the  cessa- 
tion of  the  royal  bounties,  caused  by  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  the  culture  of  silk  entirely  ceased.  In  1840  Judge 
Law,  in  an  address  to  the  Georgia  Historical  Society,  prophesied 
that  “silk  is  doubtless  destined  to  bring  again  into  utility  our  ex- 
hausted soils  and  greatly  to  increase  the  wealth  and  capital  of  our 
state.”  This  prediction  remained  unfulfilled  until  the  fall  of  1902, 
when  a meeting  of  parties  interested  was  held  at  Atlanta  and  a 
Silk  Growers’  Association  was  formed.  All  parts  of  the  state  were 
represented  and  some  enthusiasm  was  manifest  in  the  meeting. 
A company  was  formed  with  a capital  of  $1,000,000  and  a mill 
erected  at  Tallulah  Falls.  The  efforts  to  revive  the  industry  have 
not  been  so  immediately  successful  as  the  promoters  of  the  enter- 
prise hoped,  though  it  is  probable  that  the  future  holds  better 
things  in  store  for  Georgia  silk  culture. 

Silk  Hope. — This  was  one  of  the  early  settlements.  It  was  lo- 
cated on  the  Little  Ogeechee  river,  about  seyen  miles  from  Savan- 
nah, and  was  the  center  of  silk  culture.  The  plantation  of  James 
Habersham  was  located  here  and  he  made  the  place  his  home  for 
many  years. 

Siloam,  a town  of  Greene  county,  is  on  a branch  of  the  Georgia 
railroad,  about  five  miles  northwest  of  White  Plains.  The  popu- 
lation in  1900  was  210.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural 
free  delivery,  an  express  office,  mercantile  and  shipping  interests, 
schools,  churches,  etc. 

Silver. — Many  stories  of  rich  deposits  of  silver  ore  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  state  have  been  circulated,  but  none  has  been  well 
authenticated.  It  has  been  found  in  the  gold,  copper  and  lead  ores 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


291 


in  nearly  every  locality  where  these  metals  have  been  mined,  but 
not  in  sufficient  quantity  to  insure  profitable  mining.  The  greater 
part  of  it  is  contained  as  a sulphide  in  lead.  (q.  v.) 

Silver  City,  a post-village  of  Forsyth  county,  is  ten  miles  north 
of  Cumming  and  not  far  from  the  Dawson  county  line.  It  has 
some  mercantile  and  mining  interests  and  in  1900  reported  a pop- 
ulation of  110. 

Silver  Creek,  a post-village  of  Floyd  county,  is  at  the  junction 
of  the  Central  of  Georgia  and  the  Southern  railroads,  and  is  about 
six  miles  south  of  Rome.  The  population  in  1900  was  78.  It  is 
the  principal  trading  and  shipping  point  in  that  section  of  the 

Silverman,  Harry,  a leading  cigar 
dealer  and  restaurateur  of  Atlanta,  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
Sept.  22,  1861,  a son  of  Seligman  apd 
Henrietta  (Weil)  Silverman,  the  former 
born  in  France  and  the  latter  in  Ger- 
many. When  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  fourteen  years  of  age  his  parents 
took  up  their  residence  in  Atlanta,  where 
he  was  reared  and  educated  and  where 
he  has  been  engaged  in  the  cigar  and 
tobacco  trade,  wholesale  and  retail,  since 
1885,  while  he  is  popular  in  the  business 
and  social  circles  of  his  home  city,  to  whose  interests  he  is  loyal 
in  all  respects.  He  was  one  of  the  original  promoters  and  is  a 
charter  member  of  the  Atlanta  Athletic  club ; is  affiliated  with 
Georgia  Lodge,  No.  96,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  ; his  political 
allegiance  is  given  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  is  a member 
of  Hebrew  Benevolent  Congregation,  one  of  the  principal  Jewish 
churches  of  the  city.  In  1880  Mr.  Silverman  enlisted  as  a private 
in  that  popular  military  organization  known  as  the  Gate  City 
Guards.  At  the  time  of  the  late  Spanish-American  war  he  ten- 
dered his  services  as  a volunteer,  Governor  Atkinson  conferring 
upon  him  the  appointment  of  second  lieutenant  of  Company  I, 
Third  Georgia  volunteer  infantry,  which  was  duly  mustered  into 
the  United  States  service.  He  received  his  appointment  on  July 
18,  1898,  but  his  command  was  not  called  into  active  service,  and 
he  resigned  after  the  protocol  of  peace  was  signed.  In  December, 
1898,  Governor  Candler  appointed  Mr.  Silverman  aide-de-camp  on 
his  staff,  with  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel,  and  in  December,  1902, 


county. 


292 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


he  was  made  assistant  quartermaster  general  of  the  Georgia  state 
troops,  with  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel,  an  office  of  which  he  has 
since  remained  the  incumbent.  On  Dec.  18,  1887,  Mr.  Silverman 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Cohen,  of  Atlanta,  and  they 
have  two  daughters — -Helen  and  Regina. 

Silver  Shoal,  a post-village  in  the  central  part  of  Banks  county, 
reported  a population  of  50  in  1900.  The  nearest  railroad  station 
is  Yonah,  on  the  main  line  of  the  Southern. 

Silvey,  a post-hamlet  of  Meriwether  county,  is  ten  miles  north- 
east of  Greenville,  and  not  far  from  the  Flint  river.  The  nearest 
railroad  station  is  Neal,  on  the  Columbus  & McDonough  division 
of  the  Southern  system. 

Simmons,  Thomas  J.,  late  chief  jus- 
tice of  the  supreme  court  of  the  State  of 
Georgia,  was  born  in  Hickory  Grove, 
Crawford  county,  June  25,  1837,  his  par- 
ents being  Allen  G.  and  Mary  (Cleve- 
land) Simmons.  The  early  education  of 
Judge  Simmons  was  secured  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  county,  after 
which  he  was  for  a time  a student  in 
Bromwood  institute,  at  La  Grange,  Ga. 
He  studied  law  under  the  preceptorship 
of  E.  G.  Cabaniss  and  Col.  A.  D.  Ham- 
mond, of  Forsyth,  Monroe  county,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  August,  1859.  Fie  initiated  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  in  Knoxville,  Ga.,  where  he  later  removed 
to  Macon,  which  was  to  prove  the  scene  of  his  very  successful 
endeavors  as  a member  of  the  bar  of  his  native  state.  There  came 
an  interposition,  however,  which  caused  him  to  subordinate  his 
personal  interests  in  order  that  he  might  go  forth  in  support  of 
the  cause  of  the  Confederacy.  In  April,  1861,  while  still  resident 
of  Knoxville,  he  enlisted  in  the  Crawford  Greys,  the  first  company 
organized  in  Crawford  county,  and  was  forthwith  made  first  lieu- 
tenant of  the  company,  which  was  assigned  to  the  Sixth  Georgia 
volunteer  infantry,  commanded  by  Col.  A.  H.  Colquitt.  From  At- 
lanta the  regiment  was  ordered  to  the  Virginia  frontier  and  it  was 
the  lot  of  Judge  Simmons  to  participate  in  all  engagements  in 
which  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  was  involved.  In  1862  he 
was  elected  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Forty-fifth  Georgia  regiment, 
of  which  Col.  Thomas  Hardeman  was  commander.  In  the  au- 
tumn of  the  same  year  the  future  chief  justice  was  made  colonel 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


293 


of  this  regiment,  in  which  capacity  he  served  until  the  final  sur- 
render on  April  15,  1865,  at  Appomattox.  A few  months  before 
the  close  of  the  war  General  Lee  recommended  his  promotion  to 
the  office  of  brigadier-general  of  infantry,  but  he  never  received 
his  commission  as  such,  owing  to  the  final  surrender  and  conse- 
quent close  of  the  long  and  sanguinary  conflict.  After  his  return 
to  his  home  Judge  Simmons  was  chosen  a delegate  to  the  consti- 
tutional convention  of  1865-6,  in  which  he  represented  Crawford 
county,  and  in  1877  he  was  a delegate  from  Bibb  county  to  the 
constitutional  convention  of  that  year,  having  in  the  meanwhile 
taken  up  his  residence  in  Macon,  in  1867.  In  1866-7  he  served  as 
solicitor-general  of  the  Macon  circuit,  and  in  1872-3  he  represented 
the  twenty-second  district  in  the  state  senate,  of  which  he  was 
president  for  two  terms.  In  the  senate  he  was  chairman  of  the 
finance  and  bond  committees,  and  his  efforts  in  the  latter  connec- 
tion in  the  suppression  of  fraudulent  bonds  gained  him  unqualified 
and  earnest  commendation,  the  state  being  saved  an  unnecessary 
expense  of  $11,000,000.  In  the  constitutional  convention  of  1877 
he  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  finance  committee,  reported  the 
financial  scheme  of  the  present  constitution  and  witnessed  its 
adoption  without  material  change.  In  November,  1878,  he  was 
elected  to  the  bench  of  the  Macon  circuit  of  the  superior  court, 
retaining  this  office  until  1887,  in  September  of  which  year  he  was 
chosen  to  fill  the  vacancy  on  the  -supreme  bench  caused  by  the 
death  of  Judge  Hall.  He  was  elected  his  own  successor  the  fol- 
lowing j'ear,  without  opposition,  serving  as  associate  justice  un- 
til 1891,  when  he  was  elevated  to  the  distinguished  office  of  chief 
justice,  being  reelected  in  1901,  for  a term  of  six  years.  While  in 
active  practice  he  was  associated  with  the  late  Congressman 
James  Blount,  and  with  Augustus  O.  Bacon,  present  United  States 
senator,  the  latter  having  been  elected  to  the  senate  on  the  same 
day  that  Judge  Simmons  was  made  chief  justice.  Judge  Simmons 
was  never  defeated  for  any  office  in  connection  with  which  he  ac- 
cepted a candidacy,  and  his  hold  upon  popular  confidence  and  es- 
teem and  upon  the  regard  of  the  bar  of  the  state  was  tenacious  in 
the  extreme.  That  well  known  professional  publication,  the 
“Green  Bag,”  has  spoken  of  him  as  follows:  “His  mind  is  char- 

acterized by  that  rare  and  valuable  faculty,  the  genius  of  common 
sense.  His  intellect  intuitively  perceives  the  substance  of  the  case 
and  is  under  no  temptation  to  get  away  from  it.”  He  was  a Primi- 
tive Baptist  in  his  religious  faith  and  allegiance,  and  was  identi- 
fied with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 


294 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Fellows,  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  was  thrice  married, — • 
first,  in  1859,  to  Pennie  Hollis,  who  died  in  1864;  second,  in  1867, 
to  Miss  Lucille  Peck,  who  died  in  1882 ; and  in  1888  he  married 
Mrs.  Nannie  R.  Renfro.  He  died  Sept.  12,  1905,  in  Atlanta,  and 
was  buried  at  Macon.  His  widow  and  three  children  survive  him : 
Irene,  who  is  the  wife  of  Artemus  O.  Murphey,  of  Barnesville ; 
Allen  G.,  who  is  a resident  of  Moran,  Ga. ; and  Thomas  J.,  Jr.,  a 
resident  of  Macon,  Ga. 

Simms,  James  P.,  was  a lawyer  at  Covington  before  the  war. 
At  the  beginning  of  hostilities  he  became  major  of  the  Thirty- 
third  Georgia  regiment  and  was  in  the  principal  battles  in  Vir- 
ginia and  Maryland.  On  Dec.  8,  1864,  he  was  commissioned  briga- 
dier-general for  gallant  service.  After  the  war  he  located  in  New- 
ton county,  where  he  resumed  his  practice  and  was  elected  to  the 
legislature.  He  died  in  1888. 

Simpson,  a post-village  of  Heard  county,  with  a population  of 
77,  is  five  miles  northwest  of  Franklin.  The  nearest  railroad  sta- 
tion is  Clem,  on  the  Central  of  Georgia. 

Sims,  George  H.,  a representative  busi- 
ness man  of  Atlanta  and  a member  of  its 
board  of  aldermen,  was  born  on  the 
homestead  plantation  in  Fulton  county, 
about  five  miles  distant  from  that  city, 
May  4,  1861.  He  is  a son  of  William  E. 
and  Virginia  E.  (Donehue)  Sims,  both 
of  whom  were  likewise  born  in  Fidton 
county,  the  respective  families  having 
early  been  founded  in  this  county  and 
concerned  with  agricultural  pursuits. 
A'Yilliam  E.  Sims  was  a loyal  soldier  of 
the  Confederacy  in  the  Civil  war,  as  a 
member  of  a Georgia  regiment  of  infantry,  which  was  part  of  Gen- 
eral Johnston’s  command.  He  was  promoted  to  lieutenant  and 
served  principally  in  the  capacity  of  guide  and  scout,  being  very 
familiar  with  the  greater  portion  of  the  country  in  which  his  com- 
mand maneuvered,  and  he  was  an  active  participant  in  a number 
of  battles  and  skirmishes.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  again  en- 
gaged in  the  operation  of  his  plantation,  upon  which  he  continued 
to  reside  until  his  death,  in  1904.  His  wife  died  in  1895.  George 
H.  Sims  secured  his  early  education  in  private  schools,  after  which 
he  completed  a course  in  Moore’s  business  college  in  Atlanta,  hav- 
ing been  reared  on  the  home  plantation,  in  whose  work  and  man- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


295 


agement  he  assisted  until  after  attaining  his  legal  majority.  He 
then  secured  a position  as  clerk  in  a mercantile  establishment  in 
Atlanta  and  in  1888  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  meat  business 
at  his  present  location,  where  he  has  a finely  equipped  establish- 
ment, owning  the  building,  to  which  he  has  made  additions  and 
other  improvements  since  coming  into  possession  of  the  property. 
He  is  president  of  the  Guarantee  Trust  Company  of  Georgia; 
president  of  the  company  publishing  the  Southern  Merchant;  pres- 
ident of  the  Southern  Laundry  Machine  Company ; and  a member 
of  the  directorate  of  the  Mechanics’  and  Traders’  Bank,  of  At- 
lanta. He  has  attained  success  through  his  own  efforts  and  has 
risen  to  a position  as  one  of  the  substantial  and  influential  busi- 
ness men  of  the  state  metropolis,  while  he  takes  a deep  interest 
in  the  material  development  and  civic  prosperity  of  “Greater  At- 
lanta.” He  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Mystic 
Shrine,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men.  In  politics  he  ex- 
ercises his  franchise  and  lends  his  influence  in  support  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  In  1895  he  was  elected  a member  of  the  city  coun- 
cil, serving  two  years,  and  in  1904  he  was  chosen  to  represent  the 
fifth  ward  on  the  board  of  aldermen,  for  a term  of  three  years. 
In  this  body  he  is  chairman  of  the  electric-light  committee  and  of 
the  board  of.  electric  control.  He  is  a trustee  and  steward  in  the 
Payne  Memorial  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South. 

Sinquefield,  Francis  Albert,  was  one  of  the  honored  and  influ- 
ential citizens  of  Louisville,  Jefferson  county,  where  he  was  prom- 
inent in  connection  with  civic,  industrial  and  mercantile  affairs  and 
where  he  held  himself  as  a sterling  and  upright  man,  command- 
ing the  high  regard  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a loyal  soldier  of 
the  Confederacy  in  the  Civil  war  and  represented  his  native  county 
in  the  state  legislature.  He  was  born  on  the  home  plantation  of  his 
father,  in  Jefferson  county,  Ga.,  Aug.  22,  1836,  and  died  at  his  home 
in  Louisville,  in  1900,  after  a life  of  signal  honor  and  usefulness. 
He  was  a son  of  William  A.  and  Hephzibah  (Ingram)  Sinquefield, 
both  natives  of  Georgia,  the  former  born  in  Washington  county, 
Sept.  24,  1801,  and  the  latter  in  Jefferson  county.  In  1855  William 
A.  Sinquefield  represented  Jefferson  county  in  the  state  legislature, 
having  been  nominated  and  elected  without  aught  of  solicitation 
on  his  part.  He  was  a man  of  utmost  integrity,  was  a successful 
planter,  and  left  a definite  impress  upon  the  history  of  his  home 
county.  He  died  in  1876  and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  Du- 
hart’s  church,  (Baptist)  of  which  he  was  a zealous  member.  His 


296 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


wife  survived  him  by  a number  of  years.  Francis  A.  Sinquefield 
completed  his  early  educational  discipline  in  Louisville  academy, 
having  been  reared  to  maturity  on  the  homestead  plantation.  He 
continued  to  be  identified  with  agricultural  pursuits  through  his 
entire  life,  having  been  one  of  the  extensive  and  successful  planters 
of  Jefferson  county  and  also  for  many  years  engaged  in  the  gen- 
eral merchandise  business  in  Louisville.  He  early  tendered  his 
services  in  support  of  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy,  enlisting  as  a 
private  in  that  celebrated  command  known  as  Cobb’s  Legion  of 
Georgia  cavalry,  being  identified  with  Company  F.  He  proceeded 
to  the  front  and  saw  his  full  share  of  active  service  on  the  field 
of  carnage.  At  Brandy  Station  he  was  severely  wounded  in  the 
leg,  and  in  another  battle  his  favorite  horse,  “John,”  was  shot  and 
killed  under  him.  Fie  was  promoted  to  the  office  of  first  lieuten- 
ant, and  served  in  this  capacity  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Mr. 
Sinquefield  was  aligned  as  a loyal  supporter  of  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party,  and  he  twice  represented  his  county-in  the 
state  legislature.  He  was  tax  collector  of  Jefferson  county  two 
terms,  was  chairman  of  the  county  board  several  years  and  for  a 
long  period  he  was  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Louis- 
ville high  school,  taking  a deep  interest  in  all  that  concerned  the 
welfare  of  the  community.  He  was  one  of  the  prominent  mem- 
bers of  the  Masonic  fraternity  in  this  section  of  the  state,  and 
served  as  worshipful  master  of  his  lodge.  He  was  a deacon  of 
the  Baptist  church  of  Louisville,  and  served  many  years  as  super- 
intendent of  its  Sunday  school.  On  March  9,  1869,  Mr.  Sinquefield 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Louise  Brown,  daughter  of 
Richard  and  Eliza  (Denny)  Brown,  of  Louisville,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  five  children : Pearl,  Albert  Lamar,  William  Rich- 
ard, Louis  Woodbridge,  and  Alice  Louise.  Pearl,  who  is  now  the 
wife  of  William  A.  Stone,  of  Louisville,  furnished  the  data  from 
which  this  brief  memoir  was  prepared.  The  mother  died  April 
10,  1887,  and  Mr.  Sinquefield  later  married  Miss  Mary  Ponder  who 
survives  him. 

Sirmans,  a post-hamlet  of  Clinch  county,  is  five  miles  northwest 
of  Dupont  Junction,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Sisson,  a post-hamlet  of  Wilkes  county,  is  nine  miles  west  of 
Washington,  which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Skeinah,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southern  part  of  Fannin  county, 
is  on  the  Toccoa  river.  Blueridge  is  the  most  convenient  railroad 
station. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


297 


Skidaway  Island. — This  island  lies  almost  due  south  from  Sa- 
vannah, and  extends  from  Wassaw  sound  to  the  Little  Ogeechee 
river.  A colony  of  ten  families  was  planted  at  the  northeastern 
extremity  of  the  island  in  1734  and  a fort  built  at  Skidaway  Nar- 
rows for  the  protection  of  the  settlers.  For  some  time  a garrison 
was  maintained  there  by  detachments  from  Noble  Jones’  company 
of  marines,  but  the  colony  never  flouished  and  four  years  later  it 
was  abandoned.  The  island  has  some  fertile  spots,  but  the  greater 
portion  of  it  is  too  sandy  for  successful  cultivation.  On  March  3, 
1776,  while  the  British  were  trying  to  capture  the  rice  ships  at 
Savannah,  a party  of  British  marines  went  ashore  on  this  island, 
in  search  of  supplies,  but  they  were  driven  back  to  their  ship  by  a 
detachment  of  militia  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Hext. 

Slack,  Henry  Richmond,  M.  D.,  of  La- 
Grange,  is  one  of  the  representative 
physicians  and  surgeons  of  the  state. 
He  is  at  the  head  of  the  LaGrange  Sana- 
torium and  president  of  the  Georgia 
Pasteur  institute  in  the  city  of  Atlanta. 
He  was  born  in  Rosedale,  Iberville  par- 
ish, La.,  May  7,  1862,  a son  of  Henry  R., 
and  Louisiana  (Woolfolk)  Slack,  the 
former  born  at  Plaquemine,  La.,  Oct.  20, 
1835,  and  graduated  in  Yale  university 
as  a member  of  the  class  of  1855.  His 
wife  was  born  in  Jackson,  Tenn.  Through 
his  paternal  grandmother,  Doctor  Slack  is  descended  from  the  well 
known  Cutter  family  of  New  England,  several  representatives  of 
which  served  as  patriot  soldiers  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  His 
maternal  grandfather,  Austin  Woolfolk,  of  Tennessee,  was  on  the 
staff  of  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson  in  the.  war  of  1812,  and  Henry  R. 
Slack,  his  father,  was  a gallant  soldier  of  the  Confederacy,  having 
been  first  lieutenant  in  Company  A,  First  Louisiana  cavalry,  un- 
der General  Morgan.  Doctor  Slack  was  graduated  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Maryland  (college  of  pharmacy)  in  1885,  receiving  the  de- 
gree of  graduate  in  pharmacy,  and  five  years  later  that  of  Master 
of  Pharmacy.  He  had  previously  been  a student  in  the  literary 
department  of  Johns  Hopkins  university.  In  1891  he  wras  gradu- 
ated in  the  Atlanta  medical  college  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Medicine,  and  in  1895  and  1902  he  did  valuable  post-graduate 
work  in  the  Johns  Hopkins  hospital,  Baltimore,  Md.  He  has  also 
taken  courses  in  the  New  York  and  Chicago  post-graduate  medi- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


298 

cal  schools,  and  also  at  Harvard ; has  written  several  prize  essays 
on  scientific  subject,  and  is  a frequent  contributor  to  the  medical 
periodicals.  In  1880  he  entered  the  drug  store  of  Dr.  T.  S.  Brad- 
field  of  LaGrange,  Ga.,  in  a clerical  capacity  and  in  1885  he  became 
a partner  in  the  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Bradfield  & 
Slack.  In  1897  he  disposed  of  his  interest  in  the  business  to  W.  S. 
Davis,  in  order  to  devote  his  entire  time  to  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  In  1900,  in  association  with  Drs.  C.  D.  Hurt,  James  N. 
Brawner,  J.  H.  McDuffie  and  Claude  A.  Smith,  he  established  the 
Georgia  Pasteur  institute  in  Atlanta,  for  the  preventive  treatment 
of  hyprophobia,  and  was  made  president.  This  institution  is 
known  as  one  of  the  most  successful  of  the  sort  in  the  world,  its 
death  rate  thus  far  being  less  than  one-half  of  one  per  cent.  Doc- 
tor Slack  filled  the  chair  of  chemistry  and  physics  in  the  South- 
ern female  college  for  twelve  years.  Ide  also  taught  the  same 
branches  in  the  LaGrange  female  college  until  the  exactions  of 
his  constantly  expanding  professional  practice  compelled  him  to 
abandon  teaching.  By  1902  his  practice  had  become  so  large  that 
he  found  it  necessary  to  make  further  provision  for  his  patients, 
many  of  whom  came  from  long  distances  for  treatment.  He  ac- 
cordingly secured  a charter  and  built  the  LaGrange  sanatorium, 
which,  with  the  aid  of  Mrs.  Slack,  he  has  since  conducted  most  suc- 
cessfully. He  is  a director  in  the  Dixie  cotton  mill  and  the  La- 
Grange National  bank;  is  a life  member  of  the  Georgia  pharma- 
ceutical association  ; and  is  identified  with  the  American  medical 
association  and  the  Georgia  medical  association.  He  was  elected 
vice-chairman  and  presided  over  the  section  on  pharmacy  and 
"therapeutics  of  the  American  medical  association  in  Boston  in 
1906.  In  political  matters  he  is  a stalwart  Democrat,  and  served 
two  terms  as  a member  of  the  city  council  of  LaGrange.  He  took 
a leading  part  in  the  establishment  of  public  schools  in  LaGrange 
and  has  been  on  the  board  of  education  ever  since  it  was  estab- 
lished. He  was  secretary  and  chemist  of  the  Georgia  state  board 
of  pharmacy  for  twelve  years,  holding  appointment  under  Gover- 
nors Gordon  and  Northern  Pie  is  a communicant  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church ; is  affiliated  with  the  LaGrange  Lodge  No.  78, 
Knights  of  Pythias;  Commandery  No.  4,  Knights  Templar,  of  At- 
lanta; Yaarab  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  the  Elm  City  club, 
of  LaGrange.  On  Sept.  14,  1887,  Dr.  Slack  married  Miss  Ruth 
Bradfield,  daughter  of  Dr.  T.  S.  and  Mary  (Loyd)  Bradfield,  of 
LaGrange,  and  they  have  four  children:  Henry  Richmond,  Jr., 

Searcy  Bradfield,  Ruth  and  Mary  Louise. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


299 


Slade,  William  B.,  is  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative members  of  the  Muscogee 
county  bar,  and  a prominent  citizen  and 
business  man  of  Columbus,  the  county- 
seat.  He  was  born  in  the  city  which  is 
now  his  home,  Oct.  3,  1859,  a son  of 
James  Jeremiah  and  Leila  Birchett 
(Bonner)  Slade,  the  former  born  in  Clin- 
ton, Jones  county,  Ga.,  April  28,  1831, 
and  the  latter  in  Columbus,  Dec.  12,  1841. 
William  Slade,  great-great-grandfather 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  lieu- 
tenant and  adjutant  in  the  First  North 
Carolina  regiment  of  the  Continental  line  during  the  war  of  the 
Revolution.  James  J.  Slade  was  a valiant  soldier  of  the  Confed- 
eracy in  the  Civil  war,  having  been  a member  of  the  Tenth  Geor- 
gia volunteer  infantry.  He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines, 
where  he  was  promoted  to  lieutenant  of  his  company,  and  later 
participated  in  the  engagements  at  Frazier’s  Farm,  White  Oak 
Swamp  and  Malvern  Hill,  acting  as  aide-de-camp,  with  rank  of 
captain,  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Paul  J.  Semmes.  He  was  captain  of 
Company  A,  Tenth  Georgia  infantry,  on  Lee’s  march  into  Mary- 
land, and  took  part  in  the  engagement  at  Crampton’s  Gap  and 
in  the  capture  of  Harper’s  Ferry.  Physical  disability  finally  ren- 
dered him  unfit  for  field  service  and  he  was  detailed  to  the  quar- 
termaster's department  in  the  west,  thus  serving  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  was  one  of  the  able  and  well  known  educators  of 
the  state,  and  for  a number  of  years  conducted  a school  known  as 
Sladeville  Hall,  in  Columbus.  William  B.  Slade  secured  his  early 
educational  training  under  the  direction  of  his  father,  in  the  school 
just  mentioned,  and  then  entered  the  University  of  North  Caro- 
lina, where  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1880, 
with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  He  initiated  his  business  ca- 
reer by  accepting  a position  as  collector  in  the  National  bank  of 
Columbus,  and  thereafter  was  successively  promoted  bookkeeper, 
teller,  assistant  cashier  and  cashier.  In  1900  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  institution,  of  which  office  he  is  now  the  incumbent. 
In  addition  to  holding  other  important  trusts  he  is  president  of  the 
Columbus  Savings  and  Loan  association  and  of  the  Home  Savings 
bank,  which  latter  he  organized  in  1903,  and  he  is  also  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Columbus  Clearing  House  association.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Columbus  public  schools,  being 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


'300 

chairman  of  the  finance  committee  of  the  board,  and  is  a member 
of  the  Columbus  board  of  trade,  of  whose  finance  committee  he  is 
chairman.  Mr.  Slade  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1883.  He  gives 
a stanch  allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party,  is  a member  or  the 
Baptist  church,  and  is  identified  with  the  North  Carolina  society 
of  the  Cincinnati,  the  Sons  of  Confederate  Veterans  and  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  being  past  commander  of  St.  Aldemar  Command- 
ery,  No.  3,  Knights  Templars.  On  Nov.  19,  1884,  Mr.  Slade  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Byrnes  Browne,  daughter  of 
J.  Rhodes  and  Roberta  Hanson  Harrison  (Yonge)  Browne,  of  Co- 
lumbus, and  they  have  four  children,  namely:  Roberta,  John 

Rhodes,  Mary  Browne,  and  Leila  Jacqueline. 

Slates. — The  indispensable  qualities  of  a good  roofing  slate  are 
durability  and  capacity  for  being  easily  split  into  thin  plates. 
Slate  of  this  character  is  found  at  a number  of  places  along  the 
line  of  contact  between  the  Paleozoic  and  Crystalline  areas,  the 
principal  deposits  being  in  the  Cohutta,  Silicoa,  Pine  Log  and  Dug 
Down  mountains.  At  Rockmart,  in  the  eastern  part  of  Polk 
county,  the  deposits  outcrop  in  the  steep  hills  and  have  been  ex- 
tensively worked.  The  Rockmart  slate  is  of  the  Silurian  age,  has 
a deep  blue-black  color,  is  of  fine  even  texture  free  from  pyrites  or 
other  foreign  substances,  and  cleaves  readily  into  plates  suitable 
for  roofing  purposes.  The  output  of  the  quarries  amounts  to  about 
$13,000  annually.  Dark  colored  slates  are  also  found  in  Bartow, 
Murray,  Gordon  and  Fannin  counties.  Slates  of  buff  and  light 
green  shades  are  found  in  large  quantities  in  the  northern  part  of 
Bartow  county  and  neighboring  hills. 

Slaton,  John  Marshall,  a representative  member  of  the  Georgia 
bar,  is  also  an  influential  member  of  the  state  legislature,  in  which 
he  had  the  distinction  of  being  chosen  speaker  of  the  house  for 
the  sessions  of  1905-6.  He  was  born  near  Greenville,  Meriwether 
county,  Ga.,  Nov.  25,  1866,  a son  of  William  Franklin  and  Nancy 
Jane  (Martin)  Slaton,  the  former  born  near  Warm  Springs,  Meri- 
wether county,  March  6,  1831,  and  the  latter  in  Wilkes  county, 
Ga.,  Dec.  6,  1834.  One  of  William  F.  Slaton’s  paternal  grand- 
fathers, Arthur  Harris,  of  Maryland,  served  as  a patriot  soldier  in 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  Absalom  Harris,  great-grandfather 
of  William  F.,  early  settled  in  Hancock  county,  Ga.  His  son 
Henry  is  mentioned  in  White’s  Statistics  of  Georgia  as  being  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Meriwether  county.  The  latter’s  daughter, 
Nancy  Harris,  married  John  Slaton,  grandfather  of  him  whose 
name  initiates  this  sketch.  On  the  maternal  side  is  traced  a long 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


301 


line  of  Revolutionary  ancestors.  Abram  Martin,  who  served  with 
Washington  at  Fort  Duquesne  and  whose  wife,  Elizabeth  (Mar- 
shall) Martin,  rendered  valuable  assistance  in  the  siege  of  Au- 
gusta, was  an  ancestor  of  Mr.  Slaton.  Gen.  John  Martin,  son  of 
Abram  and  Elizabeth  Martin,  was  a brigadier-general  during  the 
war  for  independence,  and  John  Oliver  Martin,  great-grandfather 
of  Mr.  Slaton,  was  an  ensign  in  the  Continental  line.  Elizabeth 
(Marshall)  Martin,  from  whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  of  the 
sixth  generation  in  line  of  direct  descent,  Avas  the  aunt  of  the  dis- 
tinguished Chief  Justice  John  Marshall.  She  sent  six  sons  into 
ser\Tice  in  the  cause  of  independence  from  Ninety  Six,  S.  C.,  and 
at  the  time  of  the  siege  of  Augusta,  Ga.,  she,  Avith  the  assistance  of 
her  tA\ro  daughters-in-law,  Grace  and  Rachel  Martin,  practically 
saved  the  city  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  British.  The  three 
intrepid  women  donned  men’s  attire  and  wrested  from  some  Tory 
spies  important  dispatches  and  keys.  There  is  iioav  in  Augusta 
a large  painting1  depicting  this  brave  act  of  the  three  patriotic 
women,  and  A^arious  historical  publications  make  detailed  mention 
of  this  eArent.  William  Franklin  Slaton  A\ras  a A'aliant  soldier  of 
the  Confederacy  during  the  war  betAveen  the  states.  A sketch  of 
his  life  appears  else\Adiere  in  this  work.  John  Marshall  Slaton  se- 
cured his  early  educational  training  in  the  schools  of  Atlanta,  haAr- 
ing  been  graduated  in  the  Boys’  high  school  ay  hen  but  thirteen 
years  of  age  and  he  still  has  the  honor  of  being  the  youngest  per- 
son who  has  ever  receAed  a diploma  from  this  Avell  conducted 
and  popular  institution.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  entered 
the  UnAersity  of  Georgia,  in  which  he  was  graduated  in  1886 
with  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts.  He  then  began  reading  laAV 
under  the  late  John  Thomas  Glenn,  of  Atlanta,  and  in  due  time 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  his  natAe  state.  In  1890  he  entered 
into  a professional  partnership  with  his  former  preceptor,  Mr. 
Glenn,  and  Avith  but  a slight  interim,  this  association  continued  un- 
interrupted until  the  death  of  Mr.  Glenn,  in  1899,  the  relations 
ever  being  most  cordial,  as  well  as  mutually  fruitful  and  profitable. 
At  the  time  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Glenn  the  firm  contained  a third 
member,  Benjamin  Z..  Phillips,  and  the  tAvo  surviving  members 
haAre  since  continued  associated  in  their  professional  AArork,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Slaton  & Phillips.  The  firm  controls  a large  and 
representative  business  and  is  one  of  the  foremost  in  the  capital 
city.  In  politics  Mr.  Slaton  is  an  uncompromising  adherent  and 
supporter  of  the  Democratic  party.  In  1891  he  Avas  president  of 
the  Young  Men’s  Democratic  League,  and  he  has  continued  to 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


303 


take  a lively  interest  in  the  party  work  and  councils  in  Georgia. 
The  estimate  placed  upon  Mr.  Slaton  by  the  people  of  Fulton 
county  is  shown  in  the  fact  that  he  has  served  continuously  as  a 
representative  of  this  county  in  the  state  legislature  since  1896,. 
having  recently  been  reelected,  for  the  term  of  1907-8.  He  served 
seven  years  as  chairman  of  the  general  judiciary  committee,  and 
in  1905-6  as  speaker  of  the  house,  gaining  great  popularity  as  pre- 
siding officer,  as  he  had  previously  on  the  floor  and  in  the  com- 
mittee room.  He  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in  Trinity  church,. 
Methodist  Episcopal  South,  in  Atlanta;  he  is  identified  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  as  well 
also  as  with  the  Capital  City  club,  Piedmont  Driving  club  and 
Atlanta  Athletic  club.  On  July  13,  1898,  was  solemnized  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Slaton  to  Airs.  Sarah  (Grant)  Jackson,  daughter  of 
William  Daniel  and  Sarah  Frances  (Reid)  Grant,  of  Atlanta. 
They  have  no  children. 


Slaton,  William  Franklin,  is  well 
known  and  highly  honored  in  the  field 
of  popular  education  in  Georgia,  having 
been  the  superintendent  of  the  city 
schools  of  Atlanta  for  twenty-seven 
years.  He  rendered  most  gallant  serv- 
ice as  an  officer  in  the  Confederate  army 
during  the  dark  and  turbulent  period  of 
the  Civil  war,  and  also  has  the  distinc- 
tion of  being  a representative  of  old  and 
prominent  families  of  Georgia.  He  re- 
ceived his  commission  as  colonel  at  the 
close  of  the  war  while  in  prison  at  John- 
son’s island,  but  as  all  of  his  fighti  ng  was  done  while  a major,  he 
is  known  to  everyone  by  the  latter  title.  Alajor  Slaton  was  born 
near  Warm  Springs,  Aleriwether  county,  Ga.,  March  6,  1831,  a son 
of  John  and  Nancy  (Harris)  Slaton,  the  former  born  in  Kentucky 
in  1796  and  the  latter  in  Hancock  county,  Ga.,  in  1811.  The  father 
was  a planter  by  vocation  and  served  under  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson 
in  the  Seminole  Indian  war.  As  he  died  when  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  a child,  the  latter  has  been  unable  to  gain  satisfactory 
data  touching  the  family  history.  In  the  maternal  line  Major 
Slaton  is  descended  from  two  Harris  families,  his  mother  having 
been  a Harris,  as  was  also  her  mother.  The  Major’s  grandfather, 
Henry  Harris,  Avas  a son  of  Absalom  Harris,  who  was  a loyal  sol- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


303 

dier  in  the  Continental  line  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  the  fam- 
ily having  been  resident  of  Virginia  at  the  time.  Mrs.  Nancy 
Slaton’s  mother,  Mary  Elizabeth  (Harris)  Harris,  was  a daughter 
of  Lieut.  Arthur  Harris,  who  went  forth  from  Maryland  to  serve 
in  the  Colonial  army  in  the  Revolution.  Absalom  Harris  came  to 
Georgia  from  Greenville  county,  Va.,  and  settled  on  Shoulderbone 
creek  in  Hancock  county,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  His  son,  Henry,  the  grandfather  of  Major  Slaton,  moved 
from  Hancock  county  to  Greenville,  Meriwether  county,  and 
White’s  Statistics  of  Georgia  refer  to  him  as  having  been  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  that  county.  John  Slaton,  the  Major’s  father,  re- 
moved to  Autauga  county,  Ala.  Major  Slaton  was  afforded  the 
advantages  of  various  country  schools  of  the  old  type,  thereafter 
attending  the  school  conducted  by  Dr.  Archilus  Mitchell,  at  Sum- 
merfield,  Ala.,  and  still  later  was  a student  in  the  school  conducted 
by  the  noted  Dr.  Carlyle  P.  Beman,  at  Mount  Zion,  Hancock 
county,  Ga.  He  was  finally  graduated  in  Emory  college  at  Ox- 
ford, Ga.,  and  still  later  was  granted  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts 
by  the  University  of  Georgia.  When  it  became  certain  that  a con- 
flict must  occur  between  the  states  of  the  north  and  the  south. 
Major  Slaton,  who  was  then  engaged  in  teaching  at  Auburn,  Ala., 
promptly  subordinated  all  personal  considerations  to  go  forth  in 
defense  of  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
war  he  held  the  office  of  first  lieutenant  in  the  Auburn  Guards,  and 
with  this  command  he  went  to  Pensacola,  Fla.,  to  assist  in  the 
protection  of  Fort  Barrancas.  In  the  spring  of  1862  his  company 
formally  entered  the  Confederate  service  at  Auburn,  Ala.,  as  Com- 
pany D,  Thirty-seventh  Alabama  infantry.  He  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Corinth,  Shiloh  and  Iuka  and  in  all  the  engagements 
down  to  the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  At  Corinth  he  was  wounded  in 
the  head  by  the  explosion  of  a shell,  a fragment  of  which  pene- 
trated the  skull  just  back  of  the  temporal  bone,  but  within  a few 
weeks  he  was  enabled  to  resume  his  place  with  his  command.  He 
was  under  General  Pemberton  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  and  was 
captured  at  Lookout  Mountain.  There  he  was  accused  by  Gen- 
eral Grant  of  having  violated  his  parole  given  at  Vicksburg.  This 
contretemps  was  caused  by  the  fact  that  the  secretary  of  wrar  of 
the  Confederate  States  government  had  returned  5,000  Vicksburg 
troops  to  the  field  on  account  of  an  equal  number  captured  at  Har- 
per’s Ferry,  paroled  in  the  field  and  recaptured  the  next  day  in 
Maryland  with  arms  in  their  hands.  He  considered  himself  justi- 
fied in  ordering  the  return  of  the  Vicksburg  troops  to  the  field,  de- 


'304 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


daring  them  exchanged  without  having  their  paroles  in  turn. 
Major  Slaton  was  sent  under  sentence  of  death  to  Louisville,  Ky., 
where  he  was  tried  by  General  Burbridge  without  being  permitted 
to  appear  in  his  own  defense  and  was  condemned  to  be  shot.  By 
the  intervention  of  Hon.  Benjamin  H.  Hill  his  life  was  saved,  and 
he  was  sent  instead  to  endure  the  horrors  of  the  Federal  prison 
on  Johnson’s  island  in  Lake  Erie,  where  he  languished  for  eighteen 
weary  months,  being  held  in  captivity  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  promoted  captain  of  his  original  company,  later  was  made 
major  and  finally  in  1864,  he  was  commissioned  colonel  of  his 
regiment.  He  took  part  in  more  than  one  hundred  engagements 
and  his  record  in  the  service  is  one  of  marked  valor  and  faithful- 
ness. He  was  discharged,  as  a prisoner  of  war,  June  5,  1865,  re- 
turned to  Georgia  and  located  on  a farm  near  Woodbury,  Meri- 
wether county,  where  he  remained  until  he  recuperated  his  wasted 
energies,  after  which  he  resumed  teaching  at  Griffin,  this  state. 
He  has  been  identified  with  educational  work  from  the  time  of 
attaining  to  his  legal  majority.  In  1855  he  was  elected  to  a pro- 
fessorship in  the  Alabama  polytechnic  institute  at  Auburn,  an  in- 
stitution of  which  he  was  practically  the  founder  and  in  which  he 
taught  for  a period  of  six  years.  After  the  war  he  devoted  him- 
self to  agricultural  pursuits,  principally  by  reason  of  impaired  eye- 
sight, resulting  from  wounds  received  in  the  Avar.  He  resumed  his 
pedagogic  work  in  1871,  continued  to  teach  at  Griffin  for  the  en- 
suing four  years  and  then  took  up  his  residence  in  the  city  of  At- 
lanta, where  he  assumed  the  position  of  principal  of  the  boys’  high 
school,  which  he  retained  until  1879,  when  he  was  elected  to  his 
present  important  office  of  superintendent  of  the  Atlanta  schools. 
In  this  position  his  labors  and  his  marked  administrative  powers 
have  redounded  to  the  great  benefit  of  the  local  school  system,  and 
he  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem  as  a citizen,  educator  and  veteran 
of  the  Civil  war.  Major  Slaton  is  a Democrat  in  his  political  al- 
legiance, but  he  has  never  been  a seeker  of  political  office.  He  is 
affiliated  with  the  United  Confederate  Veterans,  is  a Royal  Arch 
Mason,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  Trinity  church, 
Methodist  Episcopal  South,  of  Atlanta.  On  Dec.  6,  1852,  Major 
Slaton  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Nancy  Jane  Martin,  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  Rev.  William  D.  and  Martha  Pope  (Johnson)  Mar- 
tin, of  Greenville,  Ga.  The  Rev.  William  D.  Martin  was  a man 
of  wealth  and  great  capacity,  having  ser\red  in  the  legislature  and 
as  a member  of  the  secession  convention.  He  was  a noted  orator 
of  his  day  and  the  late  Senator  Benjamin  Harvey  Hill  said  he  was 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


305 


the  only  man  who  ever  defeated  him  in  a stump  speech.  Major 
and  Mrs.  Slaton  have  seven  children : W illiam  Martin  Slaton 

married  Miss  Mattie  Grant  Jackson,  daughter  of  Chief-Justice 
James  Jackson,  and  is  principal  of  the  boys’  high  school  of  At- 
lanta; Mary  Katherine  is  the  wife  of  Waid  H.  Blanchard;  Annie 
May  is  the  wife  of  Albigence  Lamar  Waldo;  John  Marshall  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Sarah  Grant  Jackson,  has  been  a member  of  the  Georgia 
legislature  since  1896,  the  longest  term  on  record  in  Fulton  county, 
and  has  been  elected  speaker  of  the  house;  Mattie  Lee;  Lily  B., 
teacher  of  French  in  the  girls’  high  school  of  Atlanta,  is  the  wife 
of  Judge  Samuel  C.  Atkinson,  of  the  Georgia  Supreme  court;  and 
Lulah  E.  is  the  youngest  of  the  children,  and  all  are  residents  of 
Atlanta. 

Slavery. — On  Jan.  9,  1734,  the  trustees  of  the  colony  passed  “An 
Act  for  rendering  the  colony  of  Georgia  more  Defencible  by  Pro- 
hibiting the  Importation  and  use  of  Black  Slaves  or  Negroes  into 
the  same.”  By  the  provisions'  of  this  act  if,  after  June  24,  1735, 
any  person  or  persons  should  be  found  guilty  of  importing,  or 
causing  to  be  imported,  any  negro,  such  person  or  persons  should 
forfeit  £50  for  every  such  negro  or  black  so  imported  or  brought 
into  the  colony.  It  was  also  provided  that  all  blacks  or  negroes 
found  within  the  colony  after  the  prescribed  date,  should  be  seized 
and  taken  as  the  property  of  the  trustees,  to  be  sold  or  exported 
as  the  common  council  might  direct. 

The  reasons  for  this  action  were  explained  to  be:  First,  the 

Spanish  colony  of  Florida  on  the  south  might  persuade  the  slaves 
to  leave  their  masters  or  join  in  an  insurrection  against  the  au- 
thority of  the  whites ; Second,  the  time  consumed  by  the  master 
in  keeping  his  slaves  at  work  could  be  more  profitably  employed 
in  doing  the  work  himself;  Third,  in  case  of  war  the  slaves,  having 
no  interests  at  stake,  could  not  be  relied  on  for  the  defence  of  the 
colony.  The  act  had  no  sooner  taken  effect  than  a petition  for 
its  repeal  was  forwarded  to  the  trustees.  It  was  not  granted,  how- 
ever, and  when,  in  1738,  poor  crops,  Causton’s  defalcation  and 
other  causes  brought  hard  times  to  the  people  of  Georgia,  a sec- 
ond petition  was  presented.  This  effort  was  opposed  by  the  Fligh- 
landers,  who  had  settled  at  New  Inverness,  on  the  grounds  that 
the  introduction  of  slavery  would  increase  the  friction  with  the 
Spaniards  and  expose  their  settlement  to  greater  danger.  On  Dec. 
6,  1748,  Whitefield  wrote:  “Georgia  never  can  or  will  be  a flour- 
ishing province  without  negroes  are  allowed.”  Such"  eminent  au- 
thority as  this  encouraged  the  advocates  of  slavery  and  on  Jan. 


20— in 


306 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


10,  1749,  a third  petition,  more  insistent  than  either  of  the  others, 
was  sent  to  the  trustees.  This  time  the  trustees  asked  the  opin- 
ions of  the  representative  men  of  the  colony  and,  the  majority 
expressing  themselves  in  favor  of  the  repeal,  the  question  was 
presented  to  the  king  in  council,  with  the  result  that  late  in  the 
year  the  restrictions  were  removed.  The  introduction  of  negroes 
soon  followed  and  the  policy  of  slavery  was  continued  until  it  was 
abolished  after  the  Confederate  war. 

Sloan,  Andrew,  was  born  at  McDonough,  Henry  county,  June 
10,  1845.  He  received  a classical  education,  studied  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1846.  Later  he  removed  to  Savannah,  where 
he  was  appointed  deputy  collector  of  customs.  Upon  retiring 
from  the  custom  house  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law.  In  1872 
he  was  nominated  by  the  Democrats  for  Congress  and  was  elected, 
though  his  opponent,  Morgan  Rawls,  received  the  certificate  of 
election.  After  a long  and  tedious  contest  he  was  seated  on  March 
24,  1874. 

Slocumb,  a post-hamlet  of  Jones  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Athens  division  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  about  fifteen 
miles  from  Macon.  It  has  some  local  trade  and  handles  consider- 
able freight. 

Smarrs,  a town  in  Monroe  county,  is  a station  on  the  main  line 
of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  four  or  five  miles  southeast  of 
Forsyth.  The  population  in  1900  was  172.  It  has  a money  order 
postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  express  and  telegraph  offices, 
some  mercantile  interests,  schools,  churches,  etc.,  and  is  an  im- 
portant shipping  point. 

Smelt,  Dennis,  was  a native  of  Georgia  and  received  a limited 
education.  In  1804  he  was  elected  representative  in  Congress,  re- 
elected in  1806  and  again  in  1808. 

Smiley,  a post-village  in  the  western  part  of  Liberty  county,  re- 
ported a population  of  50  in  1900.  It  is  the  principal  trading  point 
for  a large  agricultural  district.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is 
Coe  on  the  Glennville  & Register  road. 

Smith,  Bridges,  mayor  of  the  city  of  Macon,  was  born  in  Wil- 
mington, N.  C.,  Sept.  19,  1847,  a son  of  James  IT.  and  Mary  L. 
(Reeves)  Smith,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  North  Carolina,  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent.  In  1857  they  removed  from  their  native  state 
to  Georgia,  first  locating  in  Columbus,  Muscogee  county,  whence 
they  removed  to  Macon  in  1858.  The  future  mayor  served  in  the 
capacity  of  newsboy  in  both  Columbus  and  Macon,  being  fourteen 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  His 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


307 

youthful  loyalty  was  one  of  action  and  he  entered  the  Confederate 
service,  in  which  he  continued  four  years,  with  the  Fifth  Georgia 
reserves.  After  the  war  he  identified  himself  with  the  printing  busi- 
ness, and  in  the  ’70s  was  engaged  in  the  newspaper  business  in 
Macon.  In  1888  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  city  clerk,  of  which 
office  he  continued  the  incumbent  eleven  successive  years,  at  the 
expiration  of  which,  in  1899,  he  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city. 
The  best  evidence  of  popular  estimate  placed  upon  his  adminis- 
tration as  chief  executive  of  the  municipal  government  is  that  af- 
forded in  his  having  been  retained  in  the  office  of  mayor  to  the 
present  time.  His  policy  has  been  progressive  and  effective,  due 
economy  having  been  conserved  in  the  various  departments  of  the 
city  government.  It  is  in  a large  measure  due  to  his  efforts  that 
a number  of  suburban  districts  have  become  part  of  the  city  within 
his  administration,  adding  materially  to  the  population  and  re- 
sources of  Macon,  and  the  fine  municipal  auditorium  building  has 
been  erected  during  his  regime  as  mayor.  Mr.  Smith  is  a stanch 
adherent  of  the  Democratic  party;  is  identified  with  various  busi- 
ness, fraternal  and  social  organizations ; and  enjoys  unqualified 
popularity  in  the  city  which  has  so  long  been  his  home.  In  1868 
Mr.  Smith  married  Miss  Anna  W ade,  who  died  in  1884  and  who  is 
survived  by  two  children.  In  1886  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Katrina  Goelz,  a daughter  of  John  Goelz,  who  was  born 
in  Germany  and  who  is  now  resident  of  Macon. 

Smith,  Charles  G.,  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Georgia  Enterprise, 
at  Covington,  Newton  county,  was  born  near  Talbotton,  Talbot 
county,  Ga.,  Oct.  4,  1876.  He  is  a son  of  Simeon  G.  and  Eunice 
(Tigner)  Smith,  both  of  whom  were  likewise  born  and  reared  in 
this  state.  The  father  was  a member  of  a Georgia  regiment  in  the 
Confederate  service  during  the  four  years  of  the  Civil  war  and  died 
at  Thomaston,  Upson  county,  in  1887.  His  wife  is  still  living. 
Charles  G.  Smith  secured  his  early  educational  training  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Thomaston,  after  which  he  was  for  three  years  a 
student  in  Emory  college  at  Oxford,  Ga.  He  first  became  identified 
with  newspaper  work  in  Thomaston,  where  he  remained  a short 
time,  after  which,  in  1899,  he  removed  to  Covington,  where  he  has 
since  been  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Georgia  Enterprise,  one 
of  the  model  papers  of  its  class  in  the  state.  Mr.  Smith  is  a Dem- 
ocrat in  his  political  proclivities  and  supports  the  cause  both 
through  his  editorial  utterances  and  his  personal  influence.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  and  is  affiliated 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Royal  Arcanum. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OE  GEORGIA 


3U8 

Smith,  Charles  H.,  better  known  to  the  literary  world  by  his 
pseudonym  of  “Bill  Arp,”  was  born  at  Lawrenceville,  Gwinnett 
county,  June  15,  1826.  In  1848  he  graduated  at  Franklin  college 
and  the  following'  year  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  located  at 
Rome,  where  he  practiced  his  profession  for  twenty-seven  years, 
when  lie  removed  to  Cartersville.  He  began  writing  about  the  time 
of  the  Civil  war.  The  Louisville  Courier-Journal  said  of  his  letter 
to  Artemus  Ward  in  1865,  that:  “It  was  the  first  chirp  of  any 

bird  after  the  surrender,  and  gave  relief  and  hope  to  thousands  of 
drooping  hearts.”  At  first  his  letters  were  written  in  the  phonetic 
spelling  adopted  by  so  many  humorists,  but  in  later  years  he 
dropped  that  style  and  depended  upon  his  real  humor  to  make  his 
articles  popular.  His  letters  to  the  Atlanta  Constitution  and  the 
Home  and  Farm,  of  Louisville  are  delightful  mixtures  of  humor 
and  philosophy,  free  from  pessimism  or  cynicism,  and  have  been 
widely  read.  He  is  also  the  author  of  several  books,  the  foremost 
of  which  are  Bill  Arp’s  Letters;  Bill  Arp’s  Scrap  Book;  The  Farm 
and  Fireside;  A Side  Show  of  the  Southern  Side  of  the  War;  and 
a History  of  Georgia. 

Smith,  Clifford  L.,  superintendent  of  the  public  schools  of  La- 
Grange,  has  attained  to  marked  success  and  popularity  in  his 
chosen  profession  and  has  been  employed  as  a teacher  in  the  La- 
Grange  schools  for  nearly  a score  of  years.  Fie  was  born  in  the 
vicinity  of  Greensboro,  Greene  county,  Ga.,  a son  of  Rufus  W. 
Smith,  of  whom  specific  mention  is  made  in  this  publication,  so 
that  it  is  not  necessary  to  advert  to  the  family  genealogy  in  the 
present  connection.  Professor  Smith  is  a man  of  fine  scholarship, 
having  graduated  at  Emory  College,  Oxford,  Ga.,  and  later  took 
special  post-graduate  work  in  the  celebrated  University  of  Chicago. 
He  taught  one  year  in  the  schools  of  Dalton,  Ga.,  and  one  year  in 
Cartersville,  after  which,  in  1886,  he  located  in  LaGrange,  where 
he  has  since  maintained  his  home  and  done  most  effective  work. 
For  seventeen  years  he  was  teacher  of  mathematics  and  sciences 
in  the  local  schools  and  then  came  a just  recognition  of  his  ability 
and  faithful  service  in  his  advancement,  in  1903,  to  his  present 
office.  He  is  a stanch  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party;  is  an  ap- 
preciative member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  master  of  his 
lodge  and  a past  high-priest  of  his  chapter.  Fie  served  for  a dum- 
ber of  years  as  a member  of  the  Fifth  Georgia  regiment,  in  which 
he  rose  to  the  rank  of  major.  On  April  2,  1893,  Professor  Smith 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Pearl  Long,  daughter  of  N.  B. 
and  Mary  (Leslie)  Long,  of  Gordon,  Ala.  They  have  no  children. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


309 


Smith,  Ernest  Marvin,  a prominent  member  of  the  Henry  county 
bar,  is  solicitor  of  the  county  court  at  the  present  time  and  is 
also  mayor  of  McDonough/  the  county  seat,  where  he  has'  been 
established  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  since  1897.  He  was 
born  in  Monroe  county,  Ga.,  Jan.  7,  1873,  a son  of  Augustus  Clay- 
ton and  Sarah  Jane  (Phinizy)  Smith,  both  natives  of  Monroe 
county,  the  former  born  in  1831  and  the  latter  in  1835.  The  father 
was  a loyal  soldier  of  the  Confederacy  in  the  war  between  the 
states  as  a member  of  a Georgia  regiment  of  volunteers.  The 
mother  was  a daughter  of  Rev.  Hiram  Phinizy,  who  in  1846  founded 
the  Congregational  Methodist  church,  of  which  he  remained  a dis- 
tinguished clergyman  until  his  death,  and  who  was  a representative 
of  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  honored  families  of  Georgia,  where 
the  name  is  still  one  of  much  prominence.  Ernest  M.  Smith  was 
afforded  the  advantages  of  Emory  college  at  Oxford,  Ga.,  after 
which  he  read  law  in  the  office  of  Berner  & Bloodworth,  of  Forsyth, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  his  native  state  in  February,  1894. 
He  served  his  professional  novitiate  in  Forsyth,  remaining  in 
practice  there  until  1897,  when  he  removed  to  McDonough,  where 
he  has  since  followed  the  work  of  his  profession  most  successfully. 
He  is  a stanch  and  influential  exponent  of  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party;  is  a member  of  the  state  Democratic  executive 
committee,  representing  the  sixth  Congressional  district ; and  is 
also  a member  of  the  county  committee.  In  1900  he  was  elected 
to  represent  Henry  county  in  the  state  legislature,  served  one  term, 
and  he  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  solicitor  of  the  county 
court,  to  which  position  he  was  first  appointed  in  1902.  In  1900  he 
was  elected  mayor  of  McDonough,  and  the  best  voucher  for  his  per- 
sonal popularity  and  the  estimate  placed  upon  his  administration  is 
that  accorded  by  the  fact  that  he  has  been  reelected  each  year  since, 
being  in  tenure  of  the  chief  executive  office  of  the  municipal  govern- 
ment at  the  time  of  this  writing.  He  is  vice-president  of  the  Geor- 
gia league  of  municipalities,  to  which  office  he  was  elected  in  Au- 
gust, 1905.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  South.  On  Dec.  20,  1899,  Mr.  Smith  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Flora  Turner,  daughter  of  L.  A.  and  Tommie 
(Glass)  Turner,  of  McDonough.  They  have  no  children. 

Smith,  George  G.,  clergyman  and  author,  was  born  on  Dec.  24, 
1836,  at  Sheffield,  the  residence  of  his  grandfather.  Rev.  John  How- 
ard, about  eight  miles  from  Oxford,  Newton  county,  his  parents 
being  Dr.  George  D.  and  Susan  A.  (Howard)  Smith.  The  greater 
part  of  his  boyhood  was  passed  in  Oxford.  He  entered  Emory  col- 


310 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


lege,  but  left  the  institution  at  the  age  of  eighteen  and  went  to  work 
in  the  city  of  Augusta.  After  several  years  there  he  joined  the 
Georgia  conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South  as 
an  itinerant  preacher.  In  1859  he  married  Sarah  Joanna,  daughter 
of  Robert  F.  Ousley,  and  a third  cousin  of  Jefferson  Davis.  When 
Phillips’  Georgia  legion  was  organized  he  was  made  its  chaplain 
and  went  with  the  command  to  West  Virginia  in  1861.  After  some 
rough  service  there  the  legion  was  transferred  to  eastern  Virginia 
and  during  the  remainder  of  the  war  was  with  the  army  com- 
manded by  Gen.  R.  E.  Lee.  At  the  battle  of  South  Mountain,  Md., 
Chaplain  Smith  was  severely  wounded  and  for  weeks  lingered  at 
the  point  of  death.  He  finally  recovered,  but  his  left  arm  has 
been  ever  since  paralyzed.  When  his  health  was  sufficiently  re- 
stored he  resumed  his  ministerial  work,  which  he  continued  until 
within  recent  years,  and  since  then  has  devoted  much  of  his  time 
to  literary  work.  His  wife  died  in  1869,  leaving  several  children, 
and  about  the  same  time  he  was  transferred  to  the  Baltimore  con- 
ference. At  Lewisburg,  W.  Va.,  in  his  new  field  of  labor,  he  mar- 
ried in  December,  1870,  Miss  Nannie  L.  Lipps.  Soon  after  this  he 
returned  to  the  North  Georgia  conference,  in  which  he  labored 
faithfully  as  long  as  his  physical  strength  would  permit,  loved  by 
all,  and  especially  the  children,  to  whom  it  was  his  delight  to 
preach.  He  is  also  well  known  as  an  author,  his  most  noted  works 
being  a “Life  of  Bishop  Pierce,”  the  “Life  of  Bishop  Asbury,”  a 
“Story  of  the  Georgia  People,”  “Methodism  in  Georgia,”  the  “Boy 
in  Gray,”  and  several  smaller  works. 

Smith,  George  L.,  M.  D.,  is  to  be  designated  in  this  work  as  one 
of  the  representative  members  of  his  profession  in  the  state,  and 
has  been  successfully  established  in  practice  at  Swainsboro,  Eman- 
uel county,  for  a quarter  of  a century.  He  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Ga.,  July  4,  1860,  a son  of  Dr.  Benjamin  D.  and  Dora  L. 
(Rountree)  Smith,  the  former  a native  of  Washington  county, 
where  he  was  born  in  1831,  and  the  latter  of  Emanuel  county, 
where  she  was  born  in  1837.  Dr.  Benjamin  D.  Smith  was  an  able 
physician  and  surgeon  and  was  engaged  in  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession  for  about  forty  years,  in  Washington  county  and  at 
Forsyth,  Monroe  county,  having  been  graduated  in  the  Medical 
College  of  Georgia,  in  Augusta,  the  medical  department  of  the 
state  university.  He  died  in  1905,  and  his  widow  now  resides  in 
the  home  of  her  son  George  L.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The 
latter  secured  his  preliminary  education  in  the  schools  of  Washing- 
ton county,  attended  for  a time  an  excellent  preparatory  school 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


311 


in  Sandersville,  and  then  entered  Mercer  university  at  Macon, 
where  he  completed  his  academic  or  literary  studies.  He  was  then 
matriculated  in  his  father’s  alma  mater,  the  Medical  College  of 
Georgia,  in  which  he  completed  the  prescribed  technical  course, 
made  a specially  excellent  student  record,  and  was  graduated  as 
a member  of  the  class  of  1881,  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medi- 
cine. From  the  time  of  his  graduation  to  the  present  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  active  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  with  resi- 
dence and  headquarters  at  Swainsboro,  controlling  to-day  a very 
large,  representative  and  lucrative  practice.  His  offices  are 
equipped  with  the  latest  facilities  demanded  by  the  up-to-date 
practitioner,  including  a specially  fine  electrical  equipment, — X- 
ray  machine  and  other  devices  for  the  diagnosing  and  treating  of 
diseases  by  electricity.  Doctor  Smith  has  gained  a high  reputation 
as  a consulting  physician,  keeping  constantly  in  touch  with  the  ad- 
vances made  in  all  branches  of  his  profession,  thus  being  compe- 
tent to  serve  his  professional  confreres  in  such  advisory  capacity. 
He  took  post-graduate  courses  in  the  celebrated  New  York  poly- 
clinic in  1895,  1898,  and  1902,  and  in  1903  completed  a thorough 
post-graduate  course  in  connection  with  the  use  of  electricity  and 
electrical  apparatus  in  the  treatment  of  the  varied  ills  to  which 
human  flesh  is  heir,  this  course  having  been  taken  in  the  city  of 
Cincinnati.  He  is  a member  of  the  Medical  Association  of  Georgia 
and  of  the  Chatham  county  medical  society.  His  political  support 
is  given  to  the  Democracy  and  he  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity. He  is  the  owner  of  a large  amount  of  well  improved 
realty  in  Swainsboro,  including  his  own  beautiful  modern  residence, 
and  he  also  has  plantation  interests  in  the  county,  being  one  of  the 
substantial  citizens  of  this  favored  section  of  the  state.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1882,  Doctor  Smith  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Madge 
A.  McLeod,  who  died  March  3,  1892,  survived  b)^  two  children, — 
DeSanssure  Dugan  Smith,  who  is  now  a student  in  the  Medical 
College  of  Georgia,  and  Miss  Ruby  George  Smith,  who  is  attending 
Monroe  college.  In  December,  1892,  Doctor  Smith  wedded  Miss 
Juanita  Coleman,  daughter  of  John  C.  Coleman,  of  Swainsboro,  of 
whom  specific  mention  is  made  in  this  work. 

Smith,  Hardy  Hamilton,  president  of  the  Laurens  Banking  Com- 
pany, of  Dublin,  Ga.,  was  born  in  Laurens  county,  five  miles  east 
of  Dublin,  Feb.  28,  1854.  His  father,  Thomas  Marcus  Smith,  was 
born  in  the  same  county,  May  12,  1825,  and  his  mother,  Martha 
(Mason)  Smith,  was  born  in  the  Buckeye  district  of  the  same  county, 
Nov.  18,  1815.  Mr.  Smith’s  great-grandfather,  Hardy  Smith,  was  a 


312 


CYCLOPEDJA  OF  GEORGIA 


native  of  North  Carolina  and  was  a soldier  in  the  Continental  line 
in  the  Avar  of  the  Revolution.  One  of  his  maternal  great-grand- 
fathers Avas  Turner  Mason,  who  likewise  was  a North  Carolinian 

and  Avho  served  as  a lieutenant  in  the  Rev- 
olutionary war.  Turner  Mason  was  a son 
of  Thomas  Mason,  Avho  was  born  March 
7,  1722,  and  died  in  1768.  Turner  Mason 
Avas  twice  married,  first  to  Elizabeth 
Burns,  who  died  in  1783,  having  borne  to 
him  three  children.  In  1785  he  married 
Mary  Lowe  and  of  their  fourteen  children 
the  eldest  was  William  Lowe  Mason, 
grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
Turner  Mason  was  reared  in  Virginia, 
where  he  married  his  first  wife,  and 
after  the  close  of  the  Revolution, 
in  which  he  had  been  a valiant  soldier,  he  removed  to  Halifax 
county,  N.  C.,  where  his  second  marriage  was  solemnized.  In 
1793  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Georgia,  passed  one  year  in 
Jefferson  county  and  then  removed  to  the  Buckeye  district  of  what 
is  now  Laurens  county.  William  Lowe  Mason,  grandfather  of  Mr. 
Smith,  was  for  many  years  a prominent  citizen  of  Laurens  county, 
Avhere  he  long  served  as  county  surveyor.  He  studied  medicine  in 
a private  way  and  acquired  much  skill,  his  ministrations  being 
widely  extended  until  college-bred  physicians  came  into  the  field, 
when  he  retired.  He  was  familiarly  known  as  Doctor  Mason, 
though  he  never  claimed  the  title.  Martha  was  one  of  the  nine  chil- 
dren of  his  first  marriage,  her  mother’s  maiden  name  having  been 
Margaret  Pullen.  She  was  married  to  Thomas  Marcus  Smith 
December  24,  1848,  and  died  June  11,  1888.  The  Mason  family  has 
been  long  identified  with  Georgia  history  and  has  many  represen- 
tatives within  the  borders  of  the  state  at  the  present  time.  Thomp- 
son Smith,  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  review,  was  a sterling 
old  farmer  of  the  ante-bellum  .days,  and  Mr.  Smith’s  father  also  was 
an  energetic  farmer  and  had  entered  upon  the  road  to  success  in  a 
small  way  when  the  dark  cloud  of  Civil  war  cast  its  pall  over  the 
nation.  He  sacrificed  his  life  in  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy, 
dying  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven  years  and  leaving  his  widow  with 
five  small  boys  to  rear  as  best  she  could,  on  the  little  farm  which 
he  had  labored  so  earnestly  to  bring  under  effective  cultivation. 
He  enlisted  as  a private  soldier  in  the  service  of  the  state,  in  the 
summer  of  1861,  and  went  into  camp  near  Savannah  in  the  autumn 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


313 


of  the  same  year,  with  a company  known  as  the  Troup  Volunteers, 
under  command  of  his  cousin,  Captain  James  M.  Smith.  Thomas 
M.  Smith  was  a man  of  delicate  constitution  and  the  exposure  to 
which  he  was  subjected  in  camp  life  soon  brought  on  an  attack 
of  typhoid  pneumonia,  which  caused  his  death,  Feb.  17,  1862.  He 
was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service  a short  time  before  his 
demise,  which  occurred  at  the  home  of  his  father-in-law,  Dr.  Wil- 
liam L.  Mason.  He  was  on  his  way  home  to  join  his  wife  and  little 
sons  but  grew  so  weak  while  en  route  that  he  was  compelled  to  stop 
over  at  Doctor  Mason’s,  where  he  died  after  many  days  of  severe  suf- 
fering. Both  he  and  his  wife  were  professing  Christians  and  taught 
their  children  to  reverence  and  obey  God.  Their  five  boys,  under 
the  careful  training  of  the  widowed  mother,  grew  up  to  be  noble 
Christian  men.  They  are  still  living  in  the  city  of  Dublin,  Ga., 
and  their  names,  with  respective  dates  of  birth,  are  as  follows : 
William  Thomas,  Dec.  14,  1849;  James  Thompson,  April  17,  1851  ; 
Henry  Turner,  Oct.  10,  1852;  Hardy  Hamilton,  Feb.  28,  1854;  and 
Joseph  Daniel,  March  5,  1857.  The  eldest  of  these  brothers  is  the 
veteran  cotton-warehouse  man  of  the  “Gem  City  on  the  Oconee.” 
Every  one  likes  to  take  his  cotton  to  clever,  honest,  large-hearted 
“Billy”  Smith.  The  second  of  the  brothers,  Rev.  James  T.  Smith, 
was  graduated  in  Mercer  university  as  a member  of  the  class  of 
1877.  He  has  devoted  nearly  all  of  his  mature  life  to  educational 
and  ministerial  work,  is  now  pastor  of  Bay  Springs  church,  near 
Scott,  Ga.,  and  has  been  county  superintendent  of  schools  of 
Laurens  county  for  the  past  six  years.  The  third  of  the  brothers 
is  Rev.  Henry  T.  Smith,  of  Dublin.  He  also  was  graduated  in 
Mercer  university  and  since  he  reached  manhood  has  given  his 
attention  almost  entirely  to  the  Gospel  ministry.  He  is  a man  of 
scholary  attainments,  is  an  able  clergyman,  and  has  been  pastor 
of  some  of  the  best  churches  in  his  section  of  the  state.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  the  next  in  order  of  birth,  and  the  youngest, 
Joseph  D.,  of  Dublin,  is  in  some  respects  the  most  remarkable 
of  the  five  brothers.  He  has  been  phenomenally  successful  as  a 
farmer,  and  dealer  in  real  estate,  mules  and  horses.  He  has  prob- 
ably done  more  than  any  other  man  in  forwarding  the  development 
and  material  upbuilding  of  Dublin  and  Laurens  county  and  has 
the  high  esteem  of  all  who  know  him.  Hardy  Hamilton  Smith, 
whose  name  initiates  this  article,  labored  hard  and  faithfully  with 
his  brothers  on  the  home  farm  until  he  had  attained  to  the  age 
of  twenty  years,  his  noble  mother  being  the  inspiration,  the  power 
behind  the  throne,  the  uncrowned  queen  who  led  him  and  all  his 


314 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


brothers  to  worthy  manhood  and  definite  success  in  connection 
with  life’s  activities.  Schools  were  very  few  and  exceedingly 
meager  in  facilities  when  Mr.  Smith  was  growing  up  in  the  coun- 
try, but  his  affectionate  and  far-sighted  mother  embraced  every 
opportunity  of  sending  him  and  his  brothers  to  the  little  log-cabin 
school.  The  schools  in  the  country  were  then  hardly  ever  in  ses- 
sion longer  than  three  months  in  the  year,  but  Mrs.  Smith  would 
manage  to  send  some  of  her  boys  to  every  school  taught  within 
access  of  her  humble  cottage.  The  result  was  that  by  laboring 
industriously  on  the  farm  about  nine  months  in  the  year  and  spend- 
ing three  every  alternate  year  in  the  school,  the  Smith  boys,  natur- 
ally alert  and  apt,  each  acquired  a good  working  education.  At  the 
age  of  twenty  Hardy  H.  Smith  entered  upon  a business  course  for 
himself.  He  borrowed  a little  money  and  a horse  from  his  mother, 
and  with  this  reinforcement  started  out  as  a traveling  salesman 
or  agent  for  the  Gate  City  nurseries.  In  the  first  year  he  realized 
a profit  of  about  $700.  He  paid  his  mother  for  his  year’s  time, 
repaid  her  the  amount  of  money  which  he  had  borrowed,  and  still 
had  enough  cash  left  to  buy  a good  horse  and  to  defray  his  neces- 
sary expenses  while  he  was  soliciting  orders  for  nursery  stock  the 
second  year.  He  pursued  his  business  with  unabating  energy  for 
twelve  long  years,  working  for  only  two  firms  within  this  period, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  had  about  $35,000  as  the  net 
proceeds  of  his  labors.  He  then  entered  the  mercantile  business, 
to  which  he  devoted  his  attention  for  a few  years,  selling  general 
merchandise  and  also  buggies  and  wagons.  Later  he  engaged  in 
the  stock  business  and  he  still  continues  to  deal  in  horses  and  mules. 
In  1898  Mr.  Smith  and  a few  of  his  friends  established  the  Laurens 
Banking  Company,  of  which  he  was  made  president,  which  office 
he  has  since  retained.  The  banking  business  has  been  very  success- 
ful, and  in  fact  almost  everything  that  Mr.  Smith  has  undertaken 
has  prospered.  He  is  a very  prudent,  cautious,  conservative  busi- 
ness man,  and  at  the  present  time  is  worth  at  least  $120,000 — repre- 
senting the  results  of  his  own  efforts  and  able  business  methods. 
In  politics  he  is  a conservative  Democrat,  but  never  allows  politics 
to  interfere  with  business.  When  about  seventeen  years  of  age  he 
united  with  the  Baptist  church,  of  which  he  has  since  been  a con- 
sistent member.  He  is  loyal  and  faithful  to  his  church,  always 
ready  to  do  his  part  in  connection  with  all  departments  of  its  work 
and  to  bear  his  quota  of  its  expense.  He  was  married,  June  12, 
1889,  to  Miss  Annie  Augusta  Cook,  daughter  of  James  T.  and 
Celeste  M.  (Sands)  Cook,  of  Columbus,  Ga.,  and  to  them  have 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


315 


been  born  five  sons,  all  of  whom  are  living  except  one.  Their 
names,  with  respective  dates  of  birth,  are  as  follows : Campbell 

Wallace,  Nov.  9,  1890;  Hisell  Hamilton,  Aug.  9,  1893,  died  at  the 
age  of  five  years  and  three  months;  Thomas  Cook,  Feb.  22,  1896; 
Edmond  Carlisle,  April  25,  1900;  and  Hardeman  Hill,  Dec.  12, 
1905.  Mr.  Smith  has  never  united  with  any  other  organizations 
than  his  church  and  a temperance  society.  During  the  life  of 
his  mother  he  was  ever  devoted  to  her.  When  he  was  a child  and 
on  coming  home  at  any  time  found  his  mother  absent  from  her 
usual  place  he  was  not  satisfied  until,  by  calling  and  hunting,  he  had 
determined  her  whereabouts.  He  certainly  honored  his  father  and 
mother.  It  is  not  strange  that  he  has  made  so  signal  a success  in 
life.  “Honor  thy  father  and  thy  mother,  that  thy  days  may  be 
long  in  the  land  which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee.”  “Seest 
thou  a man  diligent  in  business, — he  shall  stand  before  kings ; he 
shall  not  stand  before  mean  men.”  The  success  which  Mr.  Smith 
has  wrested  from  the  hands  of  fate,  rising  from  poverty  and  ob- 
scurity, forcibly  illustrates  what  any  cautious,  honest  and  energetic 
young  man  may  accomplish  if  he  will  but  do  his  best  in  every  way. 
He  is  the  soul  of  honor  and  integrity.  When  he  makes  a statement 
it  is  certain  that  it  is  the  truth.  His  words  are  golden,  and  honesty 
with  him  is  not  simply  a policy — it  enters  into  his  character  and 
forms  his  moral  makeup. 


Smith,  Hoke,  lawyer  and  statesman, 
was  born  at  Newton,  N.  C.  Sept.  2,  1855, 
his  parents  being  Prof.  Hildreth  H.  and 
Mary  B.  (Hoke)  Smith,  the  former  a 
native  of  New  Hampshire  and  the  latter 
of  North  Carolina.  His  father  was  a 
graduate  of  Bowdoin  college  and  was  for 
a number  of  years  president  of  the  Ca- 
tawba college  at  Newton.  In  1858  he 
removed  to  Chapel  Hill,  N.  C.,  and  be- 
came a professor  in  the  State  university 
there.  Ten  years  later  he  located  in  Lin- 
colnton,  N.  C.,  where  he  remained  until 
1871,  when  he  became  connected  with  the  Atlanta  public  schools 
and  removed  to  that  city.  Hoke  Smith  was  educated  at  Chapel 
Hill,  and  under  his  father’s  instruction.  In  the  spring  of  1872  he 
entered  the  law  offices  of  Collier,  Mynatt  & Collier,  at  Atlanta,  as 
a student  and  about  a year  later  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  although 
at  the  time  he  was  not  quite  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  soon  dem- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


316 


onstrated  his  ability  as  a lawyer,  however,  and  won  the  respect  of 
the  bench,  bar  and  public  by  the  masterly  way  in  which  he  managed 
his  cases.  In  1876  he  made  his  first  appearance  in  politics  and  be- 
fore he  had  attained  his  majority  was  chairman  of  the  Democratic 
executive  committee  of  Fulton  county.  He  took  an  active  part  in 
the  campaign  for  the  removal  of  the  state  capital  to  Atlanta  and 
won  a reputation  as  a clear,  concise  and  forcible  public  speaker. 
As  an  advocate  of  tariff  reform  he  was  on  the  stump  in  the  national 
campaigns  from  1884  to  1892  and  was  appointed  secretary  of  the 
interior  by  President  Cleveland  in  1893.  In  August,  1896  he  re- 
signed this  position  and  resumed  the  practice  of  law  at  Atlanta 
where  he  still  resides.  For  more  than  ten  years  he  was  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  Atlanta  Journal,  and  made  that  paper  a powerful 
factor  in  state  and  local  politics.  At  the  primary  election,  held 
on  Aug.  22,  1906  he  defeated  four  other  candidates  for  the  nomina- 
tion for  governor  of  Georgia  by  a handsome  plurality  and  on  Nov. 
6,  1906,  he  was  duly  elected  to  that  exalted  office.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  American  and  Georgia  bar  associations,  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Improved 
Order  of  Red  Men,  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  is  president  of  the 
Atlanta  board  of  education.  On  Dec.  19,  1883  Mr.  Smith  married 
Miss  Birdie,  daughter  of  Gen.  Thomas  R.  R.  and  Marian  (Lump- 
kin) Cobb,  and  to  this  union  four  children  have  been  born,  viz: — - 
Marion,  Mary  Brent,  Lucy  and  Callie. 

Smith,  J.  Alexander,  a representative 
member  of  the  bar  of  Emanuel  county, 
and  ex-mayor  of  his  home  city  of  Swains- 
boro,  was  born  on  a plantation  in  Edge- 
field  county,  S.  C.,  Sept.  16,  1867,  a son 
of  Jacob  L.  and  Elizabeth  (Griffith) 
Smith,  both  natives  of  that  county  and 
both  of  whom  are  now  deceased.  The 
father,  who  was  born  Oct.  13,  1827,  was 
a planter  by  vocation,  and  served  in  the 
commissary  department  of  the  Confed- 
eracy during  the  Civil  war,  his  death  oc- 
curring Sept.  12,  1905,  at  the  home  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  He  removed  to  Emanuel  county,  Ga.,  about 
1877  and  settled  on  a plantation  some  twelve  miles  east  of  Swains- 
boro,  there  remaining  until  within  a few  years  prior  to  his  demise. 
J.  Alexander  Smith  was  but  eight  months  old  at  the  time  of  his 
mother’s  death  and  was  about  eight  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


317 


his  father’s  removal  from  South  Carolina  to  Georgia.  He  remained 
on  the  homestead  plantation  thereafter  the  greater  portion  of  the 
time  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  having  in  the  meanwhile 
attended  the  country  schools  of  Emanuel  county  and  the  graded 
school  in  Midville,  Burke  county,  after  which  he  continued  his 
studies  in  the  district  high  school  at  Spring  Hill.  As  a young  man 
he  began  teaching  school,  utilizing  this  vocation  as  a means  to 
an  end,  as  for  several  years  he  used  his  earnings  in  paying  the  ex- 
penses of  his  own  educational  work,  attending  school  between  the 
periods  devoted  to  the  pedagogic  work,  having  thus  earned  the 
funds  which  enabled  him  to  complete  his  collegiate  professional 
course.  In  June,  1889,  he  was  graduated  in  the  law  school  of 
Emory  college  at  Oxford,  Ga.,  receiving  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Laws,  and  being  soon  afterward  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  forthwith 
opened  an  office  in  Swainsboro,  where  he  now  controls  a large  and 
representative  practice  and  is  known  as  an  able  trial  lawyer  and 
discriminating  counselor.  Mr.  Smith  is  a stanch  Democrat  in  his 
political  proclivities  and  served  several  years  as  mayor  of  Swains- 
boro, though  he  has  not  been  ambitious  for  public  office  of  any 
description.  He  is  attorney  for  the  Citizens’  bank,  of  Swainsboro, 
and  the  Bank  of  Wadley,  at  Wadley,  Jefferson  county.  He  is  a 
Master  Mason  and  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  and  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  and  his  wife  are  promi- 
nent members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  and  he  is 
a steward  and  trustee  of  the  local  church  society.  On  June  3,  1891, 
was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Smith  to  Miss  Mamie  Eva 
Burkhalter,  of  Spring  Hill,  Montgomery  county,  and  they  have 
four  children,  whose  names,  with  respective  dates  of  birth,  are  as 
follows:  Alexander  Burke,  May  25,  1892;  Walter  Browning, 

Oct.  22,  1893  ; Eva  Gladys,  July  25,  1897  ; and  Vernon  Carlos,  March 
12,  1899. 

Smith,  James  Milton,  the  first  governor  of  the  state  to  be  elected 
by  the  people  after  the  reconstruction  period,  was  born  in  Twiggs 
county,  Oct.  24,  1823.  He  was  educated  at  Culloden  academy  in 
Monroe  county  and  commenced  to  learn  the  trade  of  blacksmith. 
He  abandoned  this,  however,  for  the  law  and  in  1846  was  "admitted 
to  the  bar.  For  some  time  he  practiced  at  Columbus,  where  he  won 
a high  standing  at  the  bar.  In  1855  he  was  a candidate  for  Congress 
as  an  independent  state  rights  Democrat,  but  was  defeated.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  war  he  entered  the  Confederate  army,  served  in  the 
Virginia  campaigns  as  lieut.-col.,  and  was  severely  wounded  at  Cold 
Harbor.  In  the  fall  of  1863  he  was  elected  a member  of  the  Confed- 


3 IS 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


erate  Congress  and  served  in  that  body  until  its  dissolution.  After 
peace  was  restored  he  resumed  his  practice  at  Columbus  and  was 
one  of  the  attorneys  in  the  famous  Ashburn  murder  case.  In  1870 
he  was  elected  to  the  legislature,  where  he  became  speaker  of  the 
house.  On  Jan.  12,  1872,  he  was  inaugurated  governor  to  fill  the 
vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  Governor  Bullock,  and  in 
October  of  the  same  year  was  elected  for  a full  term.  He  was 
defeated  for  United  States  senator  in  1877;  was  appointed  a mem- 
ber of  the  first  railroad  commission  by  Governor  Colquitt;  served 
as  president  of  that  commission  from  1879  to  1885;  was  made  judge 
of  the  superior  court  in  1888  and  held  that  office  until  his  death  on 
Nov.  20,  1890. 

Smith,  J.  Stovall,  a representative  citi- 
zen and  prominent  druggist  of  Bruns- 
wick, Glynn  county,  was  born  in  Hamil- 
ton, Harris  county,  Ga.,  Jan.  8,  1854.  He 
is  a son  of  Dr.  Reuben  A.  and  Mary 
Elizabeth  (Stovall)  Smith,  both  natives 
of  Georgia,  the  former  born  in  Greene 
county,  Aug.  5,  1827,  and  the  latter  at 
Madison,  Morgan  county,  Dec.  1,  1834. 
The  father  of  Dr.  R.  A.  Smith  was  Wil- 
liam Smith,  a gallant  soldier  of  the  Con- 
tinental line  during  the  war  of  the  Revo- 
lution. Maj.  Caswell  Black,  an  uncle  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  in  the  maternal  line,  was  a soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812 ; Dr.  Ozias  Stovall,  the  maternal  grandfather,  was  a 
soldier  of  the  Confederacy  during  the  Civil  war;  Judge  Augustus 
Reese,  of  Madison,  Ga.,  ex-member  of  Congress,  was  an  uncle  of 
Mr.  Smith  on  the  maternal  side  and  among  other  prominent  men 
in  the  ancestral  line  may  be  mentioned  Doctor  Smith,  who  was 
president  of  Emory  college,  and  Rev.  Daniel  Marshall,  who  was  the 
first  clergyman  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Georgia.  Dr.  Reuben 
A.  Smith  tendered  his  services  in  defense  of  the  Confederacy  at  the 
inception  of  the  war  between  the  states,  enlisted  at  Auburn,  Ala., 
and  served  as  surgeon  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  resumed 
the  private  practice  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  continued  until 
his  death.  J.  Stovall  Smith  secured  his  educational  training  in  the 
schools  of  the  city  of  Atlanta,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood  and 
where  his  circle  of  friends  is  circumscribed  only  by  that  of  his 
acquaintances.  He  was  early  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  and 
has  been  in  a significant  sense  the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


319 


He  began  work  when  but  twelve  years  of  age,  without  money  or 
influential  friends,  and  finally  secured  a clerical  position  in  a drug 
store,  in  1876,  while  he  studied  at  night  and  worked  assidously 
during  the  day  until  he  had  accumulated  sufficient  financial  means 
to  realize  his  ambition  and  take  a course  in  pharmacy.  In  1890 
he  was  graduated  at  the  Atlanta  school  of  pharmacy,  having  made 
an  admirable  student  record,  and  he  then  resumed  clerking  as  a 
skilled  pharmacist,  in  Atlanta,  where  he  eventually  was  enabled  to 
purchase  the  business  of  the  firm  by  which  he  was  employed.  He 
remained  in  Atlanta  until  1900,  when  he  removed  to  Brunswick, 
where  he  has  since  conducted  a finely  appointed  and  equipped 
pharmacy  and  where  he  controls  a large  and  representative  busi- 
ness. He  has  been  devoted  to  the  work  of  his  chosen  profession 
and  his  success  in  business  is  the  diametrical  result  of  technical 
ability,  correct  methods,  and  well  directed  effort.  In  politics  Mr. 
Smith  is  a stanch  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  is 
known  as  a progressive  and  public-spirited  citizen.  He  is  serving 
(in  1906)  his  third  term  as  president  of  the  Brunswick  board  of 
trade ; is  a trustee  of  the  Southern  school  of  pharmacy  at  Atlanta ; 
is  a member  of  the  American  pharmaceutical  association,  the  Na- 
tional association  of  retail  druggists,  and  the  Georgia  pharmaceuti- 
cal association.  He  has  advanced  to  the  thirty-second  degree  in 
the  Ancient  and  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  of  Freemasonry,  and  is  a 
prominent  and  appreciative  member  of  the  time-honored  fraternity, 
in  which  he  has  also  completed  the  circle  of  the  York  Rite  bodies, 
and  is  also  identified  with  the  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  the  Nobles 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  a past  master  of  Gate  City  Lodge, 
No.  2,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of  Atlanta,  and  since  his  regime 
seven  who  were  made  Masons  under  his  administration  have  served 
as  masters  of  the  same  lodge,  this  being  an  exceptional  record. 
He  is  second  vice-president  of  the  Masons’  annuity  of  the  state  of 
Georgia.  He  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  being  a past  officer  in  the  two  first 
mentioned.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  On  Oct.  5,  1882,  Mr.  Smith  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Willie  Hunt  Dozier,  daughter  of  William  Hunt  and  Martha 
Shields  (Stapler)  Dozier,  of  Atlanta,  and  the  three  children  of  this 
union  all  died  at  birth. 

Smith,  James  W.,  junior  member  of  the  firm  of  T.  N.  & J.  W. 
Smith,  dealers  in  cotton  and  manufacturers  of  fertilizers,  at  Ten- 
nille,  Washington  county,  is  also  president  of  the  Tennille  yarn 


■ 320 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


mills,  vice-president  of  the  Macon  Grocery  Company  and  a member 
of  the  Middle  Georgia  Cotton  Company.  He  was  born  on  a plan- 
tation in  Washington  county,  Ga.,  Oct.  7,  1849,  a son  of  Alexander 
and  Lavinia  (Tarbutton)  Smith,  both  likewise  native  of  Washing- 
ton county,  where  the  former  was  born  in  1825  and  the  latter  in 
1829.  The  mother  died  in  1864  and  the  father  in  1876.  Alexander 
Smith  was  twice  married,  and  of  the  children  of  the  first  union 
three  are  living — John  T.,  James  W.,  and  Mrs.  Margaret  E.  Brown. 
One  son  of  the  second  marriage,  Thomas  W.,  is  living.  James 
W.  Smith  secured  his  educational  discipline  in  the  schools  of 
Sandersville  and  Warthen,  Ga.,  and  has  resided  in  Washington 
county  during  his  entire  life.  In  1876  he  became  associated  with 
his  uncle,  Thomas  N.  Smith,  in  organizing  the  firm  of  T.  N.  & J. 
W.  Smith  and  they'  have  been  associated  under  this  title  during 
the  long  intervening  period  of  thirty  years,  in  which  time  they 
have  built  up  a large  and  important  business  and  have  a high 
standing  in  the  local  commercial  field.  Mr.  Smith  is  an  able  bus- 
iness man  and  loyal  citizen  and  commands  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  all  who  know  him.  He  is  aligned  as  a stalwart  supporter 
of  the  principles  and  policies  of  the  Democratic  party;  is  affiliated 
with  the  lodge,  chapter  and  council  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  as 
well  as  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  church  in  Tennille.  On  Feb.  13,  1874,  was 
solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Smith  to  Miss  Annie  V.  Sparks, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  Washington  county,  and  they  have 
two  children — Sallie  and  Marcus — the  former  of  whom  is  now  the 
wife  of  Charles  W.  Marsh. 

Smith,  Robert  Lee  Jewell,  solicitor  of 
the  city  court  of  Jefferson,  and  one  of 
the  representative  members  of  the  bar 
of  Jackson  county,  was  born  near  Har- 
mony Grove,  now  known  as  Commerce, 
that  county,  Dec.  21,  1864.  He  is  a son 
of  Col.  Sumner  Jewell  Smith,  born  at 
Greenville,  Tenn.,  Nov.  29,  1823,  and 
Catherine  M.  (Erwin)  Smith,  born  in 
Morganton,  N.  C.,  Feb.  21,  1829.  The 
paternal  grandfather,  Maj.  George  Smith, 
was  a son  of  a Revolutionary  soldier. 
Although  far  advanced  in  years,  he  was 
an  officer  in  the  Confederate  service  during  the  war  between  the 
states  and  rendered  valiant  service  in  defense  of  the  cause  which 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


321 


he  has  so  ardently  espoused.  Col.  Sumner  J.  Smith  was  one  of  the 
first  to  offer  his  services  to  the  Confederacy  when  it  became  evi- 
dent that  war  between  the  two  sections  of  the  country  was  in- 
evitable. He  was  authorized  by  Gov.  Joseph  E.  Brown,  to  raise 
a legion,  composed  of  one  company  each  of  infantry,  cavalry  and 
artillery,  and  this  was  named  in  his  honor,  being  known  as  Smith’s 
regiment  of  Partisan  Rangers.  The  command  was  engaged  in  some 
of  the  hardest  campaigns  of  the  war.  Colonel  Smith  was  unani- 
mously elected  colonel  of  this  regiment,  with  which  he  served 
through  Bragg’s  Kentucky  campaign  and  thereafter  until  his  con- 
tinued ill  health -compelled  him  to  resign  his  command,  upon  the 
recommendation  of  the  medical  board.  Owing  to  the  hardships 
endured  by  him  in  his  campaigns  he  never  recuperated  his  physi- 
cal energies,  lingering  as  an  invalid  until  April  18,  1869,  when  he 
passed  to  the  life  eternal,  the  attending  physicians  stating  that  his 
death  was  the  direct  result  of  exposure  and  disease  contracted 
during  the  war.  Prior  to  the  war  he  represented  Union  county  in 
the  state  legislature,  being  the  first  Democrat  ever  elected  to  that 
body  from  said  county,  which  had  previously  accorded  overwhelm- 
ing majorities  to  the  Whig  candidates.  During  his  membership 
in  the  legislature  he  secured  the  necessary  legislation,  incorpora- 
ting the  new  county  of  Towns,  which  was  cut  off  from  the  counties 
of  Union  and  Rabun,  and  named  in  honor  of  Hon.  George  W. 
Towns,  a former  governor  of  the  state.  After  the  war  he  was  sent 
as  one  of  the  delegates  from  Georgia  to  the  Baltimore  convention 
and  was  strongly  importuned  by  his  friends  to  become  a candidate 
for  Congress  from  the  Ninth  district  of  Georgia,  his  election  being 
practically  assured  had  his  health  permitted  him  to  enter  the  arena 
of  political  life.  Under  the  advice  of  his  family  physician,  however, 
he  positively  declined  to  enter  the  race,  and  he  lived  a happy  and 
peaceful  life  with  his  wife  and  little  son  for  his  few  remaining 
years,  preferring  home,  family  and  friends  to  the  turmoils  and  ex- 
actions of  a political  life  in  the  national  capital.  Robert  L.  J.  Smith, 
the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch,  completed  the  regular  course 
in  Martin  institute  at  Jefferson,  Ga.,  and  then  entered  the  sopho- 
more class  of  the  University  of  Georgia,  in  which  he  was  graduated 
with  honors  in  July,  1885,  receiving  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Arts.  He  then  entered  the  law  department  of  the  university,  known 
in  former  years  as  the  “Lumpkin  law  school,”  in  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  July,  1886,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws,  having 
received  his  technical  training  under  those  distinguished  jurists, 
Hon.  George  Dudley  Thomas,  now  deceased;  and  Judge  Andrew 


21— III 


522 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


J.  Cobb,  now  associate  justice  of  the  Georgia  supreme  court.  Mr. 
Smith  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the  August  term  of  the  Jackson 
superior  court,  in  1886,  under  Judge  N.  L.  Hutchins,  and  he  has 
since  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Jackson 
county, — first  at  Commerce,  and  later  at  Jefferson,  to  which  city 
he  removed  in  1900.  He  is  one  of  the  ardent  advocates  of  the  prin- 
ciples and  policies  of  the  Democratic  party  and  has  been  prominent 
and  influential  in  promoting  its  cause.  He  was  unanimously  chosen 
chairman  of  the  Democratic  Congressional  convention  at  Gaines- 
ville, which  nominated  Hon.  Allen  D.  Candler  for  Congress  from 
this  district,  for  his  last  term  as  congressman.  Mr.  Smith  had  the 
pleasure  of  notifying  Mr.  Candler,  who  was  then  attending  a ses- 
sion of  Congress,  that  he  had  been  renominated  and  he  received 
from  Mr.  Candler  a telegram  and  later  a letter  expressing  thanks 
for  the  notification  and  also  for  the  efforts  put  forth  by  Mr.  Smith 
in  his  behalf  in  the  nominating  convention.  In  December,  1900, 
after  a protracted  and  vigorous  triangular  contest,  in  which  he  was 
arrayed  against  the  best  of  talent  and  personal  popularity,  in  the 
persons  of  Col.  Jerry  S.  Ayers  and  Col.  William  H.  Quartermain, 
Mr.  Smith  was  appointed  solicitor  of  the  city  court  of  Jefferson, 
a position  of  which  he  has  since  continued  the  incumbent,  having 
had  no  opposition  oil  occasion  of  reappointments.  In  1904  he  was 
urged  to  make  the  race  for  solicitor-general  of  the  western  circuit, 
but  he  declined  to  become  a candidate.  He  was  attorney  for  the 
Northeastern  Banking  Company,  of  Commerce,  during  his  resi- 
dence in  that  place,  and  in  1888  he  was  appointed  attorney  for 
Jackson  county  of  what  was  then  the  Richmond  & Danville  rail- 
road, which  later  became  a portion  of  the  great  Southern  system, 
which  latter  he  has  represented  since  the  time  of  the  absorption 
of  the  line  first  mentioned.  In  all  this  time  he  has  lost  but  one 
case  for  the  railway  company,  and  the  same  has  been  appealed  to 
a higher  court  where  it  is  now  pending  for  new  trial.  In  1890  Mr. 
Smith  was  appointed  attorney  in  Jackson  county  for  the  Gaines- 
ville, Jefferson  & Southern  branch  of  the  Georgia  railroad,  and  he 
never  lost  a case  for  that  road  in  the  courts  of  Jackson  county 
during  the  time  the  Georgia  Railroad  Company  was  in  control. 
He  is  first  vice-president  of  the  Jefferson  cotton  mills,  capitalized 
for  $100,000,  being  one  of  the  largest  stockholders,  and  is  also 
largely  interested  in  the  Harmony  Grove  cotton  mills  and  the 
Farmers’  and  Merchants’  oil  mill  at  Commerce.  He  represented 
the  town  of  Maysville  as  special  counsel  in  securing  the  necessary 
legislation,  in  1905,  whereby  the  citizens  of  that  thriving  town 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


323 


were  permitted  to  vote  upon  and  issue  of  $10,000  in  bonds  for  the 
purpose  of  erecting  a fine  new  school  building,  and  he  also  rep- 
resented the  town  in  the  proceedings  to  validate  said  bonds,  which 
were  sold  at  a premium,  Nov.  20,  1905.  Mr.  Smith  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  served  as  an  elder 
in  the  church  at  Commerce,  an  office  which  he  now  holds  in  the 
church  in  Jefferson.  He  is  a member  of  Unity  Lodge,  No.  136, 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  Jefferson  Lodge,  No.  138,  Knights 
of  Pythias;  Jefferson  Lodge,  No.  200,  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows;  Jefferson  Chapter,  No.  43,  Royal  Arch  Masons;  is  past 
chancellor  commander  of  his  lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias ; 
also  past  grand  representative  to  the  grand  lodge  of  the  order  in 
the  state;  is  past  noble  grand  and  past  representative  to  the  grand 
lodge  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  he  is  also  past  deputy  noble 
grand  for  this  district,  as  well  as  past  deputy  grand  chancellor 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  On  Dec.  21,  1887,  Mr.  Smith  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Emma  Walton,  who  was  born  and  reared  near 
Washington,  Wilkes  county,  Ga.,  being  a daughter  of  Col.  Wiley 
N.  and  Mary  (Jones)  Walton.  Following  is  a brief  record  con- 
cerning the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith:  Sumner  Jewell, 

Jr.,  born  Oct.  25,  1888;  Harry  Lee,  now  deceased,  born  March  13, 
1890 ; Kate  Erwin,  March  26,  1892 ; Annie  Mae,  Dec.  28,  1893 ; 
and  Wiley  Walton,  Aug.  8,  1896.  Sumner  J.  Jr.,  was  graduated  in 
Martin  institute  in  July,  1904,  winning  first  medal  in  the  oratori- 
cal contest.  He  attended  the  North  Georgia  agricultural  college 
during  the  scholastic  year  1904-5  and  was  there  the  winner  of 
another  medal  for  oratory,  in  the  annual  contest.  The  younger 
son  Wiley  W.  also  won  a medal  for  oratorical  ability  when  but 
seven  years  of  age,  being  the  youngest  participant  in  an  oratorical 
contest  in  Martin  institute  and  winning  the  first  medal  over  a large 
number  of  contestants. 

Smith,  Rufus  Wright,  president  of  LaGrange  female  college,  at 
LaGrange,  Troup  county,  has  been  consecutively  identified  with 
educational  work  for  half  a century  and  is  prominent  in  his  chosen 
field  of  endeavor,  being  one  of  the  well  known  educators  of  the  state 
and  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  leading  institutions  of  its  kind  in 
Georgia.  Professor  Smith  was  born  near  White  Plains,  Greene 
county,  Ga.,  March  4,  1835,  a son  of  Ebenezer  and  Cynthia  (Lewis) 
Smith,  both  natives  of  Georgia,  the  former  born  in  Lincoln  county, 
Dec.  3,  1790,  and  the  latter  in  Greene  county,  Oct.  15,  1801.  James 
.Smith,  the  paternal  grandfather,  was  born  in  North  Carolina  and 
was  a soldier  in  the  Continental  line  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 


324  r 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


being  with  the  North  Carolina  troops  in  the  battle  of  Cowpens  and 
other  engagements.  He  removed  from  Lincoln  county,  N.  C.,  to 
Lincoln  county,  Ga.,  and  later  to  Greene  county,  where  he  passed 

the  remainder  of  his  life,  his  remains  be- 
ing interred  near  Flat  Rock.  His  wife, 
Elizabeth  (Cowan)  Smith,  was  born  in 
Scotland  and  lived  to  be  more  than  one 
hundred  years  of  age,  her  death  occurring 
near  Roswell,  Cobb  county,  where  she 
was  buried.  In  her  fiftieth  year  she  had 
twin  daughters,  and  when  she  had  at- 
tained to  the  century  mark  in  age  she  and 
the  two  daughters  duly  celebrated  the 
event,  their  combined  ages  aggregating 
two  hundred  years.  One  of  these  daugh- 
ters married  Jesse  Oslin,  who  was  for 


messenger 


Georgia 


many  years  messenger  of  the 
other  became  the  wife  of  Rev.  William  Collins,  a prominent 
■clergyman  of  the  Baptist  church.  The  maternal  grandfather 
•of  Professor  Smith  came  from  Virginia  to  Georgia  and  set- 
tled in  Greene  county,  where  he  married  Miss  Mary  Young.  Pro- 
fessor Smith  was  but  fourteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  father’s 
death,  and  the  five  minor  children  were  enabled  to  complete  their 
education  largely  through  the  assistance  of  their  older  brothers. 
At  the  time  of  the  father’s  death  two  of  the  elder  sons  were  teach- 
ers in  Wesleyan  female  college,  Dr.  Osborn  L.  Smith  having  been 
president  of  the  institution  and  Dr.  Costy  W.  Smith  professor  of 
mathematics.  With  exception  of  a few  weeks’  schooling  and  a 


legislature,  and  the 


little  instruction  at  home,  he  started  to  school  regularly  in  his 
thirteenth  year.  He  walked  alone  three  miles  barefooted  ( except 
in  extreme  winter  weather)  through  fields  and  swamps ; climbed 
seven  fences,  crossed  seven  branches  each  day  going  to  and  from 
school.  More  than  half  the  way  was  a lone  path  through  swamps 
and  woods.  lie  lost  only  one  day  from  school  in  order  to  go  with 
his  father  to  mill  and  to  see  Curtwright’s  factory  on  the  Oconee 
river.  The  first  year’s  text  books  were:  Webster’s  speller,  Smith’s 
arithmetic,  Smith’s  English  grammar,  McGuffy’s  or  Sterling’s 
reader  and  Mitchell’s  geography.  Miss  Almira  Culver,  a native 
of  either  Green  or  Hancock  county,  about  twenty  years  of  age, 
was  his  teacher.  She  is  still  living  somewhere  in  Alabama.  In 
January,  1853,  Professor  Smith  was  matriculated  in  Emory  college 
at  Oxford,  Ga.,  in  which  he  was  graduated  in  July,  1856,  with  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


325 


highest  honors  of  his  class,  receiving  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Arts.  He  passed  his  final  examination  on  Tune  6,  about  a month 
prior  to  the  commencement  day,  and  commenced  teaching  school 
on  the  9th  of  that  month,  at  Haygood  academy,  Atlanta,  to  fill  out 
an  unexpired  term  for  William  L.  C.  Hunnicutt,  who  wished  to  de- 
vote his  time  to  the  study  of  medicine.  With  the  exception  of 
about  one  year,  during  which  he  was  in  the  Confederate  relief 
service,  in  the  Civil  war,  he  has  been  continuously  engaged  in  teach- 
ing from  that  time  to  the  present,  and  his  labors  have  been  glori- 
ously rewarded  in  the  good  he  has  accomplished.  At  the  outbreak 
of  the  war  between  the  states  his  health  was  not  such  as  to  permit 
him  to  enter  the  regular  army  service  of  the  Confederacy,  but, 
without  solicitation  on  his  part,  he  was  detailed,  by  Gov.  J.  E. 
Brown,  to  the  Griffin  relief  association,  in  which  he  continued  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  His  oldest  brother,  Rev.  Osborn  L.  Smith, 
D.  D.,  was  for  a number  of  years  president  of  Wesleyan  female 
college.  In  the  40’s  he  was  a professor  in  Emory  college,  and 
in  the  70’s  he  was  made  president  of  that  institution.  For  eight 
years  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  engaged  in  teaching  at  Sparta, 
Ga.,  and  just  after  the  war  he  began  teaching  at  Plaridge  academy 
in  Greene  county,  where  Ex-Chief  Justice  Hal  Lewis  and  Judge 
H.  G.  Lewis  were  prepared  for  the  junior  class  in  Emory  college, 
and  Dr.  W.  C.  Lovett,  editor  of  the  Wesleyan  Advocate,  for  a 
lower  class.  Here  he  remained  six  years,  after  which  he  passed 
seven  years  as  an  instructor  in  the  academic  department  of  Emory 
college,  six  years  in  Dalton  female  college,  and  for  the  past  twenty- 
one  years  he  has  been  identified  with  LaGrange  female  college, 
of  which  he  has  been  president  since  1885.  In  a period  of  forty 
years  he  has  not  been  absent  from  his  schoolroom  forty  days  on  ac- 
count of  illness  and  has  lost  only  a few  days  from  any  cause.  In 
politics  Professor  Smith  originally  was  an  old-line  Whig,  later 
giving  his  support  to  the  Know-Nothing  party,  and  since  that  time 
to  the  Democratic  party.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  South.  At  Oxford,  Ga.,  Dec.  2,  1856, 
Professor  Smith  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Oreon  M.  Mann, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Jeremiah  and  Mary  Jones  (Jernigan)  Mann,  of 
Powelton,  Hancock  county.  Owing  to  financial  reverses  of  her 
father,  Mrs.  Smith,  while  still  in  her  teens,  began  teaching  school 
immediately  after  leaving  college.  She  aided  her  brothers  and  a 
sister  in  securing  their  collegiate  education.  She  taught  mathe- 
matics in  the  Masonic  female  college  at  Covington,  then  under  the 
presidency  of  Dr.  Alexander  Means,  and  on  one  of  the  commence- 


326 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


ment  occasions  was  awarded  a silver  cup  for  her  excellency  in  train- 
ing her  pupils.  When  Doctor  Means  resigned  the  presidency  she 
also  left  the  college,  although  offered  a salary  of  $1,000  to  remain. 
She  taught  music  one  term  in  Madison  female  college,  and  during 
all  the  years  of  teaching  with  her  husband  she  has  taught  mathe- 
matics,’ physiology  and  astronomy.  The  only  money  Professor 
Smith  had  before  his  marriage  was  spent  in  securing  a wedding 
outfit,  and  the  first  money  he  had  afterward  was  a $100  bill  from  his 
bride.  Concerning  the  children  of  Professor  and  Mrs.  Smith  the 
following  brief  data  are  entered : Euler  B.,  born  at  Sparta,  Ga., 

May  9,  1858,  is  now  professor  of  English  in  the  Georgia  state  nor- 
mal school  at  Athens ; Cecil  H.,  born  in  Sparta,  Jan.  1,  1860,  is  a 
representative  lawyer  of  Sherman,  Tex.;  Rev.  Hubert  M.,  born  in 
Sparta,  Oct.  28,  1862,  is  a clergyman  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  South;  Alwyn  M.  was  born,  in  Sparta,  Jan.  5,  1865;  Clif- 
ford L.  was  born  in  Greene  county,  March  25,  1867 ; Leon  P.  was 
born  in  the  same  county,  Dec.  24,  1869;  Maidee  was  born  at  Ox- 
ford, Jan.  11,  1872;  Clara  L.  was  born  at  Oxford,  Nov.  25,  1873. 
All  of  the  children  have  been  actively  identified  with  educational 
work,  and  all  but  three  are  still  in  the  pedagogic  profession. 
Maidee  was  a teacher  with  her  father  in  LaGrange  female  college 
for  about  twelve  years,  then  went  to  Brazil,  to  teach  in  the  mis- 
sion fields  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  remained 
there  six  years  and  is  now  at  home  for  a period  of  rest.  The 
younger  daughter,  Clara  L.,  was  engaged  in  teaching  for  ten  years 
and  is  now  the  wife  of  Frank  H.  Hill,  treasurer  of  the  Atlanta 
& West  Point  railroad.  Their  home  is  at  College  Park,  a suburb 
of  the  capital  city.  Mrs.  Smith  has  been  associated  with  her  hus- 
band as  a teacher  for  the  past  half  century,  and  her  work  has  been 
successful  in  every  respect,  while  her  effective  cooperation  and 
sympathy  have  been  a source  of  distinctive  satisfaction  to  Pro- 
fessor Smith. 

Smith,  Thomas  N.,  is  one  of  the  representative  citizens  and 
business  men  of  Washington  county,  being  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  T.  N.  & J.  W.  Smith,  one  of  the  leading  cotton  and  fertilizer 
concerns  of  that  section  of  the  state,  with  headquarters  in  Sanders- 
ville,  and  he  is  also  president  of  the  Macon  Grocery  Company, 
one  of  the  most  extensive  wholesale  grocery  houses  in  Macon.  Mr. 
Smith  was  born  on  the  homestead  plantation  of  his  parents,  in 
Washington  county,  Ga.,  March  27,  1846,  a son  of  English  and 
Keziah  (Forbes)  Smith,  the  former  of  whom  died  when  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  about  fourteen  years  of  age,  the  mother 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


327 


having  died  when  he  was  four  years  old.  English  Smith  is  sur- 
vived by  one  daughter  of  a previous  marriage,  Mrs.  Jane  Hodges, 
a resident  of  Alabama,  and  four  sons  of  the  second  marriage  are 
living.  Joseph  B.  is  a resident  of  Johnson  county,  Ga. ; James  K. 
P.  resides  near  Quitman,  Brooks  county;  and  Richard  R.,  the 
youngest,  is  a resident  of  Washington  county.  Thomas  N:  Smith 
was  afforded  the  advantages  of  good  schools  in  his  native  county 
and  in  1863  he  became  a student  in  the  Georgia  military  institute, 
where  he  completed  his  educational  training.  In  1862,  when  but 
fifteen  years  of  age,  he  became  a member  of  the  state  militia,  with 
which  he  served  in  the  vicinity  of  Savannah.  From  May  10,  1864, 
to  May  20,  1865,  he  was  in  the  regular  Confederate  service,  as  a 
member  of  the  Georgia  military  institute  cadets.  The  command 
served  principally  in  Georgia,  continuing  on  duty  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  In  January,  1876,  was  organized  the  firm  of  T.  N. 
& J.  W.  Smith,  of  Tennille,  and  the  same  has  continued  in  success- 
ful business,  as  cotton  factors  and  manufacturers  of  and  dealers 
in  fertilizers.  Mr.  Smith  is  also  vice-president  of  the  Tennille  Yarn 
Mill  Company  and  president  of  the  Macon  Grocery  Company. 
He  is  a liberal  and  progressive  business  man  and  is  one  of  the 
well  known  and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  his  native  county. 
In  politics  he  accords  allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church.  On  Jan.  5, 
1879,  Mr.  Smith  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lula  G.  Young- 
blood, who  died  in  1882,  and  who  is  survived  by  one  son,  Carlton 
Y.  In  1884  Mr.  Smith  married  Miss  Eva  Daniel,  and  they  have 
eight  children:  Roy,  Wilbur,  Beirne,  Marguerite,  Richard,  Thomas 
N.,  Jr.,  Weldon  and  Eva. 

Smith,  William  Duncan,  soldier,  was  born  in  Georgia  in  1826. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  the  West  Point  academy  and  grad- 
uated in  1846.  He  entered  the  army  as  brevet  second  lieutenant 
and  took  part  in  the  Mexican  war,  being  severely  wounded  at 
Molino  del  Rey.  Subsequently  he  served  on  the  frontier  and  in 
garrison  duty,  being  promoted  to  captain  in  1858.  In  the  latter 
part  of  January,  1861,  he  resigned  his  commission  in  the  army  and 
entered  the  Confederate  service  as  captain  of  infantry.  In  July, 
1861,  he  was  made  colonel  of  the  Twentieth  Georgia  regiment  and 
the  following  March  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general. 
From  that  time  until  his  death  he  was  a conspicuous  figure  in  the 
Confederate  army  and  at  one  time  was  uregd  by  some  as  a suc- 
cessor to  General  Pemberton.  He  died  on  Oct.  4,  1862,  at  Charles- 
ton, S.  C. 


328 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Smith,  William  E.,  lawyer  and  member  of  Congress,  was  born 
at  Augusta  March  14,  1829.  He  received  an  academic  education, 
studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1848  by  special  act  of 
the  general  assembly.  In  1853  he  was  elected  ordinary  of  Dough- 
erty county;  was  appointed  solicitor-general  of  the  Southwestern 
circuit  in  1858 ; enlisted  in  the  Confederate  army  as  a private  in 
1861,  but  was  promoted  to  a captaincy  in  the  Fourth  Georgia  in 
April,  1862;  resigned  his  commission  in  1863  to  enter  the  Con- 
federate Congress ; was  elected  to  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States  in  1874  and  was  twice  reelected.  Upon  retiring  from  Con- 
gress he  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Albany  and  died 
there  on  March  11,  1890. 

Smithonia,  one  of  the  important  towns  of  Oglethorpe  county, 
is  about  eight  miles  northwest  of  Lexington.  It  is  the  terminus 
of  the  Smithsonia,  Danielsville  & Carnesville  and  the  Smithonia 
& Dunlap  railroads,  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  200.  It  has  a 
number  of  good  stores,  some  factories,  schools,  churches,  etc.,  a 
money  order  postoffice,  and  handles  a large  volume  of  freight. 

Smithville,  a town  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Lee  county,  is  at 
the  junction  of  two  branches  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway 
system.  It  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1863. 
In  1900  it  had  within  its  corporate  limits  a population  of  597  and  in 
its  entire  district  1,954.  Near  by  are  two  large  sawmills,  a black- 
smith and  a wood-working  shop,  a turpentine  distillery,  while  just 
across  the  line  in  Sumter  county  is  a large  grist  mill  owned  in  the 
main  by  Smithville  people,  with  a daily  capacity  of  600  bushels 
of  corn.  In  the  town  are  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a money 
order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  a bank,  a public  cotton  gin 
and  several  prosperous  business  houses.  Large  quantities  of  pears 
are  shipped  every  season  and  about  3,000  bales  of  cotton  are  hand- 
led annually. 

Smyrna,  an  incorporated  town  in  Cobb  county,  is  on  the  Western 
& Atlantic  railroad,  five  miles  southeast  of  Marietta.  It  also  has 
connection  with  Marietta  and  Atlanta  by  means  of  an  electric  rail- 
way. The  population  in  1900  was  238  in  the  town  and  1,185  in  the 
militia  district  of  the  same  name.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice, 
with  rural  free  delivery,  some  mercantile,  manufacturing  and  ship- 
ping interests,  good  school  and  church  advantages,  express  and 
telegraph  service,  etc.  Not  far  from  the  town  is  the  Belmont  stock 
farm,  one  of  the  finest  in  the  South. 

Snake  Creek  Gap.  (For  military  operations  here  in  the  spring 
of  1864  see  Dalton).  In  the  fall  of  1864  Sherman  was  drawn  north- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


329 


ward  by  Hood’s  movements.  Upon  reaching  Snake  Creek  Gap 
October  15th,  he  was  there  delayed  for  several  hours  by  the 
skirmishing  with  the  Confederate  rear  guard. 

Snap,  a post-hamlet  of  Bulloch  county,  is  about  ten  miles  north- 
east of  Statesboro.  Clito  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Snapfinger  Creek  is  a little  stream  in  DeKalb  county.  As  Stone- 
man  was  starting  out  on  his  raid  there  was  a skirmish  along  this 
creek  on  July  27,  1864. 

Snellville,  a village  of  Gwinnett  county,  is  about  seven  miles 
south  of  Lawrenceville.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural 
free  delivery,  some  mercantile  interests,  and  in  1900  reported  a pop- 
ulation of  147.  Grayson,  on  the  Loganville  branch  of  the  Seaboard 
Air  Line,  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Snider,  a post-hamlet  of  Gilmer  county,  is  twelve  miles  south- 
east of  Ellijay,  near  the  base  of  the  Amicalola  mountain.  Talona 
is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Snow,  a village  of  Dooly  county,  is  a short  distance  west  of 
Unadilla,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station.  It  has  a money 
order  postoffice,  is  a trading  center  for  the  neighborhood  in  which 
it  is  located,  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  100. 

Social  Circle,  a town  in  the  southern  part  of  Walton  county,  is 
on  the  Georgia  railroad  between  Atlanta  and  Augusta  and  is  the 
southern  terminus  of  the  Gainesville,  Jefferson  & Southern  railway. 
It  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1832.  It  is  well 
situated  for  trade  with  the  surrounding  country,  has  express  and 
telegraph  offices,  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery, 
a bank,  a number  of  well-stocked  stores,  an  oil  mill,  a public  cotton 
gin,  a cotton  factory,  some  smaller  manufactories,  and  quite  a 
number  of  beautiful  homes.  The  people  enjoy  the  best  of  educa- 
tional advantages  and  church  privileges.  According  to  the  United 
States  census  of  1900  the  district  had  a population  of  2,879,  and  of 
these  1,229  lived  in  the  corporate  limits. 

Socrates,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Monroe 
county,  is  on  a branch  of  the  Towaliga  river.  The  nearest  railroad 
station  is  Goggansville. 

Sola  Bills. — Very  little  actual  money  was  brought  to  Georgia 
by  the  first  settlers.  What  little  trade  they  had  was  carried  on 
chiefly  by  the  primitive  method  of  barter.  But  the  increase  of  pop- 
ulation, the  widening  of  the  settled  area,  made  a larger  volume  of 
circulating  medium  a necessity.  The  trustees  sent  over  all  the 
English  coin  they  could,  and  to  further  supply  the  deficit  they  is- 
sued their  warrants  or  due  bills  upon  the  treasury,  which  passed 


330 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


current  as  money.  These  were  called  sola  bills,  and  at  one  time 
constituted  practically  all  the  currency  of  the  colony. 

Soldiers’  Cemeteries. — (See  Cemeteries). 

Soldiers’  Home. — In  1889  the  movement  for  a Georgia  Confeder- 
ate soldiers’  home  was  warmly  advocated  by  Henry  W.  Grady, 
then  on  the  staff  of  the  Atlanta  Constitution  and  in  the  last  year 
of  his  life.  His  earnestness  in  the  cause  enlisted  the  cooperation 
of  others  and  led  to  the  contribution  by  citizens  from  various  parts 
of  the  state  of  sufficient  funds  for  the  purchase  of  a suitable  site 
and  the  erection  of  a substantial  building.  The  whole  was  then 
tendered  to  the  state,  but  was  not  at  that  time  accepted,  and  there- 
fore remained  unused  for  several  years.  The  property  was  again 
tendered  to  the  state  and  was  accepted  by  act  of  the  general  as- 
sembly, approved  Dec.  21,  1900.  It  consisted  of  about  120  acres  of 
land,  situated  near  the  city  of  Atlanta,  upon  which  was  located  the 
home,  the  grounds  and  buildings  being  valued  at  $45,000.  The 
state  was  to  provide  for  the  maintenance  of  the  home  for  a period 
of  twenty  years,  or  for  such  period  as  the  number  of  inmates  or  ap- 
plicants might,  in  the  discretion  of  the  legislature,  require.  The 
trustees  of  the  institution  were  William  Lowndes  Calhoun,  presi- 
dent; Joseph  B.  Cumming,  president  pro  tern.;  H.  W.  Bell,  John 
Triplett,  Charles  D.  Phillips,  S.  W.  Harris,  H.  H.  Perry,  A.  F. 
Daley,  Charles  M.  Wiley,  W.  F.  Jenkins  and  J.  H.  Martin.  W. 
H.  Harrison  was  elected  secretary ; Amos  Fox,  treasurer ; James  L. 
Wilson,  superintendent ; Dr.  Henry  Rossignol,  surgeon ; A.  R. 
Holderby,  chaplain ; and  Mrs.  J.  Pickney  Thomas,  matron.  In 
July,  1901,  the  home  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  veterans  and 
in  a short  time  seventy-two  were  admitted  to  its  privileges.  On 
Sept.  30,  1901,  the  building  was  destroyed  by  fire.  On  the  same  day 
a temporary  home  was  provided  for  the  veterans,  while  the  help- 
less were  cared  for  by  the  hospitals  in' Atlanta.  On  the  house 
and  furniture  were  $21,500  fire  insurance,  and  this,  with  the  liberal 
subscriptions  that  poured  in  from  all  parts  of  the  state,  provided 
the  means  for  the  erection  of  a new  home  even  better  than  the 
first.  The  new  institution  was  opened  about  Sept.  1,  1902.  It  is 
a substantial  brick  building,  provided  with  all  the  modern  conven- 
iences. The  average  number  of  inmates  for  the  years  1904  and  1905 
has  been  100,  the  losses  by  death  having  been  filled  by  new  admis- 
sions. The  officers  of  the  board  of  trustees  for  1906  were  H.  W. 
Bell,  president;  W.  S.  Thompson,  vice-president;  W.  H.  Harrison, 
secretary;  Amos  Fox,  treasurer;  John  A.  Thompson,  superinten- 
dent. The  building  is  valued  at  $30,000,  the  furniture  at  over  $2,- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


331 


000,  and  the  grounds,  which  originally  cost  $8,500,  are  now  worth 
over  $20,000.  In  West  View  cemetery  is  a lot  set  apart  for  the 
burial  of  Confederate  soldiers,  and  in  the  center  of  the  lot  is  a 
neat  monument.  Here  are  buried  most  of  those  who  have  died  in 
the  home. 

Sonoraville,  a post-village  of  Gordon  county,  is  on  Pine  Log 
creek,  ten  miles  southeast  of  Calhoun,  which  is  the  most  con- 
venient railroad  station.  It  is  a trading  center  for  that  section 
of  the  county  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  83. 

Sons  of  Liberty. — During  the  first  half  of  the  decade  from  1760 
to  1770,  the  dissatisfaction  with  George  III  and  the  British  ministry 
led  to  the  organization  of  little  bands  of  patriots  from  New  England 
to  Georgia.  By  some  subtle  influence  these  little  parties  in  time 
became  united  in  a common  cause  under  the  name  of  the  “Sons  of 
Liberty.”  It  is  said  the  name  was  given  to  them  by  Col.  Isaac 
Barre,  who  was  a member  of  the  British  Parliament  at  the  time  the 
stamp  act  was  passed.  Charles  Townshend,  whom  Macauley  char- 
acterized as  “a  man  of  splendid  talents,  of  lax  principles,  and  of 
boundless  vanity  and  presumption,”  made  a speech  in  favor  of  the 
measure.  This  was  replied  to  by  Barre,  who  defended  the  right  of 
the  colonists  to  resist  taxation  and  called  them  “Sons  of  Liberty.” 
Jared  Ingersoll,  the  agent  from  Connecticut,  occupied  a seat  in  the 
gallery  during  the  debate  and  sent  a report  of  Barre’s  speech  to 
America.  It  was  printed  in  a newspaper  at  New  London  and  Mrs. 
Lamb  says : “May  had  not  shed  its  blossoms  before  the  words 

of  Barre  were  in  every  village  and  hamlet  of  America.” 

The  first  demonstration  of  the  “Sons”  in  Georgia  was  upon  the 
occasion  of  the  arrival  of  the  hated  stamps  in  Savannah,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1765.  By  order  of  Governor  Wright  the  papers  had  been 
placed  in  Fort  Halifax  for  safe  keeping.  About  200  men  gathered 
about  the  fort,  threatening  to  break  in  and  destroy  the  stamps. 
Under  guard  of  two  companies  of  the  Royal  Rangers  they  were 
removed  to  the  guard-house  and  subsequently  to  Fort  George. 
Governor  Wright  became  alarmed  and  for  several  days  kept  a 
guard  of  forty  men  about  his  residence.  But  no  violence  was  com- 
mitted at  this  time.  The  populace  contented  themselves  with 
burning  the  governor  in  effigy,  after  which  they  dispersed  to  their 
homes  to  await  a more  favorable  opportunity,  which  was  not  slow 
in  presenting  itself.  From  that  date  the  Sons  of  Liberty  grew  in 
numbers  and  strength  until  when  the  tocsin  of  war  was  sounded 
some  ten  years  later  they  were  ready  for  any  emergency.  Their 
record  is  written  on  every  field  of  the  Revolution,  from  Lexington 


332 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


to  Yorktown,  and  their  valorous  deeds  will  never  be  blotted  from 
the  pages  of  American  history.  (See  articles  on  Revolution,  Pro- 
vincial Congress  and  Tondee’s  Tavern). 

Sons  of  the  Revolution. — The  society  of  the  “Sons  of  the  Revo- 
lution” was  first  proposed  by  John  Austin  Stevens,  of  New  York, 
who,  with  a number  of  other  gentlemen  of  Revolutionary  ancestry, 
organized  the  New  York  society  in  1875.  In  1904  there  were 
thirty-one  state  societies,  including  the  one  in  the  District  of  Co- 
lumbia, with  an  aggregate  membership  of  over  7,500.  The  Georgia 
society  was  instituted  on  May  22,  1891,  and  in  1904  had  a member- 
ship of  over  200.  The  objects  of  the  organization  are  “to  keep  alive 
among  ourselves  and  our  descendants  the  patriotic  spirit  of  the  men 
who,  in  military,  naval,  or  civil  service,  by  their  acts  or  counsel, 
achieved  American  independence;  to  collect  and  secure  for  preser- 
vation the  manuscript  rolls,  records,  and  other  documents  relating 
to  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  to  promote  intercourse  and  good 
feeling  among  its  members  now  and  hereafter.” 

Soperton,  a post-hamlet  of  Montgomery  county,  is  four  miles 
east  of  a station  of  the  same  name  on  the  Macon,  Dublin  & Savan- 
nah railroad. 

Soque,  a little  village  in  the  northern  part  Of  Habersham  county, 
is  near  the  base  of  Chimney  mountain.  It  has  a money  order  post- 
office  and  is  a trading  point  for  that  part  of  the  county.  The  near- 
est railroad  station  is  Clarkesville. 

Sorghum. — About  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century  the 
sorghum  or  Chinese  sugar  cane  was  introduced  in  this  country. 
During  the  Civil  war  it  became  quite  popular  with  the  farmers  of 
the  South,  as  the  use  of  small  mills  made  it  possible  to  produce 
syrup  more  cheaply  from  this  cane  than  from  the  regular  sugar 
cane,  which  required  the  operation  of  expensive  machinery.  With- 
in recent  years  its  production  has  declined.  In  1890  Georgia  had 
22,089  acres  of  sorghum,  from  which  were  produced  1,342,803  gal- 
lons of  molasses.  In  1900  the  acreage  had  fallen  to  11,553,  the 
production  in  that  year  being  767,024  gallons,  though  the  average 
output  from  each  acre  had  increased  about  five  gallons.  Sorghum 
is  still  a great  favorite  with  many  Georgia  farmers,  and  the  syrup 
from  this  plant  is  preferred  by  the  negro  laborers  to  any  other 
kind. 

Sorrel,  G.  Moxley,  soldier  and  merchant,  was  born  in  Georgia, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  to  answer  the  call  to  arms  at  the  beginning 
of  the  Civil  war.  He  entered  the  army  as  a captain  on  the  staff 
of  General  Longstreet,  and  fought  at  the  first  battle  of  Manassas. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


333 


Shortly  after  that  he  was  made  a major  and  was  appointed  to  the 
position  of  adjutant-general  of  Longstreet’s  division.  He  continued 
to  serve  with  that  command,  distinguished  himself  at  the  battle  of 
Sharpsburg,  and  a short  time  before  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  was 
promoted  to  lieutenant-colonel.  On  the  last  day  of  October,  1864, 
he  was  commissioned  brigadier-general  and  commanded  a brigade 
of  Georgians  in  Mahone’s  division  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
then  located  in  Savannah,  where  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 

South  Atlantic 
Car  and  Manufac- 
turing Company, 

manufacturers  of 
freight  and  ca- 
boose cars,  brass 
and  g r a y-i  r o n 
castings, %.t  Way- 
cross,  Ware  coun- 
ty, represents  one 
of  the  important 
manufacturing  in- 
dustries of  the 
state  and,  in  its 
special  line,  of  the 
entire  south.  The  success  of  the  enterprise,  which  is  of  compara- 
tively recent  inception,  has  been  exceptional  and  its  value  to  the 
locality  in  which  are  established  the  well  equipped  factory  and 
business  headquarters  is  unequivocal.  The  company  was  orga- 
nized in  March,  1903,  and  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  state, 
with  a paid-in  capital  of  $100,000,  with  an  authorized  increase  to 
$500,000.  The  first  president  was  George  Dole  Wadley,  who  re- 
signed Feb.  1,  1905,  and  was-  succeeded  by  Alexander  Sessoms. 
W.  A.  Price  is  first  vice-president;  Frank  H.  McGee,  second 
vice-president  and  general  manager;  and  H.  D.  Breen,  secre- 
tary and  treasurer.  The  plant  of  the  company  is  located  within 
the  city  limits  of  Waycross  and  utilizes  about  ten  acres  of 
land,  the  floor  space  of  the  various  buildings  aggregating  65,- 
475  square  feet.  The  factory  has  a capacity  for  the  output  of 
eight  finished  box  or  freight  cars  each  day,  all  wood  work  being 
done  in  the  concern,  from  the  raw  material,  as  is  also  a consider- 
able portion  of  the  iron  work, — all  except  the  rolling  of  the  iron, 
casting  of  wheels  and  axles  and  the  producing  of  minor  accessories. 


334 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


The  company  also  builds  cabooses  and  repairs  passenger  coaches. 
This  concern  is  the  leading  car  factory  of  the  south,  and  since  the 
organization  of  the  company  semi-annual  dividends  of  four  per 
cent,  have  been  paid  on  the  cash  basis.  On  June  13,  1904,  a stock 
dividend  of  twenty-five  per  cent,  was  declared.  The  officers  of  the 
company  are  all  Waycross  men,  and  practically  the  entire  stock 
is  owned  by  residents  of  Ware  county.  Mr.  McGee  who  has  the 
general  superintendency  of  the  manufactory,  has  been  a railroad 
master  mechanic  for  many  years  and  is  specially  well  qualified  for 
the  executive  and  technical  offices  which  he  now  holds.  The  com- 
pany also  owns  and  operates  the  car  plant  that  formerly  belonged 
to  the  Georgia  Car  and  Manufacturing  Company,  at  Savannah. 
This  plant  covers  eighty-one  acres  of  land,  situated  near  the  city 
limits,  on  the  line  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railroad,  being  well 
equipped  with  trackage  and  having  two  large  buildings — one  1,500 
feet  long  and  the  other  1,300  feet.  The  first  is  used  as  a planing 
mill  and  erecting  shed,  and  the  other  for  foundry,  blacksmith  shops, 
machine  shops,  etc.  This  plant  has  a capacity  for  the  output  of 
eighteen  flat  cars  and  twelve  box  cars  a day.  The  company  is 
now  engaged  in  filling  a contract  (1906)  for  the  building  of  450 
ventilated  fruit  cars  for  the  Central  of  Georgia ; 300  gondolas,  of 
80,000  pounds’  capacity,  for  the  Mexican  National  railroad;  50 
logging  and  ten  flat  cars  for  the  Georgetown  & Western  Railroad; 
500  flat  cars  for  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line;  and  1,000  plain  box  cars 
for  the  Central  of  Georgia.  At  the  time  of  this  writing  the  plant 
in  Savannah  has  booked  orders  which  will  run  the  same  to  full 
capacity  for  a period  of  six  months. 

South  Newport  River  forms  the  boundary  between  Liberty  and 
McIntosh  counties.  In  August,  1864  a Confederate  force  under 
Maj.-Gen.  La  Fayette  McLaws,  numbering  about  2,500  men,  was 
on  coast  guard  duty  from  the  Ogeechee  to  the  St.  Mary’s  rivers. 
On  the  17th  one  of  the  companies  of  South  Carolina  cavalry  that 
was  stationed  near  South  Newport  river  was  surprised  and  most 
of  the  men  were  captured. 

South  River,  a stream  of  Central  Georgia,  rises  near  Atlanta  and 
flows  a general  southeasterly  direction  until  it  empties  into  the 
Ocniulgee  at  the  southern  point  of  Newton  county.  In  July,  1864, 
Garrard’s  Federal  cavalry  made  a raid  along  this  river,  engaging 
in  skirmishes  at  Snapfinger  creek,  Flat  Rock  bridge  and  Lithonia. 
Some  more  fighting  occurred  along  its  banks  on  Oct.  24,  1864. 

Southern  Female  College. — This  institution,  located  at  La  Grange 
and  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  Baptist  church,  is  one  of 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


335 


the  oldest  of  its  kind  in  the  United  States.  It  was  organized  in 
1843  by  Rev.  J.  E.  Dawson,  the  first  class,  consisting  of  five  young 
women,  graduating  in  1845.  By  the  act  of  Jan.  31,  1850,  it  was  in- 
corporated as  the  “La  Grange  Collegiate  Seminary  for  Young 
Ladies.”  Two  years  later  the  name  wras  changed  to  the  “Southern 
and  Western  Female  College,”  and  in  February,  1854  it  took  its 
present  name.  The  school  has  good  buildings  and  the  course  of 
study  includes  mathematics,  English,  Latin,  Greek,  modern  lan- 
guages, natural  sciences,  philosophy,  elocution,  music  and  paint- 
ing. 

Southwell,  a post-village  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Bryan 
county,  is  a station  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railway  and  in  1900 
reported  a population  of  94.  It  has  some  local  trade  and  does 
considerable  shipping. 

Spalding  County  was  formed  in  1851,  from  the  counties  of  Pike 
and  Henry,  and  named  for  Thomas  Spalding,  of  St.  Simon’s  Island, 
a member  of  the  Georgia  legislature  and  representative  in  Congress. 
It  lies  in  the  western  part  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Clayton  and  Henry  counties,  on  the  northeast  by  Henry,  on  the 
east  by  Butts  and  Monroe,  on  the  south  by  Pike,  on  the  northwest 
by  Fayette,  and  on  the  west  by  Fayette,  Cow^eta  and  Meriwether. 
The  Flint  river  forms  a part  of  the  western  boundary,  then  turns 
through  the  county,  and  with  many  smaller  streams  drains  the  land. 
Scientific  farming  is  being  introduced  and  under  its  influence  the 
productiveness  of  the  land  has  been  materially  increased.  Corn, 
wheat,  oats,  sweet  and  Irish  potatoes,  cotton  and  sugar-cane  are 
the  principal  productions.  Truck  and  fruit  farming  are  profitable. 
Peaches,  pears  and  plums  are  the  fruits  most  raised.  Vineyards 
receive  much  less  attention  than  they  did  a few  years  ago,  though 
considerable  quantities  of  grapes  are  still  produced.  Some  short- 
leaf  pine,  ash,  maple  and  poplar  still  stand,  but  the  timber  products 
are  small.  Two  branches  of  the  Central  of  Georgia,  and  two  of  the 
Southern  railway  traverses  the  county  in  various  directions,  afford- 
ing excellent  facilities  for  transportation,  while  the  public  roads, 
which  are  worked  by  the  convict  system,  are  kept  in  fine  condition. 
Griffin,  the  county  seat,  is  a manufacturing  center  and  the  principal 
shipping  point  and  market  for  the  county.  Sunnyside,  Pomona, 
Vineyard,  Orchard  Hill,  Experiment,  Drewryville,  Rover  and 
Zetella  are  other  towns.  Sunnyside  was  for  many  years  the  home  of 
Capt.  John  McIntosh  Kell,  once  first  officer  of  the  Confederate 
cruiser,  Alabama,  and  after  the  war  served  as  adjutant-general  of 
the  state.  Near  Griffin  the  State  of  Georgia  and  the  United  States 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


OOI* 

OO  l) 

government  conduct  an  agricultural  and  horticultural  experiment 
station.  The  population  in  1900  was  17,619,  an  increase  of  4,502 
in  ten  years. 

Spalding,  Thomas,  a resident  of  St.  Simon’s  Island  in  the  early 
part  of  the  nineteenth  century,  was  prominent  in  public  affairs  in 
his  day.  He  served  in  the  state  legislature  and  in  1802  was  elected 
to  Congress.  Owing  to  a contest  with  Cowles  Mead  he  did  not 
take  his  seat  until  December,  1903.  Spalding  county  is  named  in 
his  honor. 

Spanish  American  War. — In  this  war  Georgia  bore  an  honorable 
part,  contributing  more  men  in  proportion  to  population  than  any 
other  state  in  the  Union.  At  Chickamauga,  on  her  soil,  some  40,000 
soldiers,  most  of  them  sons  of  the  men  who  in  1863  fought  on  op- 
posing sides  on  that  same  ground,  camped  together,  ready  to  obey 
the  orders  of  the  same  government  and  fight  under  the  same  flag. 
At  Griffin,  Atlanta,  Macon,  Savannah  and  Augusta  there  were 
camps,  in  which  men  of  the  South  and  North  tented  and  drilled  side 
by  side.  Georgia  furnished  three  regiments,  of  which  the  Third 
went  to  Cuba  in  the  corps  of  General  Fitzhugh  Lee,  on  whose  staff 
was  Lieutenant  Sartoris,  a grandson  of  Gen.  Ulysses  S.  Grant. 
This  corps,  the  Seventh,  had  been  selected  to  lead  the  assault  upon 
the  lines  at  Havana,  but  the  treaty  of  peace  between  the  United 
States  and  Spain  ended  actual  hostilities  and  the  movement  was 
not  executed.  The  Third  Immunes  was  recruited  in  Georgia  and 
was  made  up  in  the  main  of  citizens  of  that  state.  Young  Geor- 
gians in  the  regular  army  and  navy  of  the  United  States  acted  well 
their  part  in  the  Spanish-American  war.  Flag-Officer,  Lieut. 
Thomas  M.  Brumby,  was  mentioned  in  flattering  terms  in  Admiral 
Dewey’s  report  of  the  naval  victory  in  Manila  Bay;  Lieut.  James 
V.  Heidt,  of  the  Sixth  regiment,  son  of  an  ex-Confederate  soldier, 
and  Lieut.  Isaac  N.  Newell,  of  the  Twenty-second  infantry,  son 
of  ex-Confederate  Captain  Newell,  and  grandson  of  the  distin- 
guished Confederate  general  and  governor  of  Georgia,  Alfred  H. 
Colquitt,  when  their  captains  were  borne  from  the  field  wounded, 
led  their  respective  companies  in  the  battle  of  Santiago  and  won 
applause  by  their  gallantry;  W.  W.  Gordon,  of  Savannah,  an  ex- 
Confederate  officer,  was  commissioned  a brigadier-general  of 
United  States  volunteers;  Joseph  Wheeler,  a citizen  of  Alabama, 
but  a native  of  Richmond  county,  Ga.,  an  ex-Confederate  lieuten- 
ant-general, was  commissioned  major-general  of  United  States  vol- 
unteers ; was  second  in  command  in  the  army  operating  at  San- 
tiago, and  commanded  the  cavalry  in  the  battles  around  that  im- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


337 


portant  Spanish  stronghold.  Col.  Theodore  Roosevelt,  afterward 
president  of  the  United  States,  said  that,  when  after  the  Americans 
had  carried  El  Caney  and  San  Juan  Hill,  some  urged  a withdrawal, 
“to  \\  heeler,  more  than  to  any  other  one  man  was  due  the  prompt 
abandonment  of  the  proposition  to  fall  back — -a  proposal,  which, 
if  adopted,  would  have  meant  shame  and  disaster". 

Spanish  Invasion. — From  the  time  the  first  colonists  landed  in 
Georgia  the  Spanish  settlements  on  the  South  proved  a constant 
menace  to  the  welfare  of  the  province.  The  boundary  line  be- 
tween the  English  possessions  in  South  Carolina  and  the  Spanish 
claims  in  Florida  had  never  been  definitely  settled,  and  Spain  pre- 
tended to  look  upon  Oglethorpe  and  his  followers  as  trespassers 
upon  her  rights.  Soon  after  Oglethorpe  made  his  first  treaty  of 
peace  with  the  Creeks  the  Spaniards  sent  agents  among  the  In- 
dians to  seduce  them  from  their  allegiance  to  the  English.  As 
matters  grew  worse  Oglethorpe  went  to  England  in  January,  1737, 
to  secure  men  and  munitions  of  war  for  Georgia’s  defence.  He 
returned  in  September,  1738,  with  two  ships  of  war — the  Hector 
and  the  Blanford — bringing  a regiment  of  soldiers.  Early  in  1739 
the  Spaniards  resorted  to  their  old  tactics  of  trying  to  work  up  a 
hostile  spirit  among  the  Indians.  Oglethorpe  went  into  the  In- 
dian country  as  far  as  the  Cowetas,  holding  conferences  with  the 
chiefs,  giving  them  presents,  etc.,  with  the  result  that  the  treaty 
of  Aug.  21,  1739,  was  made,  declaring  all  the  country  between  the 
Savannah  and  St.  John’s  rivers  to  belong  to  the  Creeks,  and  that 
none  but  the  trustees  of  Georgia  should  have  the  right  to  settle 
thereon.  On  Oct.  23,  1739,  a formal  declaration  of  war  was  made 
by  England  against  Spain.  Admiral  Vernon  was  sent  to  the  West 
Indies  and  Oglethorpe  was  instructed  to  harass  the  Spanish  in 
Florida  by  every  means  in  his  power.  About  this  time  the  Span- 
ish agents  tried  to  stir  up  an  insurrection  among  the  slaves  in 
South  Carolina.  Under  promise  of  freedom  many  negroes  had 
been  induced  to  flee  to  St.  Augustine  and  join  the  Spanish  army, 
where  they  were  clothed  and  fed  the  same  as  the  white  troops. 
General  Oglethorpe  therefore  felt  justified  in  calling  on  the  Caro- 
linians for  aid  in  an  expedition  against  St.  Augustine.  Visiting 
Charleston  in  person  he  laid  before  the  legislature  an  estimate  of 
of  the  number  of  men,  etc.,  that  he  deemed  necessary  for  the  un- 
dertaking. A regiment  of  400  men  was  raised  in  Virginia  and  the 
Carolinas  and  placed  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Vanderdus- 
sen.  Vincent  Price,  the  commander  of  the  ships  of  war  on  that 
part  of  the  coast,  agreed  to  furnish  four  twenty-gun  ships  and  two 


22 — III 


338 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


sloops  properly  manned  and  equipped,  and  Indians  known  to  be 
friendly  to  the  English  were  invited  to  assist.  On  May  9,  1740, 
Oglethorpe,  with  400  select  men  from  his  own  regiment  and  a 
considerable  body  of  Indians,  reached  the  rendezvous  at  the  mouth 
of  the  St.  John’s  river,  and  the  next  day,  while  waiting  for  the 
arrival  of  the  other  troops,  captured  Fort  Diego,  twenty-five  miles 
from  St.  Augustine.  The  delay  of  the  Carolinians  in  reaching  the 
mouth  of  the  river  gave  the  Spaniards  time  to  prepare  themselves 
for  the  coming  assault.  All  the  cattle  in  the  vicinity  were  driven 
into  the  town,  and  to  make  matters  worse  for  the  English  six  ves- 
sels armed  with  cannon  and  two  sloops  laden  with  provisions  and 
munitions  of  war  succeeded  in  reaching  St.  Augustine.  Upon  the 
arrival  of  Colonel  Vanderdussen  the  entire  army,  some  2,000 
strong,  marched  toward  the  town.  Fort  Moosa,  two  miles  from 
St.  Augustine,  was  evacuated  at  their  approach,  the  garrison  join- 
ing the  troops  at  the  fort  in  the  town.  After  disposing  his  forces 
Oglethorpe  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  place,  but  was  met  by 
a positive  refusal.  For  several  days  a brisk  cannonade  was  kept 
up  on  both  sides,  when  Oglethorpe  decided  to  turn  the  assault 
into  a blockade.  The  siege  lasted  until  July  10th,  when,  owing  to 
scarcity  of  provisions  among  his  own  men,  Oglethorpe  withdrew 
his  forces  and  returned  to  Frederica. 

No  further  manifestation  of  hostilities  was  made  until  the  spring 
of  1742.  At  that  time  the  greater  part  of  the  British  fleet  in  the 
West  Indies  was  withdrawn,  which  gave  the  Spanish  fleet  an  op- 
portunity to  reinforce  the  post  at  St.  Augustine,  and  about  the  first 
of  May  2,000  troops  under  Rodondo  arrived  there.  On  June  21st 
nine  Spanish  vessels  entered  Amelia  sound,  but  were  met  with 
such  a warm  reception  from  the  guns  of  Fort  William  that  they 
kept  at  a respectful  distance.  About  a week  later  thirty-six  Span- 
ish ships  anchored  off  St.  Simon’s  bar.  - On  board  were  over  5,000 
men,  commanded  by  Monteano,  the  governor  of  Florida.  On  July 
5th  the  ships  tried  to  come  in  with  the  tide.  They  were  received 
with  a galling  fire  from  the  batteries  and  the  vessels  and  after  a 
fight  which  lasted  for  over  three  hours  the  Spanish  were  compelled 
to  retire  with  considerable  loss.  Oglethorpe  withdrew  to  Freder- 
ica and  two  days  later  a large  force  of  the  enemy  arrived  within 
two  miles  of  that  place.  With  four  platoons  of  his  regiment,  some 
Highlanders  and  Indians,  Oglethorpe  marched  out  and  attacked 
them  with  such  vigor  that  they  were  driven  back  with  a loss  of 
over  a hundred  men  in  killed  and  prisoners.  The  Spaniards  next 
passed  up  the  river  in  the  attempt  to  make  an  attack  from  a dif- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


339 


ferent  quarter,  but  the  English  commander  placed  a force  of 
rangers  and  Indians  to  form  an  ambuscade  to  prevent  a landing 
and  they  were  again  driven  back.  By  a trick  Oglethorpe  man- 
aged to  convey  to  Monteano  the  information  that  a large  body  of 
reinforcements  was  soon  expected  to  reach  Georgia,  and  this  de- 
termined the  Spanish  governor  to  attack  with  all  his  force  before 
the  expected  assistance  could  arrive.  The  troops  were  disem- 
barked and  the  whole  army  started  for  Frederica.  A little  body  in 
advance  was  captured  by  a scouting  party  under  Capt.  Noble 
Jones,  and  from  this  party  the  English  general  learned  that  the 
entire  Spanish  army  was  on  the  way  to  attack  his  position.  Dis- 
posing his  men  so  as  to  form  an  ambuscade  he  awaited  the  ap- 
proach of  Monteano  and  his  men.  When  within  a short  distance 
of  the  ambuscade  the  Spaniards  halted  and  began  to  make  prep- 
arations for  cooking  their  supper.  No  sooner  had  they  stacked 
their  arms  than  a deadly  fire  was  opened  from  the  surrounding 
thickets.  The  Spaniards  ran  to  their  arms  but  after  they  had 
gained  possession  of  their  guns  they  were  but  little  better  ofif,  for 
the  enemy  was  invisible.  Repeated  attempts  were  made  to  form 
the  men  for  a charge,  but  each  attempt  was  met  by  such  a fierce 
volley  from  the  concealed  marksmen  that  nothing  could  be  accom- 
plished. After  the  loss  of  several  of  their  officers  the  men  became 
panic  stricken  and  fled  in  all  directions,  leaving  their  guns  and 
camp  equipage  on  the  field,  never  stopping  until  they  reached  the 
protection  of  the  ships.  In  this  engagement  the  Spaniards  lost  in 
killed  and  wounded  and  prisoners  about  500  men.  The  place  where 
the  fight  occurred  is  still  known  as  the  “Bloody  Marsh.”  A few 
days  after  this  the  Spaniards  burned  all  the  buildings  on  Jekyl 
island  and  those  on  the  south  end  of  St.  Simon’s  and  then,  after 
a final  demonstration  against  Fort  William,  returned  to  St.  Au- 
gustine. Thus  ended  the  Spanish  invasion  of  Georgia. 

Spann,  (railroad  name  Meadows  Station)  a village  of  Johnson 
county,  is  on  the  Wrightsville  & Tennille  railroad,  about  three 
miles  from  the  Laurens  county  line.  It  has  a money  order  post- 
office,  telegraph  and  express  offices,  mercantile  and  shipping  inter- 
ests, and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  158. 

Sparks,  a town  in  Berrien  county,  is  located  on  the  Georgia 
Southern  & Florida,  and  is  the  western  terminus  of  the  Nashville 
& Sparks  railroad.  It  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature 
in  1888  ; in  1900  it  had  within  its  corporate  limits  a population  of 
683,  and  in  its  entire  district  2,170.  It  has  express  and  telegraph 
offices,  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  a bank, 


340 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


prosperous  business  houses,  establishments  for  making  brick  and 
building  materials  and  for  operating  gins  and  planing  mills.  School 
and  church  privileges  are  good. 

Sparks,  William  Henry,  poet  and  author,  was  born  in  St.  Simon’s 
island,  Jan.  1G,  1800.  He  was  reared  in  Greene  county,  Ga.,  was 
educated  in  the  north  and  studied  law  at  Litchfield,  Conn.  Upon 
his  admission  to  the  bar  he  practiced  for  some  years  at  Greensboro, 
served  in  the  Georgia  legislature,  aird  in  1830  became  a sugar 
planter  at  Natchez,  Miss.  Later  he  reentered  upon  the  practice 
of  law  and  was  for  ten  years  a partner  of  Judah  P.  Benjamin  at 
New  Orleans,  La.  Lie  declined  several  offers  of  political  honors, 
among  them  a United  States  senatorship.  He  wrote  a number  of 
poems  of  a high  order  and  in  1870  published  his  work  “Memories 
of  Fifty  Years,”  which  ran  through  several  editions.  He  died  at 
Marietta,  Ga.,  Jan.  13,  1882. 

Sparta,  the  county  seat  of  Hancock  county,  is  one  of  the  old 
towns  of  Georgia,  having  been  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legisla- 
ture in  1805.  It  is  a beautiful  town  on  a branch  of  the  Georgia 
railroad  connecting  Macon  and  Augusta.  The  people  of  Sparta 
and  of  Hancock  county  have  given  much  attention  to  education. 
The  schools  of  Sparta  were  noted  for  years  before  the  war.  Sparta 
is  not  only  noted  for  its  schools,  but  is  also  a good  market  town 
for  a prosperous  agricultural  community.  It  is  partly  in  the  102nd 
and  partly  in  the  103rd  militia  district,  the  former  having  3,116 
inhabitants  and  the  latter  2,442,  while  the  town  proper  has  a pop- 
ulation of  1,150.  It  has  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a money 
order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  two  banks,  several  first 
class  commercial  establishments,  an  oil  mill  and  a variety  of  small 
manufactories.  The  Sparta  creamery  reported  in  1901  the  receipt 
of  2,200  gallons  of  milk  in  a day.  The  court  house  is  an  imposing 
building  and  cost  $50,000.  All  Protestant  denominations  are  rep- 
resented in  the  churches. 

Spear,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Warren  county, 
is  about  seven  miles  north  of  Avera,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad 
station. 

Spears,  Frank,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Spears  & Pilcher, 
cotton  factors,  with  offices  in  the  Warren  block,  Augusta,  was  born 
Aug.  14,  1848,  and  reared  in  the  city  which  is  now  his  home.  His 
father,  Francis  Spears,  was  born  in  France,  whence  he  came  to 
the  LTnited  States  when  a young  man,  locating  in  Washington 
county,  Ga.,  where  was  celebrated  his  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Mal- 
pass,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  that  county.  They  finally  re- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


341 


moved  to  Augusta,  where  he  became  a successful  wholesale  gro- 
cer, his  death  here  occurring  in  1850.  Frank  Spears  completed  his 
educational  training  in  the  University  of  Georgia,  and  has  been 
identified  with  the  cotton  business  in  Augusta  during  practically 
his  entire  business  career.  The  present  firm  of  Spears  & Pilcher 
was  founded  in  1900,  and  controls  a large  and  representative  busi- 
ness. Mr.  Spears  is  a stanch  supporter  of  the  principles  and  poli- 
cies of  the  Democratic  party,  is  a member  of  the  Augusta  cotton 
exchange  and  board  of  trade,  and  is  identified  with  the  Commer- 
cial club.  For  a few  years  in  his  early  manhood  he  was  a non- 
commissioned officer  in  the  Clinch  Rifles,  a local  military  organi- 

Spears,  Joseph  Henry,  M.  D.,  a repre- 
sentative cotton  factor  of  Augusta,  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  Ga.,  Aug. 
10,  1833,  a son  of  Francis  and  Mary 

(Malpass)  Spears.  Flis  father  was  a 
native  of  France,  whence  he  immigrated 
to  the  United  States  when  a youth,  and 
became  one  of  the  prominent  citizens 

and  honored  business  men  of  Augusta, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  wholesale 
grocery  trade  for  a number  of  years,  his 
death  here  occurring  in  1850.  In  Wash- 
ington county,  Ga.,  he  married  Miss 
Mary  Malpass,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  that  county,  and  who 
died,  in  Augusta,  in  1875,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  Three  sons 

and  two  daughters  survive  the  loved  mother.  The  parents  were 

valued  members  of  St.  John's  church,  Methodist  Episcopal  South. 
Dr.  Joseph  H.  Spears  passed  the  first  ten  years  of  his  life  in  his 
native  county,  and  in  1843  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  Augusta,  where  he  became  a student  in  Richmond  acad- 
emy, after  which  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  general  merchan- 
dise firm  of  Spears  & Beaufort,  where  he  remained  until  the  death 
of  his  father,  who  was  senior  member  of  the  firm,  thereafter  con- 
tinuing one  year  with  the  succeeding  firm  of  Beaufort,  Beall  & 
Co.  He  then  took  up  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  A.  C.  Hart, 
of  Augusta,  attended  one  course  of  lectures  in  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Georgia,  and  then  entered  the  Jefferson 
medical  college,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  where  he  was  graduated  as  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1852.  In  1853  he  again  went  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  remained  about  one  year  as  resident  physician  in 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


342 

St.  Joseph’s  hospital.  He  then  returned  to  Augusta  and  engaged 
in  the  general  practice  of  his  profession,  but  soon  afterward  en- 
gaged in  the  retail  drug  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Clark, 
Wells  & Spears.  This  firm  continued  until  the  inception  of  the 
Civil  war,  the  senior  members  then  selling  their  interests  to  the 
firm  of  Spears  & Height,  and  Doctor  Spears  finally  sold  his  inter- 
est to  Mr.  Height.  In  the  spring  of  1864  he  entered  the  service  of 
the  Confederacy  as  a member  of  the  Georgia  state  troops,  with 
which  he  continued  to  be  identified  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
Prior  to  the  conflict  between  the  states  he  had  been  a lieutenant 
in  a militia  company,  and  had  also  been  extensively  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  salt  by  evaporation,  which  enterprise  was  con- 
tinued, under  detail  by  General  Cobb,  for  the  state  troops  until 
the  close  of  hostilities.  Doctor  Spears  is  to  be  considered  one  of 
the  pioneer  cotton  merchants  of  Augusta,  having  here  been  con- 
cerned with  his  important  line  of  industry  for  more  than  thirty 
years  and  being  esteemed  as  one  of  the  progressive  business  men 
and  public-spirited  citizens  of  the  community  which  has  repre- 
sented his  home  from  his  boyhood  days.  He  is  a stanch  advocate 
of  the  cause  of  the  Democratic  party,  is  a member  of  the  board  of 
stewards  of  St.  John’s  church,  Methodist  Episcopal  South,  and  is 
affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity.  In  1863  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Mary  G.  Warren,  who  was  born  and  reared  in 
Augusta,  a daughter  of  the  late  Robert  Warren.  Of  the  three 
children  of  this  union  two  are  living — Harriet  T.,  wife  of  C.  Win- 
ston Pilcher,  of  Augusta,  and  Mary  C.,  wife  of  John  Oscar  Wicker, 
of  the  same  city.  The  third  child,  Ophelia  J.,  died  in  infancy. 

Speer,  Alexander  M.,  jurist  and  politician,  was  born  in  South 
Carolina  in  1820.  He  received  his  elementary  education  in  the  lit- 
tle log  school  house  of  that  period,  and  in  1833  came  with  his 
parents  to  Georgia  and  in  1839  graduated  at  the  state  university. 
He  then  studied  law  for  one  year,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  and  began  practice  at  Forsyth.  Later  he  removed  to  Macon, 
where  he  remained  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war.  On 
April  20,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  “Macon  Volunteers,”  but  in  1862 
became  major  of  the  Forty-sixth  Georgia.  A few  months  after- 
ward he  was  promoted  to  lieutenant-colonel,  but  retired  from  ac- 
tive service  in  1863  to  enter  the  state  senate.  Two  years  later  he 
was  appointed  judge  of  the  Flint  circuit,  and  served  until  1868, 
when  he  was  removed  by  Governor  Bullock.  When  the  Demo- 
cratic party  again  assumed  control  of  the  state  government  he 
was  reelected  to  the  judgeship,  serving  a term  in  the  legislature 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


343 


before  taking  his  seat.  In  1879  he  was  elected  to  a place  on  the 
supreme  court  bench  and  served  with  credit  for  two  years,  when 
failing  health  compelled  his  resignation.  He  died  at  Madison,  Ga., 
about  1898. 

Speer,  Emory,  jurist,  was  born  at  Culloden,  Monroe  county,  Ga., 
Sept.  3,  1848.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  entered  the  Confeder- 
ate army,  and  during  the  reconstruction  days  worked  earnestly  and 
effectively  to  redeem  his  state  from  negro  domination.  As  a re- 
ward for  his  services  in  this  line  he  was  appointed  solicitor-gen- 
eral by  Governor  Smith.  In  1878  he  was  elected  to  Congress  as 
an  independent,  defeating  the  Democratic  nominee.  In  1880  he 
was  reelected,  again  defeating  the  Democratic  nominee;  was  ap- 
pointed a member  of  the  ways  and  means  committee  as  a protec- 
tionist; and  was  one  of  the  conference  committee  between  the 
house  and  the  senate  that  reported  the  bill  which  afterward  be- 
came the  tariff  of  1883.  At  the  close  of  his  second  term  he  was 
appointed  United  States  district  attorney  at  Atlanta,  by  President 
Arthur,  and  won  considerable  renown  in  certain  Ku  Klux  trials. 
In  February,  1885,  he  was  appointed  United  States  district  judge 
for  the  Southern  district  of  Georgia.  Judge  Speer  was  one  of  the 
orators  at  the  opening  of  the  Cotton  States  Exposition  at  Atlanta 
in  September,  1895  ; at  the  Peace  Jubilee  at  Chicago  in  October, 
1898,  and  at  Savannah  on  John  Marshall  day  in  February,  1901. 
Although  a Methodist  he  is  president  of  the  law  department  of 
Mercer  university,  a Baptist  institution.  He  is  the  author  of 
“Removal  of  Causes  from  State  to  United  States  Courts”,  and 
“Lectures  on  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States”.  His  home 
is  at  Macon. 

Speer,  Rev.  Eustace  Willoughby,  D.  D.,  was  the  youngest  child 
of  Alexander  Speer  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Middleton,  both  of 
South  Carolina.  His  father  was  the  son  of  William  Speer,  a pa- 
triot of  the  Revolution  who  for  his  services  was  granted  by  the 
State  of  South  Carolina  1,400  acres  of  land  at  Cherokee  Ford  on 
the  Savannah  river  in  Abbeville  district.  There,  after  the  Revolu- 
tion he  made  his  home  and  reared  his  family.  Alexander  Speer, 
the  father  of  Eustace,  was  born  in  1790,  and  was  a man  of  broad 
culture,  great  eloquence  and  extensive  influence.  He  was  secre- 
tary of  state  or  comptroller-general  of  South  Carolina  in  1826,  and 
on  December  1 of  that  year  Eustace  was  born  in  Columbia.  With 
Pettigra  and  a few  others,  Alexander  Speer  resisted  the  nullifica- 
tion theories  of  the  Calhoun  party.  He  was  put  forward  as  the 
protagonist  of  the  Union  party  and  the  opponent  in  public  discus- 


'344 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


sions  of  such  men  as  McDuffie.  The  late  Benjamin  C.  Yancey,  of 
Athens,  often  declared  to  the  writer  that  Alexander  Speer  was  in 
public  discussion  more  than  a match  for  that  great  nullifier. 
About  the  year  1833  he  removed  to  Georgia  and  settled  at  Cul- 
loden,  a village  noted  for  the  multitude  of  distinguished  men  it  has 
sent  forth.  In  the  meantime  while  desperately  ill,  he  had  declared 
that  if  his  life  was  spared  he  would  devote  it  to  the  Christian  min- 
istry. He  kept  his  vow  and  in  this  work  he  became  even  more 
famous  than  he  had  been  as  a lawyer  and  politician.  He  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  Wesleyan  female  college  at  Macon,  and  it  is 
believed  preached  the  first  commencement  sermon  at  Emory  col- 
lege. The  last  commencement  address  made  there  by  the  late 
Associate  Justice  L.  Q.  C.  Lamar  was  largely  composed  of  pas- 
sages quoted  from  memory  from  that  sermon,  from  another  by 
Bishop  Soule  and  a commencement  oration  by  George  F.,  after- 
wards Bishop  Pierce.  Alexander  Speer,  after  filling  many  of  the 
principal  appointments  in  the  Methodist  churches  in  Georgia  and 
South  Carolina,  died  at  Lagrange,  Ga.,  in  1856,  and  a young  law- 
yer who  watched  by  the  bedside  of  the  noble  old  patriot  and  gently 
closed  his  eyes  in  death,  was  afterwards  to  become  Lieut. -Gen. 
John  B.  Gordon.  Unlike  his  elder  brothers,  Dr.  Algernon  Sidney, 
and  the  late  associate  justice  of  Georgia,  Alexander  Middleton, 
Eustace  Speer  did  not  have  the  advantages  of  a collegiate  educa- 
tion. He  was,  however,  an  ardent  student  of  English  literature  and 
the  classics,  and  acquired  a spoken  and  written  style  which  for 
charm  and  clearness  the  late  Robert  Toombs  declared  was  equalled 
by  no  man  whom  he  ever  heard,  save  Judah  P.  Benjamin.  He  was 
married  when  nineteen  years  of  age  to  Annie  E.  King,  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  Geraldus  King  and  grand  niece  of  William  Rufus  King, 
of  Alabama,  at  one  time  vice  president  of  the  United  States. 
Eustace  Speer  was  converted  at  the  old  Monroe  camp  ground,  and, 
although  he  had  been  admitted  to  the  bar  by  act  of  the  general 
assembly,  at  once  devoted  his  great  talents  to  the  service  of  the 
Master.  In  1851  he  was  sent  by  the  annual  conference,  to  the 
First  church  in  Athens  to  control  the  unruly  student  body  in  that 
day  mainly  composed  of  sons  of  wealthy  planters.  After  his  ap- 
pearance and  first  sermon  there  was  not  as  before  any  disturb- 
ance of  the  congregation  lawfully  assembled  for  divine  service, 
and  the  students  became  his  life  long  and  devoted  friends.  Through 
his  efforts  the  brick  church  still  standing  at  Athens  was  erected. 
His  subsequent  appointments  embrace  all  of  the  principal  cities 
of  the  state.  He  was  several  times  presiding  elder,  but  declined 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


345 


the  more  conspicuous  stations  of  the  church.  He  was  for  eight 
years  professor  of  English  literature  and  Belles-lettres  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Georgia.  Shortly  after  his  resignation  of  his  profes- 
sorial duties  he  was  appointed  by  the  associate  justice,  and  the 
circuit  judge  of  the  Fifth  circuit  as  standing  master  in  chancery. 
He  had  by  nature  the  mind  of  the  jurist  and  great  powers  of  ra- 
tiocination. He  reports  as  master  were  models  of  juridical  state- 
ment and  reasoning  and  exquisite  English.  His  unobtrusive  piety, 
his  gentle  courtesy,  even  to  the  lowliest  and  least  fortunate,  his 
compact,  lucid  and  fervid  sermons  enriched  by  his  copious  learn- 
ing, glowing  with  the  vivid  charm  of  his  strong  and  cultured  imag- 
ination, endeared  him  to  thousands  of  his  contemporaries,  and  are 
yet  cherished  in  tender  memory  by  those  who  knew  and  loved  him. 
Of  another,  no  man  ever  heard  him  speak  an  ungentle  or  unkindly 
word.  He  adhorred  debt  and  owed  no  man.  While  ever  main- 
taining a home  of  refined  and  elegant  comfort,  always  liberal  to 
the  cause  of  religion  and  charitable  to  the  poor,  his  savings  from 
his  slender  salaries  provided  amply  for  those  dependent  upon  him. 
He  was  like  his  father  and  grandfather  an  ardent  patriot  and  a de- 
voted advocate  of  the  American  system.  On  Oct.  29,  1899,  he 
passed  from  this  transitory  life  declaring  with  undiminished  clear- 
ness of  mind  and  statement  not  merely  his  belief  but  his  abso- 
lute knowledge  of  a blissful  and  immortal  life  beyond  the  grave. 
He  is  survived  by  his  widow,  now  nearly  eighty  years  of  age,  and 
by  his  daughter,  Miss  Laura  Speer,  who  live  in  Athens  in  the 
beautiful  home  he  provided  for  them,  and  by  his  only  son  Judge 
Emory  Speer. 

Speer,  Thomas,  was  born  in  Monroe  county  in  1837.  He  re- 
ceived a common  school  education  and  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits. He  was  appointed  to  several  offices  under  the  Confederate 
government;  was  a member  of  the  constitutional  convention  in 
1867 ; elected  state  senator  in  1868  and  representative  in  Congress 
on  the  Republican  ticket  in  1870.  He  died  at  Augusta  in  1872  be- 
fore the  expiration  of  his  term. 

Spellman  Seminary,  an  institution  for  the  education  of  colored 
women,  was  founded  in  the  spring  of  1881  by  Misses  Packard  and 
Giles,  of  the  Women’s  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society 
of  Boston.  It  occupies  twenty  acres  in  the  city  of  Atlanta,  has 
property  valued  at  $300,000,  gives  a thorough  drill  in  the  common 
school  branches,  has  college  preparatory,  college,  normal  and  nurse 
training  departments,  and  gives  practical  training  in  printing,  type- 


•346 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


writing,  laundry  work,  cooking,  sewing,  dressmaking',  millinery, 
etc. 

Spencer,  a post-hamlet  of  Appling  county,  is  on  the  headwaters 
of  Big  Hurricane  creek,  about  twelve  miles  southwest  of  Baxley, 
which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Spencer,  Richard  Perry,  president  of 
the  Phoenix  bank  of  Columbus,  Ga.,  was 
long  and  prominently  identified  with 
the  Georgia  Home  Insurance  Company 
of  that  city  in  the  capacity  of  general 
agent.  Columbus  has  been  his  home 
from  his  birth  to  the  present  time.  When 
the  tocsin  of  war  was  sounded  through- 
out the  Southern  states  in  1861  he  went 
forth  a youth  of  fifteen  years  of  age  to 
do  loyal  service  as  a soldier  of  the  Con- 
federacy and  served  in  the  ranks,  first 
as  a member  of  Company  F,  Third  Geor- 
gia battalion,  and  later  as  a member  of  Company  B,  Thirty-seventh 
Georgia  regiment,  Army  of  Tennessee,  throughout  the  entire  war. 
He  was  seriously  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Resaca  May  15,  1864, 
and  on  his  return  home  invalided,  his  brother  William  Yonge 
Spencer,  a youth  of  fifteen  years  of  age,  donned  the  uniform  of  the 
older  brother,  took  his  place  in  the  ranks  and  was  killed  at  the  bat- 
tle on  the  Peachtree  road,  Atlanta,  in  August,  1854.  As  a citizen 
and  successful  business  man,  Mr.  Spencer  is  held  in  unqualified  con- 
fidence and  esteem,  and  has  hosts  of  friends  throughout  Georgia 
and  the  other  Southern  states,  where  he  has  traveled  largely  in  the 
interests  of  the  fire  insurance  business.  He  was  born  in  Musco- 
gee county,  Ga.,  Jan.  11,  1846,  the  son  of  R.  P.  Spencer,  a native 
of  Easton,  Md.,  and  of  Laura  Yonge  Spencer,  of  Columbus,  Ga. 
The  father  came  to  Georgia  when  a young  man,  located  in  Colum- 
bus in  1835,  was  married  in  1843  to  Miss  Laura  Yonge  and  died 
Oct.  18,  1880.  Richard  Perry  Spencer,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  was  afforded  the  advantages  of  the  private  schools  of  his 
native  city  up  to  the  time  of  his  enlistment  as  a soldier.  His  alma 
mater  was  the  Confederate  army,  his  diploma,  the  scars  of  battle. 
The  glorious  record  of  the  Southern  army  and  the  part  that  he 
and  his  youthful  and  lamented  brother  played  in  it  are  cherished 
memories  of  the  dead  past.  Mr.  Spencer  was  married  to  Miss  Ida 
Tunstall  Speed,  of  Virginia-,  on  July  8,  1879.  His  beautiful  home 
on  Second  avenue  is  one  of  the  most  distinguished  residences  of 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


347 


the  city  and  is  the  scene  of  many  hospitable  entertainments.  Fully 
abreast  with  the  progress  of  his  time  and  quickened  with  abound- 
ing prosperity  of  his  native  state,  he  has  made  his  impress  upon 
the  community  in  which  his  life  work  has  been  accomplished,  has 
achieved  no  mean  success  in  the  battle  of  life  and  will  leave  to 
his  children  the  heritage  of  an  honored  and  respected  name. 

Speth,  Gustave,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Speth  Bros.,  whole- 
sale and  retail  dealers  in  stoves,  ranges,  grates,  tinware,  sporting 
goods,  bicycles  and  supplies,  in  Augusta,  is  one  of  the  progressive 
and  popular  young  business  men  of  that  city.  He  was  born  in 
New  York  city,  Jan.  16,  1877,  a son  of  Dr.  Gustave  and  Catherine 
Speth,  the  former  born  in  Stuttgart,  Germany,  and  the  latter  in 
famed  old  Bingen  on  the  Rhine.  The  parents  formed  an  acquaint- 
anceship on  the  steamer  on  which  they  took  passage  for  America. 
He  was  a physician  and  as  such  was  called  to  attend  the  young 
woman  who  later  became  his  wife.  This  incident  led  to  an  ideal 
marriage,  which  took  place  soon  after  their  arrival  in  New  York. 
In  1880  they  removed  to  Augusta,  Ga.,  and  in  1891  they  took  up 
their  residence  in  Griffin,  Spalding  county.  There  the  father  be- 
came state  horticulturist  at  the  Georgia  experiment  station  and 
retained  this  office  until  his  death,  which  occurred  April  2,  1893. 
He  was  a man  of  fine  intellectual  attainments,  an  able  physician 
and  surgeon  and  also  a fine  linguist,  speaking,  reading  and  writing 
five  different  languages.  His  father  was  an  eminent  physician  of 
Europe  and  was  for  some  time  physician  to  the  royal  household  of 
England.  Mrs.  Catherine  Speth  still  survives  her  honored  hus- 
band and  maintains  her  home  in  Augusta.  Gustave  Speth  received 
his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Augusta,  after  which 
he  completed  a course  in  the  high  school  at  Griffin.  After  the  death 
oLhis  father  the  family  returned  to  Augusta,  and  for  nine  years 
he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Augusta  Herald,  holding  the  positions 
of  bookkeeper  and  later  that  of  manager  of  circulation.  On  Dec. 
2,  1903,  Mr.  Speth  entered  into  partnership  with  his  brother,  Louis 
P.,  and  established  their  present  large  and  prosperous  business  en- 
terprise at  840  Broad  St.  They  have  a sales  and  display  room 
nearly  300  feet  in  length,  where  they  have  one  of  the  largest  and 
most  select  stocks  of  stoves,  ranges,  grates,  tinware,  bicycles,  sport- 
ing goods,  etc.,  to  be  found  in  the  state,  do  both  a wholesale  and 
retail  business,  and  have  a well  equipped  repair  department  in  con- 
nection with  the  establishment.  Mr.  Speth  is  a man  of  strong 
intellectuality  and  independent  views,  and  is  known  as  an  enter- 
prising and  public-spirited  citizen.  He  gives  allegiance  to  the 


348 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Democratic  party  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  communicants  of 
St.  Paul's  church,  Protestant  Episcopal.  On  June  G,  1901,  Mr. 
Speth  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mabel  Claire  Stothart, 
daughter  of  Dr.  John  A.  Stothart,  of  Savannah,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Mabel  Claire,  born  April  18,  1902. 

Spilo,  a post-hamlet  of  Union  county,  is  five  miles  north  of 
Blairsville  on  a branch  of  the  Notely  river.  Culberson,  N.  C.,  is 
the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Spooner,  a post-village  of  Miller  county,  with  a population  of 
64,  is  about  ten  miles  southwest  of  Colquitt  and  four  miles  from 
Donalsonville,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Spread,  a town  in  the  northern  part  of  Jefferson  county,  was  in- 
corporated by  act  of  the  legislature  on  August  15,  1903.  The  popu- 
lation in  1900  was  105.  It  is  located  on  the  Augusta  Southern  rail- 
road, has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  some 
mercantile  establishments,  and  is  an  important  shipping  point. 

Springfield,  the  county  seat  of  Effingham  county,  is  located  near 
the  center  of  the  county.  The  nearest  railroad  stations  are  Guy- 
ton, on  the  Central  of  Georgia,  and  Stillwell,  on  the  Seaboard  Air 
Line,  each  being  about  five  miles  distant.  It  has  the  court-house, 
several  stores,  schools,  churches,  a money  order  postoffice,  with 
rural  free  delivery,  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  107.  On 
Dec.  10,  1864,  as  Sherman’s  army  was  advancing  upon  Savannah, 
the  Federal  pickets  were  attacked  at  Springfield  by  a detachment 
of  Confederate  cavalry.  The  Eighth  Indiana  cavalry  was  sent  to 
the  rescue  and  the  attacking  party  was  driven  off  with  a loss  of 
3 men  and  7 horses. 

Springhaven,  a village  of  Laurens  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Wrightsville  & Tennille  railroad,  ten  miles  southwest  of  Dublin. 
It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  an  ex- 
press office,  some  mercantile  concerns,  and  in  1900  had  a popula- 
tion of  96. 

Springplace,  once  a missionary  station  amongst  the  Cherokees, 
and  now  the  county  seat  of  Murray  county,  was  incorporated  by 
act  of  the  legislature  in  1885.  When  the  projected  railroad  from 
Dalton,  Ga.,  to  Murphy,  N.  C.,  is  built,  it  ought  to  give  to  Spring- 
place  the  impetus  that  has  built  up  so  many  towns  in  Georgia.  Its 
location  is  attractive,  being  in  the  midst  of  charming  scenery,  with 
the  Cohutta  Mountains  in  full  view,  and  within  ten  miles  of  the 
Cohutta  Springs,  whose  waters  are  said  to  possess  great  medicinal 
values.  It  has  a handsome  court  house,  good  schools  and  churches, 
a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery  and  stores  well 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


349 


stocked  for  the  country  trade.  The  population  of  Springplace  ac- 
cording to  the  census  of  1900  was  213.  There  was  some  skirmish- 
ing here  on  Feb.  27,  1864,  as  Thomas  was  advancing  against  the 
Confederate  position  at  Dallas.  Other  skirmishes  occurred  near 
the  same  place  during  the  first  week  of  the  following  April. 

Springvale,  a town  in  Randolph  county,  was  incorporated  by 
act  of  the  legislature  on  Oct.  16,  1891.  It  is  about  eight  miles 
northwest  of  Cuthbert  and  four  miles  north  of  Springvale  station, 
on  the  Smithville  & Eufaula  division  of  the  Central  of  Georgia 
railroad.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery, 
an  express  office,  some  good  stores,  etc.,  and  in  1900  had  a popu- 
lation of  166. 

Sproule,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Pierce  county, 
is  in  the  forks  of  Big  Hurricane  creek,  not  far  from  the  Ware 
county  line.  New  Lacy  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Spruce,  a post-hamlet  of  Rabun  county,  is  in  a picturesque  re- 
gion, ten  miles  northwest  of  Clayton,  which  is  the  nearest  rail- 
road station. 


Stacy,  Rev.  James,  D.  D.,  one  of  the 

most  prominent  and  honored  members 
of  the  clergy  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
in  Georgia  and  now  a resident  of  New- 
nan,  Coweta  county,  was  born  in  Lib- 
erty county,  Ga.,  June  2,  1830,  a son  of 
John  W.  and  Mary  (Bacon)  Stacy,  both 
of  whom  were  likewise  natives  of  that 
county,  the  former  born  Kov.  3,  1798, 
and  the  latter  Oct.  26,  1807.  James 
Stacy  experienced  conversion  Nov.  3, 
1845,  and  on  the  13th  of  the  same  month 
was  formally  received  into  membership 
in  historic  old  Medway  church,  in  his  native  county, — a church 
whose  history  is  outlined  under  proper  heading  in  this  cyclopedia. 
He  was  graduated  with  distinction  in  Oglethorpe  college,  Nov.  14, 
1849,  and  at  Columbia  seminary,  Columbia,  S.  C.,  in  May,  1852. 
At  Flemington,  Ga.,  Aug.  1,  1852,  he  was  licensed  by  the  Georgia 
presbytery,  and  on  October  30,  of  the  following  year,  the  same 
body  granted  him  formal  ordination  as  a clergyman,  in  the  city 
of  Savannah.  In  that  year  he  served  as  pastor  of  the  church  or- 
ganizations at  Lumpkin  and  Cuthbert;  at  Eufala.  Ala.,  1854;  at 
West  Point,  Long  Cane  and  Eberiezer,  1855-6;  and  pastor  of  the 
church  at  Newnan  continuously  since  January,  1857.  Within  the 


350 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


time  of  his  incumbency  at  Newnan  he  has  also  supplied  several 
outlying  parishes:  West  Point,  1857;  White  Oak  (now  Turin), 

from  1858,  to  1898;  Yellow  Dirt,  1865-6;  Hogansville,  1867  to 
1880;  Carrollton,  from  January,  1881,  to  July,  1888;  and  Palmetto, 
from  1890  to  1898.  Since  1866  he  has  served  continuously  as  stated 
clerk  of  the  Presbytery  of  Atlanta,  and  since  1876  as  stated  clerk 
of  the  synod  of  Georgia.  Plis  father  was  clerk  of  the  Medway 
church  for  thirty  years  and  his  grandfather  for  twenty  years. 
Doctor  Stacy  was  president  of  the  board  of  directors  of  Columbia 
seminary  from  1887  to  1897,  and  since  1878  he  has  been  chairman 
of  the  permanent  committee  on  the  Sabbath  in  the  general  assem- 
bly. He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from 
Arkansas  college,  in  1876.  In  addition  to  his  earnest  and  unabat- 
ing pastoral  work  and  official  service  Dr.  Stacy  has  been  prolific 
as  an  author,  having  written  a prize  essay  on  the  Sabbath,  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  1877;  “Day  of  Rest,”  1885;  “Water  Baptism,”  1882;  a 
comprehensive  and  valuable  history  of  the  Medway  church;  and 
he  is  now  engaged,  1906,  in  writing  a history  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  Georgia,  having  taken  up  this  work  at  the  request  of 
the  last  synod ; in  the  hands  of  the  church  committee  of  publica- 
tion at  Richmond,  Virginia,  is  his  book  entitled  “Prophecy  and 
Second  Coming.”  He  is  a man  of  high  intellectuality  and  his 
work  in  the  ministry  has  been  fruitful  during  the  long  years  of  pas- 
toral relations.  He  is  a factor  of  importance  in  the  councils  of 
his  church  in  Georgia,  and  to  him  is  given  the  unreserved  esteem 
of  all  who  know  him.  He  has  been  three  times  married  but  has 

Stafford,  Howard  H.,  president  of  the 
Georgia-Carolina  Brick  Company,  of  Au- 
gusta, is  one  of  the  representative  busi- 
ness men  of  the  city,  which  has  been  his 
home  from  the  time  of  his  birth.  He 
was  born  Jan  22,  1867,  a son  of  Thomas 
H.  and  Adelaide  (Evans)  Stafford,  the 
former  born  in  the  State  of  Rhode  Isl- 
and, Oct.  20,  1829,  and  the  latter  in  Fay- 
etteville, N.  C.,  in  1844.  Thomas  H. 
Stafford  removed  to  the  South  in  1847, 
being  eighteen  years  of  age  at  the  time. 
He  first  located  in  Hamburg,  S.  C.,  just 
across  the  Savannah  river  from  Augusta,  to  which  latter  city  he 
subsequently  removed  and  in  which  he  still  maintains  his  home. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


351 


For  many  years  he  was  prominently  identified  with  the  cotton 
business,  chiefly  as  an  exporter,  and  was  one  of  the  progressive 
and  influential  business  men  of  the  city.  Flis  wife  was  summoned 
to  the  life  eternal  on  Nov.  30,  1898.  The  Stafford  family  is  of 
stanch  old  Puritan  stock,  was  early  founded  in  New  England,  and 
of  collateral  relationship  was  Roger  Williams,  who  colonized  Rhode 
Island.  Thomas  H.  Stafford  upheld  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy 
during  the  Civil  war,  as  a member  of  a Georgia  regiment  of  in- 
fantry. Two  of  his  brothers  were  soldiers  in  the  Union  army  and 
one  was  in  the  Confederate  service, — another  exemplification  of  the 
fact  that  the  war  between  the  states  has  been  consistently  termed 
fratricidal.  Howard  H.  Stafford  was  graduated  in  Richmond  acad- 
emy, Augusta,  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1884,  and  initiated  his 
business  career  by  taking  a position  as  office  boy  for  a local  in- 
surance agency.  In  1887,  he  became  traveling  inspector  for  the 
Cotton  Mill  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  of  Augusta,  of 
which  his  father  was  secretary  and  treasurer  and  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers of  the  company.  In  1889  he  was  made  inspector  and 
southern  representative  of  the  Associated  Factory  Mutual  Insur- 
ance Companies,  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  later  was  individually 
engaged  in  the  insurance  business  for  a short  time,  in  his  home 
city.  His  ambition,  however,  was  to  identify  himself  with  manu- 
facturing interests  in  a direct  way,  since  he  was  confident  that 
greater  possibilities  for  definite  accomplishment  and  success  were 
to  be  had  in  such  connection.  With  this  ultimate  idea  in  view,  he 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Phinizy-Dunbar  Brick  Company,  of  Au- 
gusta, in  a minor  capacity,  and  in  this  association  he  familiarized 
himself  with  every  detail  of  the  brick-manufacturing  business.  In 
1902  he  organized  the  Georgia-Carolina  Brick  Company,  of  which 
he  has  been  president  from  the  start  and  whose  magnificent  up- 
building has  been  primarily  due  to  his  able  and  discriminating  ef- 
forts as  an  executive.  The  company  handles  the  products  of  all 
the  building-brick  factories  of  Augusta,  eleven  in  all,  marketing 
the  total  output  of  each,  both  at  wholesale  and  retail.  The  con- 
cern thus  handles  an  average  of  50,000,000  brick  annually,  its  trade 
ramifying  through  the  states  of  Georgia,  North  Carolina,  South 
Carolina  and  Florida.  Mr.  Stafford  is  a valued  member  of  the 
Georgia  brick  manufacturers’  association  and  a member. of  its 
executive  committee.  He  is  a member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  is  a Democrat  in  his 
political  adherency,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  communicants  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  church.  On  Jan.  7,  1891,  was  solemnized 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


352 

the  marriage  of  Mr.  Stafford  to  Miss  Bessie  Foster,  daughter  of 
the  late  Hon.  H.  Clay  Foster,  who  was  one  of  Augusta’s  most 
prominent  citizens  and  a leading  member  of  the  Augusta  bar.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Stafford  have  two  daughters — Bessie  Holden  and  Grace 
Low. 

Stage  Routes. — Before  the  advent  of  railroads  about  the  only 
means  of  public  conveyance,  away  from  the  navigable  streams, 
was  the  old-fashioned  stage  coach,  so  celebrated  in  song  and  story. 
The  coming  of  the  stage  was  an  important  event  in  the  life  of  many 
a village,  and  when  the  locomotive  drove  the  stage  out  of  business 
these  villages,  not  fortunate  enough  to  be  on  a line  of  railroad, 
sank  into  insignificance.  Few  men  are  now  living  who  are  old 
enough  to  remember  the  old  coaching  days  in  all  their  glory;  the 
sound  of  the  horn  to  announce  the  arrival  of  the  stage ; the  sharp 
crack  of  the  driver’s  whip  as  he  proudly  flourished  the  lash  over 
the  “leaders;”  the  open-mouthed  wonder  of  the  small  boy  as  the 
lumbering  vehicle  drew  up  to  the  station;  the  quick  change  of 
horses,  putting  in  fresh  animals  for  the  next  stage;  the  inter- 
-change  of  mail  and  passengers ; another  blast  of  the  horn,  another 
crack  of  the  whip,  and  the  glory  of  the  village  was  departed  until 
the  next  coach.  The  principal  stage  routes  in  Georgia  were  as  fol- 
lows : 

1 —  From  Milledgeville  to  Nickajack,  a distance  of  255  miles,  via 
Eatonton,  Madison,  Athens,  Van’s  Ferry,  where  the  road  crossed 
the  Chattahoochee,  Blackburn’s  on  the  Etowah,  and  Cowsewettee 
town.  From  Milledgeville  weekly  stages  were  run  as  far  as  Athens, 
the  fare  for  this  part  of  the  route  being  $6.25. 

2 —  From  Milledgeville  to  Tallahassee,  Fla.,  passing  through 
Hartford,  Bainbridge,  Jacksonville,  and  Thomasville,  with  numer- 
ous stations  at  minor  places  along  the  route.  The  distance  was 
230  miles,  the  fare  $25,  and  the  stages  ran  weekly. 

3 —  From  Milledgeville  to  Augusta,  a distance  of  88  miles,  the 
road  passing  through  Sparta,  Warrenton,  Sweetwater,  Kirkpat- 
rick’s and  Ligon’s.  Stages  ran  on  this  line  every  day,  except 
AVednesday,  the  fare  for  the  full  distance  being  $10. 

4 —  Milledgeville  to  St.  Mary’s.  The  length  of  this  line  was  237 
miles  and  the  principal  stations  were  at  Jacksonville,  Carver’s  and 
W aresboro. 

5 —  From  Milledgeville  to  Columbus.  Two  routes  were  used  be- 
tween these  two  terminals.  The  stage  road  usually  followed  ran 
by  way  of  Macon,  Knoxville,  St.  Lawrence,  Rogers,  and  to  Fort 
Mitchell,  eleven  miles  beyond  Columbus.  The  other  road  ran  by 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


353 


way  of  Clinton,  Forsyth,  Thomaston,  Gibson's  and  Major  Well’s 
place.  The  distance  by  the  former  route  was  129  and  by  the  lat- 
ter 131  miles.  The  stage  fare  was  $10.  At  Fort  Mitchell  the  route 
connected  with  another  stage  line  running  into  Alabama. 

6—  From  Milledgeville  to  Rock  Mountain  via  Eatonton,  Madi- 
son and  Covington,  a distance  of  89  miles. 

7 —  From  Milledgeville  to  Pensacola,  Fla.  This  was  one  of  the 
longest  stage  lines  in  the  state,  being  346  miles.  The  most  impor- 
tant stations  were  Macon,  Fort  Lawrence,  Fort  Perry,  Fort  Gaines, 
Big  Escambia  and  Pine  Barren. 

8 —  From  Milledgeville  to  Darien,  passing  Sandersville,  Mount 
Vernon,  Beard’s  Bluff  and  Fort  Barrington.  This  line  was  192 
miles  long  and  stages  were  run  twice  a week,  or  oftener  if  the  traf- 
fic demanded. 

9 —  A line  from  Savannah  to  Athens  via  Powelton  and  Greens- 
boro, a distance  of  197  miles.  But  little  information  can  be  ob- 
tained of  this  line. 

10 —  A road  from  Barksdale’s  ferry,  on  the  Savannah  river,  to 
Whattey’s  ferry,  on  the  Chattahoochee.  This  was  the  main  east 
and  west  line  across  the  state,  the  chief  towns  through  which  it 
passed  being  Greensboro,  Monticello,  Zebulon,  Flat  Shoals,  Green- 
ville and  Lagrange.  The  distance  was  189  miles. 

11 —  -A  comparatively  short  but  rather  noteworthy  line  was  the 
one  from  Augusta  to  Athens  via  Lexington.  The  distance  was  93 
miles  and  stages  ran  semi-weekly,  the  fare  being  $9. 

12 —  From  Milledgeville  to  Lexington,  and  via  the  way  of  Dan- 
ielsville  to  Carnesville,  touching  at  Greensboro,  Hillsboro,  Eaton- 
ton and  Garner’s  Ferry,  the  total  distance  being  107  miles. 

13 —  A line  131  miles  in  length  running  from  Savannah  to  St. 
Mary’s,  where  it  made  connection  with  the  route  to  Tallahassee. 
On  this  line  was  the  old  historic  Ogeechee  bridge,  McIntosh’s  old 
court-house  and  Darien. 

Besides  these  main  trunk  lines,  if  such  they  can  be  called,  there 
were  numerous  short  routes  of  local  consequence.  Daily  stages 
left  Milledgeville  for  Augusta,  Macon  and  Columbus ; three  times 
a week  to  Athens,  Petersburg  and  Washington  City.  From  Au- 
gusta a stage  left  for  Washington  City  every  day;  also  daily  lines 
to  Savannah,  Milledgeville,  Macon  and  Columbus;  to  Abbeville, 
S.  C.,  twice  a week;  and  to  Florida,  Mobile,  etc.,  three  times  a 
week. 


23— in 


354 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Staley,  Joseph,  has  been  engaged  in 
the  hardware  business  in  Milledgeville 
for  forty  years,  is  ex-mayor  of  the  city 
and  served  as  a member  of  its  board  of 
aldermen  for  more  than  twelve  years,, 
being  one  of  the  best  known  and  most 
highly  esteemed  business  men  of  Bald- 
win county  and  having  been  a loyal  sol- 
dier of  the  Confederacy  in  the  Civil  war. 
He  was  born  in  the  borough  of  Roch- 
dale, Lancashire,  England,  March  26, 
1824,  a son  of  John  and  Isabella  (Hand- 
ley)  Staley,  both  of  whom  passed  their 
entire  lives  in  England,  the  father  having  been  a gas-fitter  by  trade 
and  vocation.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  and  educated 
in  his  native  borough,  where  he  also  served  a seven  years’  appren- 
ticeship at  the  tinsmith’s  trade,  becoming  a thoroughly  skilled 
artisan  in  the  line.  In  1853,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine  years,  he  set 
forth  to  seek  his  fortunes  in  America,  making  Georgia  his  destina- 
tion and  located  in  Milledgeville  in  December  of  that  year.  This 
city  has  thus  figured  as  his  home  for  more  than  half  a century  and 
he  holds  prestige  and  honor  as  one  of  the  pioneer  business  men 
of  the  former  capital  of  the  state.  When  the  Civil  war  was  pre- 
cipitated on  the  nation  he  showed  his  loyalty  to  the  South  by 
tendering  his  aid  in  upholding  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy.  On 
April  26,  1861,  he  enlisted  as  orderly  sergeant  in  Company  H, 
Fourth  Georgia  infantry.  He  was  in  active  field  service  with  his 
command  for  one  and  one-half  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which, 
by  reason  of  his  mechanical  ability,  he  was  detailed  to  employment 
in  the  Confederate  States  armory  at  Milledgeville,  where  he  de- 
voted his  attention  to  the  manufacturing  of  steel  scabbards  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  Soon  afterward  he  established  himself  in 
the  retail  hardware  business  in  Milledgeville,  beginning  operations 
on  a modest  scale,  and  within  the  long  intervening  period  of  more 
than  forty  years  he  has  built  up  one  of  the  most  important  enter- 
prises of  the  sort  in  the  city,  while  his  course  has  been  such  as  to 
gain  to  him  the  unqualified  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  com- 
munity, where  his  circle  of  friends  is  limited  only  by  that  of  his 
acquaintances.  His  name  has  ever  been  a synonym  of  honor  and' 
integrity  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  and  now,  venerable  in  years,  he 
feels  that  his  lines  have  been  cast  in  pleasant  places.  He  has  kept 
himself  free  from  “envy,  hatred  and  malice  and  all  uncharitable- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


O00 

ness,”  and  this  fact  has  not  been  denied  a popular  appreciation. 
Mr.  Staley  is  a stanch  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party ; for  more 
than  twelve  years  he  was  a valued  member  of  the  board  of  aider- 
men  of  Milledgeville,  and  served  one  term,  1878-80,  as  mayor  of 
the  city,  giving  a most  able  and  satisfactory  administration  of  the 
municipal  government.  He  is  a communicant  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church;  is  affilaited  with  the  lodge  of  Perfection  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity;  is  also  a Knight  Templar;  is  identified  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks.  On  Aug.  24,  1854,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Staley,  to  Miss  Martha  Jane  Sanders,  of  Milledge- 
ville, who  was  his  cherished  and  devoted  companion  on  the  jour- 
ney of  life  for  nearly  half  a century,  her  death  having  occurred 
July  26,  1891.  She  is  survived  by  one  daughter,  Isabella,  who  is 
now  the  wife  of  Charles  M.  Brake,  of  Milledgeville.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Brake  have  three  children — Joseph  Staley,  now  a resident  of 
Macon;  Pauline,  wife  of  Thomas  H.  Caraker,  of  Milledgeville;  and 
Charles  E.,  who  likewise  resides  in  this  city.  Mr.  Staley  has  two 
great-grandchildren,  Martha  and  Pauline  Brake,  daughters  of  Jo- 
seph S.  Brake,  of  Macon. 

Stamp  Creek,  a post-village  of  Bartow  county,  is  ten  miles  north- 
east of  Cartersville,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station.  It  is  a 
trading  point  for  the  neighborhood  in  which  it  is  situated  and  in 
1900  had  a population  of  40. 

Standifer,  William  Bryan,  M.  D.,  a 
representative  physician  and  surgeon  of 
Early  county,  who  resides  in  Blakely, 
was  born  Nov.  22,  1855.  He  is  the  son 
of  Dr.  William  Metellus  Standifer,  who 
was  born  May  8,  1814,  in  Jasper  county, 
Ga.,  near  Monticello,  and  moved  to 
Blakely  in  1838,  where  he  practiced  med- 
icine for  over  a half  century.  He  was 
one  of  the  best  of  physicians  and  was 
most  highly  respected  and  esteemed  by 
all  who  knew  him.  He  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Grist  Bryan  in  1848.  Miss 
Bryan  was  born  Nov.  7,  1826,  and  died  at  Blakely,  on  Feb.  27,  1903. 
She  possessed  the  most  charming  personality  and  a sweet  disposi- 
tion which  greatly  endeared  her  to  all  who  knew  her  best.  Dr. 
W.  B.  Standifer,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  review,  was  their 
only  son.  He  secured  his  educational  training  in  the  common 


35G 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


schools  of  Blakely.  As  a youth  he  determined  to  prepare  himself 
for  the  profession  in  which  his  father  had  rendered  such  able  serv- 
ice in  behalf  of  suffering  humanity.  Accordingly,  he  took  up  the 
study  of  medicine  and  in  due  time  entered  the  medical  department 
of  the  University  of  Georgia  where  he  graduated  with  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Medicine  in  March,  1876.  He,  forthwith,  established 
himself  in  practice  in  his  native  town,  where  he  controls  a large 
and  lucrative  professional  business  and  where  he  is  held  in  high 
esteem,  both  as  a citizen  and  a physician.  He  is  a Democrat,  but 
has  never  sought  political  preferment.  He  is  a Mason,  having 
joined  that  fraternity  in  1878,  and  also  an  Odd  Fellow  and  Pythian. 
The  doctor  is  a member  of  the  State  medical  association  and  of 
the  Early  county  medical  society,  of  which  last  he  is  the  honored 
president.  His  father,  W.  M.  Standifer,  was  also  a Mason.  He 
graduated  at  Augusta,  Ga.  (the  medical  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Georgia)  in  1850.  He  was  an  invalid  for  twelve  years 
before  he  died,  which  was  in  September,  1898.  Four  of  his  brothers 
were  valiant  soldiers  of  the  Confederacy  during  the  Civil  war.  He 
also  enlisted,  but  was  honorably  discharged,  because  he  was  the 
only  doctor  in  the  county  at  the  time.  He  had  three  children : — 
Mrs.  T.  F.  Jones,  Mrs.  F.  E.  Hightower  and  Dr.  W.  B.  Standifer, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  On  Nov.  18,  1885,  Dr.  W.  B.  Standifer 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Rebekah  Janette  Jones,  the  accom- 
plished daughter  of  Col.  Thomas  F.  Jones  and  Elisabeth  Scott 
Jones  of  Covington,  Newton  county,  Ga.,  and  of  Clay  county,  Ga. 
Both  the  doctor  and  his. wife  are  Episcopalians  in  faith.  They  have 
three  children: — Jack  Guy,  Rebe  May  and  Elisabeth  Emma.  The 
Standifers  are  of  Scotch  descent — all  of  the  doctor’s  ancestors  came 
from  Scotland  to  the  United  States  in  about  1675. 

Stanfordville,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Put- 
nam county,  is  in  the  Murder  creek  valley,  about  seven  miles  north- 
east of  Hillsboro,  which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Stanley,  a post-village  in  the  northern  part  of  Screven  county,  is 
near  the  Burke  county  line,  and  is  a trading  center  for  that  section 
of  the  county.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Munnerlyn. 

Stansell,  Francis  Pickens,  local  freight  agent  of  the  Georgia 
railroad  in  the  city  of  Augusta  and  president  of  the  Augusta  branch 
of  the  American  association  of  railway  freight  agents,  is  an  able 
and  popular  official,  having  held  his  present  position  since  1890. 
He  was  born  on  a plantation  in  Barnwell  county,  S.  C.,  Jan.  8, 
1847,  a son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  A.  (Lewis)  Stansell,  the  former 
born  in  North  Carolina  and  the  latter  in  South  Carolina,  in  which 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


357 


latter  state  both  passed  the  closing  years  of  their  lives.  Francis  P. 
Stansell  was  afforded  the  advantages  of  a well  conducted  private 
school  in  his  native  county,  where  he  was  reared  to  maturity  on 

the  home  plantation,  lie  served  during 
the  last  year  of  the  Civil  war,  as  a mem- 
ber of  Company  C,  Eighth  battalion, 
South  Carolina  infantry,  in  the  Confed- 
erate service,  being  but  seventeen  years 
of  age  at  the  time  of  his  enlistment. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to 
the  old  homestead,  where  he  remained 
until  the  autumn  of  1865,  when  he  located 
in  Augusta,  and  entered  the  employ  of 
the  South  Carolina  Railroad  Company, 
whose  lines  are  now  a portion  of  the 
Southern  railway  system.  He  was 
employed  in  a clerical  capacity  by  this  company  for  several 
years,  and  thereafter  was  similarly  engaged  in  the  offices  of  the 
Central  of  Georgia  railway.  In  1875  he  returned  to  Barnwell 
county,  South  Carolina,  with  the  primary  object  of  taking  part  in 
the  formation  of  an  organization  to  bring  about  the  overthrow  of 
the  odious  “carpet-bag”  government  in  that  section.  He  remained 
there  three  years  and  within  this  period  he  took  a prominent  part 
in  this  movement,  having  been  a captain  of  one  of  the  historic 
“red-shirt”  companies.  The  agitation  culminated  in  the  election 
of  Gen.  Wade  Hampton  to  the  office  of  governor  of  the  state,  in 
1876.  In  1878  Mr.  Stansell  again  took  up  his  residence  in  Augusta, 
where  he  became  a clerk  in  the  local  freight  office  of  the  Georgia 
railroad,  and  has  ever  since  been  identified  with  this  department 
of  the  service.  He  was  soon  promoted  to  the  office  of  cashier,  re- 
taining this  position  ten  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which,  in  1890, 
he  was  advanced  to  his  present  responsible  position,  in  which  he 
has  proven  an  able  and  popular  executive  officer.  He  is  a Demo- 
crat in  politics  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  First  Chris- 
tian church,  of  Augusta.  On  June  8,  1880,  Mr.  Stansell  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Addie  Augusta  Moore,  daughter  of  John  W. 
and  Alice  (Calhoun)  Moore,  of  Augusta. 

Stanton,  Frank  Lebby,  poet  and  journalist,  was  born  in  Charles- 
ton, S.  C.,  in  1857.  He  received  a common  school  education,  served 
an  apprenticeship  in  a printing  office,  and  founded  the  Smithville 
News.  Later  he  removed  to  Rome  where  he  was  connected  with 
the  Tribune.  For  several  years  he  has  been  connected  with  the 


358 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Atlanta  Constitution,  where  he  conducts  the  column  “Just  from 
Georgia”.  His  poems  published  in  the  leading  periodicals  of  the 
country,  have  been  collected  in  two  volumes,  “Songs  of  the  Soil” 
and  “Comes  One  with  a Song.” 

Stapleton,  Newton  Lawson,  is  junior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Bush  & Stapleton, 
which  controls  the  largest  practice  of  all 
law  firms  in  Miller  county,  its  headquar- 
ters being  in  Colquitt,  the  judicial  cen- 
ter of  the  county.  Mr.  Stapleton  is  ex- 
mayor of  Colquitt  and  is  now  solicitor 
of  the  city  court.  The  Stapleton  fam- 
ily is  of  stanch  old  English  stock  and 
was  founded  in  America  in  the  colonial 
days.  The  original  representatives  in 
Georgia  settled  near  Augusta  and  sev- 
eral generations  have  played  well  their 
parts  in  the  drama  of  Georgia  history,  the  family  having  numerous 
representatives  in  Jefferson,  Randolph,  Webster,  Lee  and  other 
counties  of  the  state.  The  subject  of  this  brief  review  was  born 
at  Smithville,  Lee  county,  Ga.,  Oct.  23,  1876,  a son  of  Dr.  John 
Lawson  and  Miriam  (Ivillen)  Stapleton,  the  former  born  in  Jeffer- 
son county,  Ga.,  in  1845,  and  the  latter  in  Houston  county,  in  1853. 
The  Killen  family  came  to  Georgia  from  Darlington  district,  S.  C., 
and  settled  at  Perry,  Houston  county,  where  it  has  since  continued 
one  of  prominence  and  influence.  Dr.  John  L.  Stapleton  was  an 
able  physician  and  surgeon  and  for  nearly  thirty  years  was  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Bronwood,  Terrell 
county.  When  but  fifteen  years  of  age  he  enlisted  as  a volunteer 
in  the  Georgia  state  troops,  and  with  his  company  was  later  mus- 
tered into  the  Confederate  service,  with  which  he  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  died  in  1904  and  his  widow  now  resides 
in  Bronwood,  Ga.  Newton  Lawson  Stapleton  was  graduated  at 
Mercer  university,  Macon,  Ga.,  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1896, 
having  received  his  preliminary  educational  training  at  Bronwood, 
Terrell  county,  where  his  boyhood  days  were  passed.  He  received 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  from  Mercer  university,  to  which 
he  afterward  returned,  to  enter  the  law  department,  in  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1902,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws. 
After  completing  his  literary  course  he  devoted  his  attention  to 
teaching  for  five  years,  having  taught  in  the  schools  of  Bronwood 
two  years  and  two  years  at  Parrott,  in  the  same  county.  In  1900 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


359 


he  was  elected  superintendent  of  the  public-school  system  at  Rich- 
land, Stewart  county,  giving  an  admirable  administration  and  gain- 
ing marked  success  in  the  field  of  pedagogy.  Soon  after  securing 
admission  to  the  bar,  in  1902,  he  located  in  Dawson,  Ga.,  and  in 
the  spring  of  the  following  year  removed  to  Colquitt,  where  he 
entered  into  his  present  professional  alliance  with  Judge  C.  C. 
Bush,  the  firm  of  Bush  & Stapleton  having  the  largest  practice  in 
the  county,  as  already  stated.  Mr.  Stapleton  has  won  his  spurs  as 
an  able  and  discriminating  trial  lawyer,  and  in  August,  1905,  Gov- 
ernor Terrell  conferred  upon  him  the  appointment  of  solicitor  of 
the  city  court  of  Miller  county,  for  a term  of  four  years.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  unwavering  in  his  support  of  the  principles  and  policies 
of  the  Democratic  party,  and  in  January,  1905,  he  was  honored 
with  election  to  the  office  of  mayor  of  Colquitt,  serving  one  year 
and  giving  a most  progressive  and  popular  administration  of  the 
municipal  government.  He  is  a zealous  member  of  the  Missionary 
Baptist  church,  is  deacon  of  the  church  in  Colquitt  and  superin- 
tendent of  its  Sunday  school,  in  addition  to  which  he  is  moderator 
of  the  Bowen  Baptist  association,  one  of  the  oldest  and  strongest 
in  southwestern  Georgia,  having  been  elected  to  this  office  in  Oc- 
tober, 1905.  He  is  a Royal  Arch  Mason,  being  at  the  present  time 
principal  sojourner  in  Colquitt  Chapter,  and  is  also  identified  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Sigma  Nu  college  fraternity.  On 
Oct.  14,  1903,  Mr.  Stapleton  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Annie 
Lu  Booker,  daughter  of  Charles  J.  and  Carrie  Lu  (Pearson) 
Booker,  of  Milledgeville,  Ga.,  and  of  this  union  were  born,  Oct.  13, 
1904,  twin  sons,  John  Lawson  and  Charles  Jabez,  both  of  whom 
are  sturdy  youngsters. 

Star,  a post-hamlet  of  Bulloch  county,  is  on  Big  Lotts  creek, 
four  miles  northwest  of  Jimps  station  on  the  Dover  & Brewton 
division  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway. 

Starnes,  Ebenezer,  jurist,  was  a lawyer  of  the  old  school.  After 
serving  for  a time  as  judge  of  the  superior  court  he  was  elected 
justice  of  the  supreme  court  in  1853,  to  succeed  Hiram  Warner, 
but  retired  from  the  bench  in  1856  to  resume  his  large  practice. 
His  decisions  are  still  quoted  as  good  authority  by  the  bench  and 
bar  of  Georgia.  He  died  about  1870. 

Starr,  Willington  W.,  manager  of  the  Savannah  Brewing  Com- 
pany, was  born  on  James  island,  opposite  the  city  of  Charleston. 
S.  C.,  Feb.  22,  1847,  the  place  of  his  birth  having  been  the  fine  old 
cotton  plantation  of  his  maternal  grandfather.  He  is  a son  of 
Willington  W.  Starr,  who  was  named  in  honor  of  Aaron  S.  Willing- 


360 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


ton,  one  of  the  founders  and  original  owners  of  the  Charleston 
Courier,  which  was  succeeded  by  the  present  News  and  Courier. 
The  father  was  born  in  the  city  of  Savannah,  was  a successful  and 

prominent  rice  planter  and  a citizen  of 
sterling  worth.  He  died  in  Augusta,  Ga., 
in  1893,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Caro- 
line Rivers,  was  born  on  her  father’s 
cotton  plantation,  on  James  island,  a 
daughter  of  Rawlins  Rivers,  a representa- 
tive of  one  of  the  prominent  old  families 
of  South  Carolina.  She  died  in  1876,  in 
Augusta,  aged  fifty-four  years.  Willing- 
ton  W.  Starr,  subject  of  this  review,  was 
afforded  good  educational  advantages  in 
his  youth  and  was  associated  with  his 
father  in  the  management  of  the  home  plantation  until  the 
time  of  the  Civil  war,  during  the  last  eighteen  months  of  which 
he  was  in  the  service  of  the  Confederate  States  as  a member  of 
Company  I,  Garlington’s  South  Carolina  regiment  of  infantry,  and 
at  the  close  of  the  war  was  in  the  railway  service  of  the  Confed- 
erate government  in  North  Carolina.  From  1865  to  1869  he  was  a 
telegraph  operator  at  Rockhill,  S.  C.,  and  thereafter,  until  1880, 
he  was  incumbent  of  the  office  of  cashier  and  agent  for  the  Cen- 
tral of  Georgia  railroad  in  Augusta.  In  1880  he  became  trainmas- 
ter for  the  same  road,  on  the  Savannah-Atlanta  division,  with  head- 
quarters in  Savannah.  In  1886  he  was  made  superintendent  of  the 
South  Carolina  division  of  the  road,  with  headquarters  in  Augusta, 
and  in  1888  he  became  superintendent  of  the  Southwestern  divi- 
sion, with  headquarters  in  Macon.  In  1890  he  gained  another  note- 
worthy promotion,  being  then  made ' general  superintendent  of 
transportation  for  the  entire  system  of  the  Central  of  Georgia,  with 
headquarters  in  Savannah.  In  1892,  when  the  Richmond  & Dan- 
ville Railroad  Company  leased  the  Central  of  Georgia,  Mr.  Starr 
retired  from  the  service  and  accepted  his  present  office,  that  of 
general  manager  of  the  Savannah  Brewing  Company.  Under  his 
regime  the  plant  has  been  made  one  of  the  most  modern  in  the 
south,  and  the  product  is  of  the  highest  type,  commanding  a large 
sale.  In  politics  Mr.  Starr  is  a stanch  Democrat  and  takes  a lively 
interest  in  the  party  cause.  He  was  elected  alderman  of  Savannah 
on  one  occasion,  but  immediately  resigned,  not  desiring  the  office. 
He  is  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


361 


the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
He  was  deputy  grand  exalted  ruler  of  the  grand  lodge  of  Elks  in 
Georgia  for  two  years.  He  is  also  identified  with  the  Fraternal 
Order  of  Eagles  and  with  the  Beavers,  being  past  president  of  the 
Georgia  state  organization  of  the  former  and  the  present  presiding 
state  officer  of  the  latter.  He  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Royal  Ar- 
canum, in  which  he  is  a life  member  of  the  grand  council,  and  is 
a charter  member  of  Shepard  Lodge,  Knights  of  Honor,  in  Au- 
gusta. He  is  a member  of  the  Savannah  board  of  trade  and  cham- 
ber of  commerce  and  is  an  ex-commodore  of  the  Savannah  Yacht 
club.  In  1870  Mr.  Starr  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Tallulah 
C.  Snead,  youngest  daughter  of  the  late  Judge  Claiborne  Snead, 
of  Augusta,  and  a sister  of  Col.  Claiborne  Snead,  who  was  com- 
mander of  the  original  Third  Georgia  regiment  of  infantry,  in  the 
Confederate  service,  and  who  fell  severely  wounded  at  the  head 
of  his  regiment  in  Pickett’s  charge  at  Gettysburg,  He  recovered, 
however,  and  now  resides  in  Columbia  county,  Ga.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Starr  have  eight  children,  namely:  Julia  B.,  Arthur  L.,  Willington 
W.,  Jr.,  Neva  T.,  William  R.,  Cecelia  C.,  Annie  M.,  and  John 
Garnett. 

Starrsville,  a village  of  Newton  county,  is  on  the  Covington 
branch  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway,  and  in  1900  had  a popula- 
tion of  57.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  from  which  rural  free 
delivery  routes  radiate  to  the  surrounding  districts,  several  good 
stores  and  express  office  and  does  some  shipping. 

Stateline,  a post-village  in  the  western  part  of  Heard  county, 
is,  as  its  name  indicates,  on  the  line  between  Georgia  and  Alabama. 
The  population  in  1900  was  52.  It  is  a trading  point  for  the  sur- 
rounding territory.  Roanoke,  Ala.,  is  the  nearest  railroad  town. 

Statenville,  the  county  seat  of  Echols  county,  was  incorporated 
by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1858.  It  is  located  on  the  Allapaha  river, 
the  nearest  railway  station  being  Tarver  on  a division  of  the  At- 
lanic  Coast  Line  railway,  which  runs  from  Dupont  Junction  into 
Florida.  It  has  a court  house,  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural 
free  delivery  and  a few  stores,  adequate  to  the  needs  of  the  town, 
which  has  only  180  inhabitants.  It  has  schools  of  the  public  school 
system  and  in  the  town  and  vicinity  are  churches  of  the  Methodist 
and  Baptist  denominations. 

State  Officers,  1906. — Governor,  Joseph  M.  Terrell;  Secretary 
of  State,  Philip  Cook;  Treasurer,  Robert  E.  Park;  Comptroller- 
General,  William  A.  Wright;  Attorney-General,  John  C.  Hart; 
Adjutant-General,  Sampson  W.  Harris;  School  Commissioner, 


362 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


William  B.  Merritt;  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Thomas  G. 
Hudson;  Assistant,  Robert  F.  Wright;  Chemist,  John  M.  Mc- 
Candless ; Entomologist,  Ralph  I.  Smith ; Oil  Inspector,  W.  C. 
Bryant;  Geologist,  W.  S.  Yeates ; Librarian,  Carlton  J.  Wellborn; 
Commissioner  of  Pensions,  John  W.  Lindsay;  Prison  Commission- 
ers, Joseph  S.  Turner,  Clement  A.  Evans  and  Thomas  Eason;  Rail- 
road Commissioners,  H.  Warner  Hill,  Joseph  M.  Brown  and  O.  B. 
Stevens.  (See  Supreme  Court  and  Congressional  Representation). 

State  Sanitarium. — On  Dec.  26,  1837,  the  general  assembly  passed 
an  act  authorizing  the  establishment  of  a lunatic  asylum.  The  lo- 
cation was  to  be  selected  by  Governor  Gilmer  and  the  members  of 
the  medical  profession,  and  a commission  of  two  persons  was  to  be 
appointed  to  superintend  the  erection  of  suitable  buildings.  A 
tract  of  forty  acres,  located  on  a high  hill,  two  miles  from  Milledge- 
ville,  was  chosen  for  a site  and  bought  at  a small  price,  and  in 
December,  1842  the  first  patients  were  received  into  the  institution. 
For  about  four  years  the  counties  were  compelled  to  pay  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  pauper  insane,  and  those  who  were  able  were 
made  to  pay  for  the  support  of  friends  or  relatives  in  the  asylum. 
In  1846  or  47  this  system  was  abolished  and  the  institution  became 
purely  eleemosynary  so  far  as  the  pauper  insane  was  concerned. 
In  1877  an  act  was  passed  making  the  asylum  free  to  all  bona  fide 
residents  of  Georgia.  Up  to  that  time  patients  had  been  received, 
from  other  states  on  the  same  footing  as  citizens  of  Georgia,  but 
owing  to  the  crowded  condition  of  the  asylum  the  legislature 
•ordered  that  all  non-residents  be  sent  to  their  respective  states. 
Since  the  first  inception  of  the  institution  the  state  has  appropriated 
nearly  $1,000,000  for  lands  and  buildings.  The  emancipation  of  the 
colored  population  at  the  close  of  the  war  made  a negro  department 
necessary  and  the  assembly  of  1866  appropriated  $11,000  for  this 
purpose.  The  department  was  enlarged  in  1870  at  a cost  of  $18,000 
and  in  1879  another  appropriation  of  $25,000  was  made  for  the  same 
purpose.  In  1881  the  sum  of  $82,166  was  appropriated  for  a new 
Building  and  heating  apparatus  for  the  negroes.  The  original  tract 
of  forty  acres  has  grown  to  more  than  3,000  acres  in  one  body.  The 
institution  is  equipped  with  its  own  water  works,  its  own  lighting 
plant,  and  is  modern  in  every  respect.  On  Jan.  9,  1897,  fire  broke 
out  in  the  negro  building  and  before  the  flames  could  be  controlled 
the  entire  structure  was  destroyed.  The  loss  was  largely  covered 
By  insurance  and  the  buildings  were  immediately  restored.  On 
Dec.  21,  1897,  the  legislature  enacted  that  from  and  after  Sept.  1, 
1898,  the  institution  should  be  known  by  the  name  of  the  State 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


363 


Sanitarium.  The  general  assembly  of  1899  appropriated  $150,000 
for  two  additional  buildings,  which  have  since  been  completed,  and 
the  annual  appropriations  for  the  support  of  the  sanitarium  amount 
to  about  $400,000. 

Statesboro  was  made  the  county  seat  of  Bulloch  county  about 
1800,  and  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1866.  When 
the  lumber  and  turpentine  men  began  to  turn  their  attention  to 
the  g'reat  yellow  pine  forests  the  town  commenced  to  grow,  and 
between  1890  and  1900  doubled  its  population.  Statesboro  now 
has  good  railway  advantages,  being  at  the  junction  of  two  roads, 
either  of  which  connects  it  with  Savannah.  It  has  express  and 
telegraph  offices,  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery, 
three  banks,  several  prosperous  business  houses  and  manufactur- 
ing establishments,  among  the  latter  being  an  ice  manufactory, 
a blind  and  sash  factory,  iron  works,  and  the  Bulloch  Oil  Mill. 
The  court  house  cost  $20,000  and  the  academy  $15,000.  By  the 
United  States  census  of  1900,  the  town  of  Statesboro  had  1,197 
inhabitants,  and  the  entire  district  3,706.  As  Sherman  was  march- 
ing toward  Savannah  in  the  early  days  of  December,  1864,  there 
was  a slight  skirmish  at  Statesboro  between  Wheeler’s  cavalry 
and  that  of  Kilpatrick,  the  loss  on  both  sides  being"  light  and  no 
perceptible  advantage  being  gained  by  either  side. 

State  University. — (See ' University  of  Georgia). 

Statham,  a town  in  the  extreme  southern  part  of  Jackson  county, 
was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  on  Dec.  5,  1902.  The 
population  two  years  before  was  172.  It  is  on  the  Seaboard  Air 
Line  railway,  twelve  miles  west  of  Athens,  has  a money  order 
postoffice,  from  which  a number  of  free  delivery  routes  emanate, 
express  and  telegraph  offices,  some  manufacturing  and  mercantile 
interests,  schools,  churches,  etc.,  and  is  a shipping  point  of  consid- 
erable importance. 

Station  No.  5. — (See  Halcyondale). 

Staunton,  a town  in  the  southern  part  of  Tift  county,  is  on  the 
Georgia  Southern  & Florida  railroad,  ten  miles  north  of  Sparks. 
Its  population  in  1900  was  105.  It  has  some  mercantile  interests 
and  handles  a considerable  volume  of  freight. 

Stay,  a post-hamlet  of  Lumpkin  county,  is  about  five  miles  east 
of  Dahlonega.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Lula,  fifteen  miles 
southeast.  ’ 

Steam  Mill,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Decatur 
county,  is  not  far  from  the  Chattahoochee  river.  Donalsonville  is 
the  most  convenient  railroad  town. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


364 

Stedman,  a post-hamlet  of  Haralson  county,  is  ten  miles  north- 
west of  Buchanan.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Felton. 

Steed,  Clem  Powers,  one  of  the  leading 
members  of  the  Macon  bar  and  profes- 
sor of  common  and  statute  law  in  the 
law  department  of  Mercer  university, 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Macon,  Nov.  21, 
1861,  a son  of  Rev.  E.  A.  and  India 
(Powers)  Steed,  both  of  whom  were 
born  and  reared  in  Georgia,  where  they 
passed  their  entire  lives.  The  father  was 
at  one  time  editor  of  a newspaper  and 
afterward  became  a clergyman  in  the 
Baptist  church.  He  was  a man  of  high 
intellectual  attainments  and  noble  at- 
tributes of  character,  his  influence  being  a power  for  good  for  all 
who  came  within  its  sphere.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  pro- 
fessor of  Latin  and  literature  in  Mercer  university.  Clem  Powers 
Steed  was  afforded  the  advantages  of  Mercer  university,  in  which 
he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1882,  receiving  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  and  later  secured  the  degree  of  Master 
of  Arts,  from  his  alma  mater.  He  studied  law  under  Judge  James 
Nisbet,  of  Macon,  making  rapid  advancement  under  the  direction 
of  this  able  preceptor  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1885.  He 
forthwith  engaged  in  practice  in  Macon,  associating  himself  with 
Olin  J.  Wimberly,  under  the  firm  name  of  Steed  & Wimberly. 
This  alliance  was  later  dissolved  and  he  formed  a partnership  with 
T.  E.  Ryals,  under  the  title  of  Steed  & Ryals,  which  firm  to-day 
controls  a large  and  important  practice,  extending  into  the  state 
and  Federal  courts.  Mr.  Steed  has  held  the  chair  of  common  and 
statute  law  in  the  law  department  of  Mercer  university  since  1893, 
is  a valued  member  of  the  faculty  of  the  institution  and  popular 
with  the  student  body.  He  is  uncompromising  in  his  advocacy 
of  the  principles  for  which  the  Democratic  party  has  long  stood 
sponsor ; is  a deacon  in  the  First  Baptist  church  of  Macon  ; a trustee 
of  Mercer  university,  and  is  identified  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows.  In  1901  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Steed 
to  Miss  Eugenia  Small,  daughter  of  Augustus  B.  Small,  president 
of  the  A.  B.  Small  Company,  wholesale  merchants  of  Macon,  and 
an  ex-soldier  of  the  Confederacy  in  the  Civil  war. 

Stellaville,  a town  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Jefferson  county, 
was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  general  assembly  on  Sept.  11,  1891. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


365 


It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  some  good 
stores,  schools,  churches,  etc.,  and  in  1900  reported  a population 
of  170.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Matthews,  on  the  Augusta 
Southern,  three  miles  north. 

Stephens,  a town  in  Oglethorpe  county,  is  on  the  Athens  division 
of  the  Georgia  railroad,  five  or  six  miles  south  of  Lexington.  It  has 
a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  telegraph  and 
express  offices,  mercantile,  manufacturing  and  shipping  interests, 
and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  170. 

Stephens,  Alexander  Hamilton,  a native  and  favorite  son  of 
Georgia,  was  born  near  Crawfordville,  Feb.  11,  1812.  His  grand- 
father, Alexander,  settled  in  Pennsylvania  in  1716;  fought  in  the 
French  and  Indian  war  under  Washington,  and  was  a captain  in 
the  American  army  during  the  Revolution,  afterward  settling  in 
Georgia.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  left  an  orphan  at  a very 
early  age,  and  was  placed  in  the  school  of  the  Rev.  Alexander 
Webster,  at  Washington.  In  1828  he  entered  Franklin  college, 
his  expenses  there  being  paid  by  the  educational  society  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  with  the  understanding  that  he  was  to  devote 
his  life  to  the  Christian  ministry.  He  graduated  in  1832  with  the 
first  honors  of  his  class.  Having  decided  to  adopt  the  law  as  his 
profession  he  taught  school  and  earned  the  money  to  repay  the 
church  the  sum  advanced  for  his  education.  After  only  two  months 
of  special  preparation  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  where  he  soon 
won  a high  standing.  He  was  elected  state  representative  on  the 
anti-nullification  ticket  in  1836,  and  reelected  every  year  until 
1841,  when  he  declined  further  honors.  In  1839  he  was  sent  as  a 
delegate  to  the  Southern  commercial  convention;  was  elected  state 
senator  in  1842;  member  of  Congress  the  same  year;  reelected  each 
succeeding  term  until  1856,  when  he  determined  to  retire  from  pub- 
lic life,  and  with  this  end  in  view,  delivered  a most  eloquent  fare- 
well address  at  Augusta.  In  1860,  Mr.  Stephens'  name  was  most 
favorably  mentioned  for  the  national  presidency  and  he  was  chosen 
elector-at-large  on  the  Douglas  ticket.  As  a delegate  to  the  seces- 
sion convention  in  1861,  he  voted  against  immediate  secession, 
but  signed  the  ordinance  with  the  other  delegates  and  entered  upon 
the  struggle  without  reserve.  He  was  a member  of  the  Con- 
federate convention  at  Montgomery  and  when  the  government  of 
the  Confederate  States  was  established  he  was  chosen  vice-presi- 
dent. In  1865  he  was  sent  as  a commissioner  to  the  Hampton 
Roads  conference,  to  negotiate  peace  with  Lincoln  and  Seward. 
After  the  war  Mr.  Stephens  was  confined  at  Fort  Warren,  in  Bos- 


3GG 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


ton  harbor,  until  October  1865,  when  he  was  paroled.  In  1866  he 
was  elected  United  States  senator,  but  was  not  allowed  to  take  his 
seat.  He  wras  a delegate  to  the  National  Union  convention  at  Phil- 
adelphia in  August  of  the  same  year ; was  appointed  counsel  for 
the  Columbus  prisoners,  and  was  defeated  by  Joshua  Hill  for 
United  States  senator  in  1868 ; became  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Atlanta  Daily  Sun  in  1871 ; was  defeated  by  John  B.  Gordon  for 
United  States  senator;  was  elected  representative  in  Congress  in 
1872,  and  continued  to  represent  his  district  in  that  body  until  1882, 
when  he  was  elected  governor  of  his  state.  He  died  at  Atlanta, 
March  4,  1883,  before  the  expiration  of  his  term.  He  won  high 
rank  as  a writer.  His  “War  Between  the  States,”  “School  History 
of  the  United  States,”  and  the  “History  of  the  United  States”  are 
regarded  as  models  of  accuracy  and  impartiality.  A statue  has 
been  erected  to  his  memory  at  his  old  home,  “Liberty  Hall,”  in 
Crawfordville,  and  a county  was  given  his  name  in  1905. 

Stephens  County  was  organized  by  act  of  the  legislature  on  Au- 
gust 17,  1905  and  was  laid  off  from  Habersham  and  Franklin  coun- 
ties. It  was  named  in  honor  of  Alexander  H.  Stephens.  It  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Habersham  county,  on  the  east  by  the 
Tugaloo  river,  which  separates  it  from  South  Carolina,  on  the 
south  by  Franklin,  and  on  the  west  by  Banks  and  Habersham 
counties.  It  is  watered  by  the  Tugaloo  river  and  other  head  waters 
of  the  Savannah,  including  Broad  river  and  its  tributary  creeks. 
It  is  traversed  by  the  main  line  and  the  Elberton  branch  of  the 
Southern  railway.  The  lands  along  the  Tugaloo  river  are  produc- 
tive of  wheat,  rye  and  oats.  The  lands  along  the  creeks  produce 
also  cotton,  corn,  a great  variety  of  vegetables,  Irish  and  sweet  po- 
tatoes, crab  and  Bermuda  grass,  alfalfa,  clover,  etc.  Apples,  peaches, 
plums,  grapes  and  cherries  also  are  grown  to  some  extent.  The 
forest  timbers  are  hickory,  maple,  ash,  birch,  walnut,  cedar,  pine, 
and  the  various  varieties  of  oaks.  The  county  is  in  the  Ninth 
Congressional  district  and  the  northeastern  judicial  circuit.  Toc- 
coa,  on  the  Southern  railway,  is  the  county  seat.  Three  miles 
from  the  town  are  the  beautiful  Toccoa  falls.  Here  the  stream 
flows  through  a chain  of  mountains  and  the  water  pours  over  a per- 
pendicular precipice  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  feet  in  height. 
The  volume  of  water  is  not  so  large,  but  the  tremendous  height 
gives  the  fall  an  appearance  of  sublimity  rarely  equalled.  White, 
in  his  Historical  Collections,  says:  “No  description  can  give  an 

idea  of  the  beauties  of  this  fall  and  the  surrounding  scenery.” 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


367 


Stephens,  Linton,  lawyer  and  statesman,  was  born  in  Georgia  in 
1823  and  was  a brother  of  Alexander  H.  Stephens.  After  complet- 
ing his  education  he  practiced  law  in  Hancock  and  adjoining  coun- 
ties ; was  repeatedly  elected  to  the  legislature ; delegate  to  the 
Southern  convention  at  Montgomery  in  1858;  judge  of  the  supreme 
court  in  1859,  but  resigned  the  next  year;  was  a member  of  the 
secession  convention  of  1861  and  during  the  war  was  a member 
of  the  Georgia  legislature.  He  died  in  1872. 

Stephens,  William,  was  born  Jan.  28,  1671,  on  the  Isle  of  Wight, 
England,  where  his  father  was  lieutenant-governor.  After  gradu- 
ating at  King’s  college,  Cambridge,  he  studied  law  at  the  Middle 
Temple,  London,  but  was  never  called  to  the  bar.  In  1697  he  was 
a member  of  Parliament  from  Newport.  In  1735  he  came  to  South 
Carolina  where  he  met  General  Oglethorpe,  upon  whose  recom- 
mendation he  was  appointed  secretary  of  the  trustees  in  Georgia. 
He  was  made  keeper  of  the  public  stores  in  1738 ; president  of  Sa- 
vannah county  in  1741;  and  when  General  Oglethorpe  went  to 
England  in  1743  he  became  president  of  the  colony.  He  was  then 
seventy  years  old  and  in  1750  he  resigned,  owing  to  advanced  age. 

Stephens,  William  Berry,  a represen- 
tative member  of  the  bar  of  Savannah, 
was  born  near  Morven,  Brooks  county, 
Ga.,  Feb.  22,  1870,  a son  of  John  Hugh 
and  Sarah  C.  (Hendry)  Stephens,  the 
former  born  at  Society  Hill,  Darlington 
county,  S.  C.,  Sept.  19,  1842,  and  the 
latter  at  Morven,  Brooks  county,  Ga., 
Aug.  19,  1846.  Though  personally  he 
has  no  authentic  record  to  the  effect,  it 
is  a matter  of  tradition  and  practically 
indubitable  fact  that  Major  Stephens’  ma- 
ternal great-great-grandfather,  Robert 
Hendry,  who  came  from  Virginia  to  Georgia  and  lies  buried  at 
Taylor’s  Creek,  Liberty  county,  served  under  “Light  Horse  Harry” 
Lee  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  The  paternal  grandfather  of 
Major  Stephens  served  with  the  South  Carolina  troops  in  Florida 
during  the  Seminole  Indian  war  of  1835-42,  and  two  maternal 
grand-uncles,  William  Hendry  and  Normal  Campbell,  are  known  to 
have  served  against  the  Indians  in  Georgia,  participating  in  the 
battle  of  Brushy  Creek.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  Neal  Hendry,  who  was  a valiant  soldier  of  the 


He  died  in  1753. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


368 

Confederacy  during  the  Civil  war,  having  been  major  in  command 
of  a detachment  in  middle  Florida,  guarding  salt  works  along  the 
coast  and  supplying  cattle  to  the  southern  armies.  John  Hugh 
Stephens  entered  the  Confederate  service  on  Aug.  1,  1861,  at  Madi- 
son, Fla.,  as  a private  in  Company  C,  Fourth  Florida  volunteer 
infantry,  and  served  in  turn  in  the  brigades  commanded  by  Pres- 
ton, Palmer,  Anderson,  Finley,  Stovall  and  Smith.  He  was 
wounded  in  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  and  later  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  of  Jackson,  Chickamauga  and  Missionary  Ridge, 
as  well  as  at  Chapel  Hill,  N.  C.,  April  9,  1865,  thus  serving  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  now  resides  in  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  where 
he  holds  membership  in  R.  E.  Lee  Camp,  No.  58,  United  Confed- 
erate Veterans.  In  the  present  connection  it  may  be  said  that 
three  of  his  sons  well  upheld  the  military  prestige  of  the  family 
name  at  the  time  of  the  Spanish-American  war.  John  Hugh,  Jr., 
and  Robert  D.  were  members  of  the  First  Florida  infantry,  United 
States  volunteers,  and  the  former  lost  his  life,  by  disease,  while  in 
the  service.  William  B.,  the  subject  of  this  review,  became  a pri- 
vate in  Company  B,  Savannah  Volunteer  Guards,  a battalion,  in 
May,  1890,  later  being  promoted  corporal  and  sergeant,  and  on 
May  2,  1898,  he  was  enrolled  as  a private  in  Company  B,  Second 
Georgia  infantry,  United  States  volunteers,  for  service  in  the  war 
with  Spain.  He  was  appointed  sergeant  as  soon  as  mustered,  and 
proceeded  with  his  command  to  the  reserve  camp  at  Tampa,  Fla., 
where  he  remained  in  service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was 
honorably  discharged,  at  Huntsville,  Ala.,  Aug.  29,  1898,  in  com- 
pliance with  his  own  request.  Upon  his  return  to  Savannah  he 
immediately  reenlisted,  as  a private  in  Company  B,  Savannah  Vol- 
unteer Guards,  serving  as  such  until  he  was  commissioned  captain 
of  his  company,  Feb.  1,  1900.  In  March,  1904,  he  resigned  the 
captaincy  and  reenlisted  as  a private,  serving  as  such  until  the  fol- 
lowing November,  when  he  was  commissioned  major  of  battalion 
of  the  Savannah  Volunteer  Guards,  the  battalion  having  been  con- 
verted into  heavy  artillery,  by  act  of  the  general  assembly,  Dec. 
18,  1900.  He  still  holds  the  office  of  major  of  this  battalion,  and  is 
also  a member  of  Francis  S.  Bartow  Camp,  No.  95,  United  Sons 
of  Confederate  Veterans,  in  Savannah.  Major  Stephens  secured 
his  preliminary  educational  training  in  the  common  schools  of 
Thomas  and  Mitchell  counties,  Ga.,  and  his  higher  academic  studies 
were  prosecuted  under  the  direction  of  able  private  tutors.  In  1889 
he  became  a clerical  assistant  in  the  law  office  of  Chisholm  & 
Erwin,  of  Savannah,  under  whose  able  preceptorship  he  prosecuted 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


369 


his  reading  of  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  state  in 
1896.  From  1898  until  Jan.  1,  1900,  he  was  division  counsel  for  the 
Plant  system  of  railways  and  then,  upon  the  dissolution  of  the 
firm  of  Erwin,  DuBignon,  Chisholm  & Clay,  resigned  the  office 
noted  and  entered  into  a professional  partnership  with  Hon.  Flem- 
ing G.  DuBignon,  under  the  firm  name  of  DuBignon  & Stephens, 
this  association  obtaining  until  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1902, 
when  it  was  dissolved,  upon  the  removal  of  Mr.  DuBignon  to  the 
city  of  Atlanta.  Since  that  time  Major  Stephens  has  conducted  an 
individual  professional  business  in  Savannah,  where  he  has  a 
representative  clientage.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Democratic 
party  but  has  never  had  an  ambition  for  political  office.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South, 
and  he  is  identified  with  the  following  named  organizations : An- 
cient Landmark  Lodge,  No.  231,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons ; Geor- 
gia Chapter,  No.  3,  Royal  Arch  Masons;  Georgia  Council,  No.  2, 
Royal  and  Select  Masters;  Palestine  Commandery,  No.  7,  Knights 
Templars;  Alee  Temple,  Ancient  Arabic  Order,  Nobles  of  the  Mys- 
tic Shrine;  Alpha  Lodge,  No.  1,  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite; 
the  Savannah  bar  association ; the  Guards’  club,  Oglethorpe  club, 
Savannah  Yacht  club  and  Forest  City  gun  club.  On  Sept.  6,  1899, 
Major  Stephens  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Clifford  B.  Dasher, 
daughter  of  Frank  W.  and  Grace  B.  (Lovell)  Dasher,  of  Savannah, 
and  they  have  one  son,  William  Hugh,  born  Dec.  IS,  1900.  In  the 
pursuit  of  his  profession  Major  Stephens  has  not  only  attained 
to  success  but  his  career  has  also  been  marked  by  a thorough  devo- 
tion to  the  highest  ideals  of  his  calling.  This  has  been  the  domi- 
nant purpose  of  his  life,  to  which  his  active  participation  in  public 
affairs  has  been  the  natural  incident.  Of  a singularly  open  and 
candid  nature,  rapid  in  conclusions  and  entirely  bold  in  expression, 
he  has  been  an  effective  soldier  because  he  has  been  a consistent 
and  fearless  lawyer. 

Stephens’  Pottery,  a post-village  of  Baldwin  county,  is  located 
on  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway,  about  nine  miles  south  of  Mil- 
ledgeville.  It  is  in  the  heart  of  the  great  clay  belt  extending  from 
Augusta  to  Columbus  along  the  dividing  line  between  the  Crystal- 
line area  and  the  Coastal  plain,  and  takes  its  name  from  the  indus- 
tries established  there.  The  clay  at  this  point  is  white  and  is 
said  to  be  capable  of  standing  a greater  degree  of  heat  than  that 
found  anywhere  else  in  the  United  States.  Sewer-pipe,  jars,  vases, 
hrick  and  ornamental  pottery  are  manufactured  here  and  the  ware 


24-ni 


370 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


finds  ready  sale  in  Georgia  and  adjoining  states  because  of  its  fine 
quality. 

Stephensville,  a post-village  of  Wilkinson  county,  is  on  a tribu- 
tary of  the  Oconee  river,  about  twelve  miles  southeast  of  Irwinton. 
The  population  in  1900  was  50.  It  is  a trading  center  for  the  neigh- 
borhood. The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Toombsboro,  on  the  Cen- 
tral of  Georgia,  eight  miles  north. 

Sterling,  an  incorporated  town  of  Glynn  county,  is  on  the  South- 
ern railroad,  fifteen  miles  northeast  of  Brunswick.  The  population 
in  1900  was  97.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  an  express  office, 
some  mercantile  interests  and  does  some  shipping. 

Stevens,  Obadiah  Benjamin,  formerly 
commissioner  of  agriculture  of  the  State 
of  Georgia,  and  now  a member  of  the 
railroad  commission,  was  born  near  the 
little  town  of  Benevolence,  in  the  fourth 
militia  district  of  Randolph  county,  Ga., 
Aug.  1,  1847,  a son  of  W.  J.  and  Susan  M. 
Stevens.  As  has  been  consistently  stated, 
Mr.  Stevens  is  a man  “of  the  people,  by 
the  people,  for  the  people.”  From  farm- 
er’s boy  to  railroad  commissioner  of  the 
greatest  state  in  the  South  is  a ’’far  cry,” 
but  he  has  at  all  times  been  close  to  the 
people  and  has  had  the  most  definite  appreciation  of  the  dignity 
of  honest  toil  and  endeavor.  The  following  outline  of  his  career 
is  drawn  from  a publication  entitled  “Georgia’s  Public  Men.”  “Mr. 
Stephens’  parents  were  plain  people,  but  they  were  not  shiftless, 
and  from  them  he  not  only  inherited  a fine  intellect  and  habits  of 
industry  but  was  also  given  such  opportunities  for  improving  his 
mind  as  the  meager  advantages  of  a pioneer  section  afforded.  It 
requires  more  seed  to  make  a showing  on  some  kinds  of  soil  than 
on  others,  but  in  this  instance  such  as  were  sown  in  the  mind  of 
this  Randolph  county  farmer  boy  found  fertile  ground.  Pie  se- 
cured the  rudiments  of  an  education,  and  to  a mind  such  as  his  this 
was  enough  on  which  to  build  up  a store  of  knowledge.  In  1856 
Terrell  county  was  formed,  parts  of  Randolph  and  Lee  being  taken 
for  that  purpose,  and  it  was  soon  after  this  that  Mr.  Stephens’  cit- 
izenship and  connection  with  the  history  of  Terrell  county  began. 
To  the  little  village  of  Dover  Mr.  Stevens’  parents  removed  at  the 
beginning  of  the  war,  and  there  he  pursued  his  career  on  the  farm, 
till  finally  there  came  to  him  the  opportunity  to  clerk  in  a country 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


371 


store,  where  he  began  to  acquire  a knowledge  of  business.  It  has 
been  said  of  Mr.  Stevens  that  with  one  exception  everything  he  was 
and  is  can  be  traced  to  its  source.  For  instance,  we  know  how  he 
received  his  education,  to  which  he  added  through  observation  and 
subsequent  study;  we  know  why  he  is  a farmer  and  a good  one, 
because  he  learned  it  between  the  plow  handles;  and  we  know  how 
and  when  he  acquired  his  splendid  business  training.  But  no  one 
knows  how  or  why  he  became  the  ‘best  politician  in  Georgia,’  as 
he  is  often  called.  Up  to  the  early  ’80s  Mr.  Stevens  had  seemed  to 
care  nothing  for  politics,  being  content  to  pursue  his  calling  of 
planter  and  warehouseman,  in  both  of  which  lines  he  was  eminently 
successful.  In  the  warehouse  business,  of  course,  he  came  in  direct 
touch  with  the  farmers,  and  he  had  no  trouble  in  winning  their 
esteem  and  confidence.  Indeed,  he  became  the  adviser  of  most  of 
them  and  the  financial  reliance  of  many — in  those  days  when  banks 
were  few  and  interest  charges  high.  In  1884  opinion  seemed  to 
turn  upon  ‘Tobe’  Stevens,  as  everyone  called  him,  as  a man  who 
would  make  a safe  and  energetic  legislator.  He  was  elected,  and 
served  with  distinct  credit  to  himself  and  his  section ; he  was  re- 
elected and  served  two  more  terms,  1886-7.  Thus  began  Mr.  Ste- 
vens’ political  career,  and  from  that  time  on  he  has  been  a political 
leader  in  his  state  and  section.  Thorough  organization,  attention 
to  detail  and  absolute  faithfulness  to  his  friends  have  constituted 
the  secret  of  his  wonderful  success  in  politics.  In  1896  he  was 
again  called  to  public  life,  being  chosen  state  senator  from  the 
eleventh  district  and  served  two  years,  with  marked  acceptability. 
At  the  expiration  of  his  term  he  became  a candidate  for  commis- 
sioner of  agriculture,  his  opponent  being  Hon.  R.  T.  Nesbitt,  of 
Cobb  county,  who  had  filled  the  office  several  terms.  Mr.  Stevens 
made  one  of  the  most  remarkable  campaigns  ever  recorded  in  the 
annals  of  the  state  and  won  by  a magnificent  majority.  He  thor- 
oughly understands  the  needs  of  the  farmer  and,  without  detracting 
one  iota  from  the  work  of  his  predecessors  in  this  important  office, 
it  can  safely  be  stated  that  the  management  of  the  agricultural  de- 
partment under  the  present  incumbent  has  been  characterized  by 
progressiveness,  intelligence  and  splendid  executive  and  business 
ability.  That  he  has  enhanced  the  general  efficiency  of  the  depart- 
ment can  not  be  denied.  Under  Commissioner  Stevens  a large  and 
handsomely  illustrated  volume,  entitled  ‘Georgia,  Historical  and 
Industrial,’  was  issued  by  the  department  of  agriculture  in  1901. 
It  was  issued  in  obedience  to  the  growing  demand  for  information 
concerning  the  industrial  resources  and  possibilities  of  Georgia, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


372 

as  shown  by  inquiries  almost  daily  received,  not  only  from  the 
state  but  also  from  every  section  of  the  Union.  The  book  is  un- 
questionably the  most  complete,  specific  and  comprehensive  com- 
pilation of  the  kind  ever  published  about  Georgia.”  The  popular 
appreciation  of  the  character  and  admirable  services  of  Mr.  Ste- 
vens was  manifested  in  his  reelection  to  the  office  of  commissioner 
of  agriculture  in  1902,  by  an  overwhelming  majority.  “Mr.  Stevens 
is  pre-eminently  a practical  man,”  continues  the  sketch  from  which 
the  above  extracts  are  made,  “he  conducts  his  department  along  the 
same  lines  which  made  his  business  as  planter  and  warehouseman 
sucessful.  He  is  earnest,  thoughtful,  courteous,  full  of  resources ; 
his  public  career  stamps  him  as  one  of  the  best  equipped  men  in 
the  state  for  usefulness  in  public  station.”  In  politics  he  gives 
unqualified  allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party.  On  Oct.  16,  1867, 
Mr.  Stevens  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Julia  A.  Lofton, 
daughter  of  James  R.  Lofton,  a prominent  merchant  of  Terrell 
county.  Of  the  seven  children  of  this  union  all  are  living  except 
the  eldest,  Jennie  E.,  who  was  the  wife  of  Frank  Nasworthy;  Wil- 
liam J.  is  a resident  of  Fayettville ; Ola  J.  is  the  wife  of  Manning 
J.  Yoemans,  of  Dawson,  Terrell  county;  Susie  S.  is  the  wife  of 
Mark  J.  James,  of  Griffin,  Spalding  county;  Obadiah  B.,  Jr.,  Ella 
C.  and  Robert  L.  remain  at  the  parental  home. 

Stevens,  William  Bacon,  physician,  clergyman  and  author,  was 
born  at  Bath,  Me.,  July  13,  1815.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  at  Phillips’  academy,  Andover,  Mass.,  after  which  he 
traveled  for  two  years  in  Europe  to  recuperate  his  health.  Upon 
his  return  to  America  he  took  up  the  study  of  medicine  and  in  1837 
received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  from  Dartmouth  college.  For  the 
next  three  years  he  practiced  his  profession  at  Savannah  and  in 
1841  he  was  appointed  state  historian  of  Georgia.  The  following 
year  he  decided  to  enter  the  Protestant  Episcopal  ministry ; was 
ordained  deacon  in  1843  ; priest  in  1844,  and  for  several  years  was 
rector  of  Emmanuel  church  at  Athens.  In  1844  he  was  called  to 
the  chair  of  belles-letters,  oratory  and  moral  philosophy  in  the 
University  of  Georgia.  In  the  meantime  he  had  published  several 
works  as  state  historian,  the  most  notable  being  a “History  of  Silk 
Culture  in  Georgia,”  “Historical  Collections  of  Georgia,”  and  “Dis- 
courses before  the  Historical  Society.”  In  1847  his  “History  of 
Georgia,”  in  two  volumes  was  published  and  it  is  still  regarded  as  a 
standard  work  on  the  history  of  the  state.  The  same  year  he  was 
a delegate  to  the  general  convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
church,  and  the  year  following  became  the  rector  of  St.  Andrew’s, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


373 


Philadelphia.  In  1862  he  was  consecrated  assistant  bishop  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  three  years  later  succeeded  Dr.  Potter  as  bishop. 
Pie  continued  to  discharge  the  duties  of  this  office  until  1886,  when 
advanced  age  and  failing  health  compelled  him  to  ask  for  an  as- 
sistant. Pie  died  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  June  11,  1887. 

Stevens  Gap,  a pass  through  Missionary  Ridge,  is  about  ten  miles 
southeast  of  Trenton.  While  the  two  armies  were  maneuvering 
for  vantage  ground  preceding  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  two  slight 
skirmishes  occurred  at  this  gap.  One  of  them,  on  Sept.  6,  1863, 
was  a small  affair  and  no  report  of  it  is  to  be  found  in  the  official 
records  of  the  war.  On  the  17th  of  the  same  month  the  Thirty- 
ninth  Indiana  infantry  here  encountered  the  Third  Confederate 
cavalry  and  a sharp  skirmish  resulted.  The  loss  was  trifling  on 
both  sides,  so  far  as  numbers  were  concerned,  but  the  gallant  Col- 
onel Estes,  commander  of  the  Confederate  forces,  was  among  the 
killed. 

Stewart,  Andrew  P.,  who  holds  the  re- 
sponsible position  of  tax  collector  of  Ful- 
ton county,  is  one  of  the  well  known  and 
popular  citizens  of  Atlanta,  where  he  has 
maintained  his  home  for  many  years. 
He  was  born  at  Jackson,  Butts  county, 
Ga.,  Dec.  14,  1848,  a son  of  Frederick  S. 
and  Margaret  (Nelson)  Stewart,  both 
natives  of  Georgia,  the  former  born  in 
Oglethorpe  county,  Dec.  24,  1826,  and 
died  in  July,  1891,  and  the  latter  in 
Greene  county,  in  1832,  and  died  in  1886. 
They  became  the  parents  of  four  sons 
and  seven  daughters,  namely:  Andrew  P.,  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Mrs.  Anna  Culbertson,  of  Atlanta;  Mrs.  Naomi  Hill,  who  died  in 
1887;  Mrs.  Mary  Murphy,  of  Farill,  Ala.;  Mrs.  Ghetta  McAfee,  of 
Atlanta;  William  A.,  of  Atlanta;  Frederick  S.,  who  died  in  1880; 
Mrs.  Effie  Wright,  of  Farill,  Ala.;  Thomas  H.,  of  Atlanta;  Marga- 
ret, who  died  in  1865 ; and  Mrs.  Clifford  Scott,  of  Putnam  county. 
Andrew  P.  Stewart  has  passed  his  entire  life  in  Georgia,  in  whose 
common  schools  he  secured  his  early  educational  training.  Pie 
became  a successful  merchant  in  the  city  of  Atlanta,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  hardware  business  until  1886,  when  he  was  elected 
to  the  office  of  tax  collector,  in  which  he  has  since  served  contin- 
uously, proving  faithful  and  capable,  as  his  long  tenure  of  office 
implies,  having  handled  millions  of  dollars  within  his  term  of 


374 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


service.  He  is  a stalwart  supporter  of  the  principles  and  policies 
of  which  the  Democratic  party  stands  exponent,  and  in  1879-80 
he  represented  his  ward  in  the  city  council.  He  is  affiliated  with 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
are  devoted  members  of  the  First  Baptist  church,  in  which  he  has 
been  a deacon  for  thirty  years  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school  for  a quarter  of  a century.  On  Dec.  14,  1871,  Mr.  Stewart 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Frances  Manning,  daughter  of 
Jethrow  and  Frances  (Payne)  Manning,  of  Atlanta.  They  have 
no  children. 

Stewart,  Charles  Dawson,  was  born 
in  Brunswick  county,  Va.,  and  was  but 
thirteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the 
death  of  his  father,  who  had  come  to 
America  from  the  west  of  England  and 
who  had  met  with  reverses  so  that  he 
left  but  little  property.  Charles  gave 
his  small  patrimony  to  his  mother  and 
sister,  left  the  home  farm  and  state,  and 
began  the  battle  of  life  with  a mere  pit- 
tance. He  came  to  Georgia  and  secured 
a clerkship  in  a store,  while  from  time  to 
time,  as  his  earnings  permitted,  he  gave 
tip  work  and  attended  school,  following  this  plan  until  he  had 
.gained  a common  school  education.  By  rigid  economy  he  was 
soon  able  to  make  a business  venture  on  his  own  account  and  in 
course  of  time  he  became  a successful  merchant.  Thus  his  ad- 
vancement to  manhood  was  made  up  of  alternate  periods  of  faith- 
ful application  to  work  and  careful  study.  The  result  could  be  no 
other  than  the  development  of  a strong  and  self-reliant  character, 
in  which  were  exemplified  unswerving  integrity,  Spartanlike  forti- 
tude, a strong  sense  of  justice,  and  a remarkable  degree  of  acquisi- 
tiveness with  intellectual  men.  Resulting  from  the  life  led  by 
such  pioneers  in  Colonial  development,  superadded  to  the  innate 
will  of  the  boy,  there  developed  in  his  make  up  a will  power,  with 
a determination  to  accomplish  whatever  task  that  came  to  him. 
This  unswerving  will  power  is  well  illustrated  by  an  incident  in 
his  life,  showing  as  well  his  self  control  and  promptness  of  action. 
By  some  accident  his  finger  was  fractured,  to  which  splints  were 
applied.  On  removal  of  the  dressings  he  found  his  finger  had 
grown  crooked  by  improper  union  of  the  bones.  Rather  than  go 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


375 


through  life  with  an  unsightly  digit,  he  placed  the  finger  in  a door 
jamb,  closing  the  door  on  the  finger  and  refracturing  and  subse- 
quently resetting  it  in  the  proper  manner.  Though  the  course  of 
refracturing  and  resetting  is  now  adopted  by  all  surgeons  as  the 
only  proper  one  to  be  followed  for  the  correcting  of  such  acquired 
deformities,  it  was  then  a plan  untried,  his  sound  reasoning  and 
logical  mind  alone  suggesting  its  employment.  Many  men  become 
narrow  and  contracted,  close  and  niggardly  under  the  lash  of  mis- 
fortune, and  when  tested  in  the  school  of  adversity  with  great 
financial  needs,  often  the  character  all  believed  to  be  true  to  the 
right,  as  the  needle  to  the  pole,  is  found  wavering  on  every  side, 
to  at  last  plunge  from  its  true  pivot  down  into  the  dark  abyss  of 
dishonor,  dishonesty  and  crime.  Not  so  with  him.  Twice  through 
a long  and  eventful  life  he  was  pressed  hard  by  the  relentless  hand 
of  adversity,  once  by  the  unauthorized  use  of  his  name  by  a man 
with  whom  he  had  business  relations.  In  this  instance  he  paid 
the  entire  loss  sustained  by  both,  amounting  to  several  hundred 
thousand,  though  legally  bound  for  only  part.  This  statement  in 
one  of  his  letters  to  a firm  of  importers  who  were  among  his  credi- 
tors, and  with  whom  he  had  dealt  for  years,  shows  the  plan  of  his 
life.  They  wrote  a letter  of  sympathy  with  him  in  his  losses,  sug- 
gesting a compromise  of  accounts  at  50  cents  on  the  dollar,  back- 
ing the  proposal  by  so  offering  their  account.  This  kind  letter 
brought  forth  a terse  but  truly  characteristic  reply,  as  follows: 
“Gentlemen:  Your  kind  and  highly  generous  offer  to  hand.  I 

cannot,  as  you  doubtless  expect,  add  appreciation,  for  such  is  not 
the  case.  Your  proposal  of  compromise  is  more  than  distasteful, 
cover  it  as  you  will  with  soft  words  and  women’s  sympathetic 
eulogies.  The  proffered  act  of  kind  generosity  is  a stench  in  my 
nostrils.  Your  house  has  shown  in  the  making  of  this  proposal 
two  points  of  distrust  in  me : the  first  in  valuing  my  paper  at  its 
highest  point  of  estimated  worth  to  not  exceed  50%;  second,  fear- 
ing this  will  not  materialize,  without  your  proffered  assistance,  you 
request  my  authorization  of  the  issuance  by  you  of  a circular  letter 
to  creditors  couched  in  sympathetic  platitudes  and  false  sympathies 
requesting  a like  scaling  down  of  accounts  by  them,  by  these  pro- 
cedures virtually  securing  the  guarantee  of  the  50%  now  repre- 
senting a distrusted  value  to  you.  All  of  which  is  respectfully  de- 
clined. My  name,  as  that  of  my  father  before  me,  has  never  been 
worth  less  than  par.  I decline  to  purchase  my  account  with  you 
for  a less  figure,  as  I do  all  other  accounts  and  obligations.  Re- 
spectfully yours,  Charles  D.  Stewart.”  His  second  disaster  came 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


376 

during  the  war,  to  which  cause  he  was  a more  than  bountiful  giver: 
the  universal  shrinkage  in  realty  and  personalty,  representing  as 
they  did  his  entire  estate,  produced  financial  loss  verging  close  to 
his  all  at  the  close  of  the  war.  At  that  time,  being  then  a man 
of  eighty  years,  still  undaunted  he  again  entered  the  business  world 
and  during  the  following  ten  years  as  a result  of  his  remarkable 
business  acumen,  amassed  an  estate  worth  at  his  death  quite  a snug 
sum.  His  name  was  a synonym  for  honesty,  justice,  and  untiring 
energy,  tempered  with  kindness.  Early  in  life  he  wedded  Miss 
Henrietta  Hargraves  of  Charles  county,  Md.,  and  after  her  death 
he  married  Miss  Rebecca  Appling  of  Georgia,  no  children  being 
born  of  the  second  union.  His  children  were  Rev.  George 
Stewart ; Dr.  Theophilus  Stewart ; Charles  Hargraves  Stew- 
art, and  Henrietta  Hargraves  Stewart,  the  last  mentioned 
becoming  the  wife  of  Henry  Vincent  Meigs,  a son  of  Dr. 
Charles  Meigs  of  Philadelphia.  The  early  married  life  of 
Mr.  Stewart  was  passed  in  Warrenton,  Ga.,  whence  he  removed 
to  Greensboro,  where  he  resided  until  1829,  when  he  became  one 
of  the  settlers  of  Columbus,  Muscogee  county,  one  year  after  its 
incorporation.  In  January,  1832,  he  was  elected  one  of  the  six  com- 
missioners to  govern  the  town,  was  reelected  in  July  of  the  follow- 
ing year  and  resigned  in  March,  1834.  In  July  of  that  year  he  was 
elected  superintendent  of  the  town,  but  resigned  the  office  the  fol- 
lowing December.  Although  he  spent  the  last  few  years  of  his 
life  with  his  son,  Rev.  George  Stewart,  who  resided  at  Summerville 
Heights,  Ala.,  about  four  miles  north  of  Columbus,  he  always 
considered  himself  a citizen  of  Columbus.  As  planter,  merchant 
and  manufacturer,  he  was  ever  a prominent  figure.  He  was  one  of 
the  incorporators  of  the  Eagle  and  Phoenix  mills.  With  the  ad- 
vance of  age  his  bright  mind  ever  grew  in  its  powers.  Its  clear, 
just,  yet  tolerant  insight  into  human  nature  was  never  brighter 
than  it  was  at  the  day  of  his  death,  having  reached  the  age  of 
ninety-two.  He  died  at  the  home  of  his  son,  Rev.  George  Stewart 
at  Summerville  Heights. 

Stewart  County,  situated  in  the  western  part  of  the  state,  was 
formed  from  Randolph  in  1830  and  was  named  for  Gen.  Daniel 
Stewart,  of  Liberty  county,  who  achieved  fame  as  a soldier  of  the 
Revolution  and  in  subsequent  Indian  wars.  It  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Chattahoochee  county,  on  the  east  by  Webster,  on  the 
south  by  Randolph  and  Quitman  and  on  the  west  by  the  State  of 
Alabama,  from  which  it  is  separated  by  the  Chattahoochee  river. 
There  are  several  tributaries  of  this  river  that  flow  across  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


377 


county  and  the  soil  along  the  streams  is  very  fertile.  Cotton,  the 
cereals,  sugar-cane,  fruits  and  melons  are  the  principal  agricul- 
tural products.  Two  branches  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railway 
traverse  the  county  forming  a junction  at  Richland,  in  the  eastern 
part,  and  providing  ample  facilities  for  transportation.  Lumpkin 
is  the  county  seat.  Richland,  Omaha  and  Louvale  are  other  towns. 
Near  Omaha  are  some  mineral  springs.  The  population  in  1900 
was  15,856. 

Stewart,  John  D.,  was  born  in  Fayette  county  in  1833,  attended 
Marshall  college,  taught  school  for  a time  at  Griffin,  studied  law 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1856.  Lie  served  for  five  years  as 
ordinary  and  during  the  war  was  captain  in  the  Thirteenth  Georgia 
regiment.  From  1865  to  1867  he  was  a member  of  the  Georgia 
legislature ; was  ordained  a minister  of  the  Baptist  church  in  1871 ; 
mayor  of  Griffin  in  1875;  was  judge  of  the  superior  court  from  1879 
to  1886;  trustee  of  Mercer  university,  also  of  the  Theological  sem- 
inary, Louisville,  Ky. ; was  elected  to  Congress  from  his  district 
in  1886  and  reelected  in  1888.  He  died  at  Griffin  in  1894. 

Stewart,  William  Weaver,  M.  D.,  a 
prominent  physician  and  surgeon  of 
Columbus,  Muscogee  county,  Ga.,  was 
born  at  Union  Springs,  Ala.,  Aug.  30, 
1865,  is  a son  of  Rev.  George  and  Au- 
gusta (Weaver)  Stewart,  and  a grandson 
of  Charles  D.  Stewart,  individually  men- 
tioned in  this  work.  When  he  was 
about  one  year  of  age  his  parents-  re- 
moved to  the  old  Stewart  homestead  at 
Summerville,  Ala.,  near  Columbus,  Ga., 
and  in  his  boyhood  they  took  up  their 
residence  in  Columbus.  His  early  edu- 
cation was  procured  from  schools  in  the  vicinity  of  his  home  and 
from  the  Alabama  polytechnic  institute  in  Auburn.  In  March, 
1890,  he  graduated  from  Bellevue  hospital  medical  college,  of  New 
York.  This  celebrated  institution  employed  a most  effective  sys- 
tem, thereby  securing  for  their  students  a most  extensive  experi- 
ence. Immediately  after  graduation  he  was  appointed  as  member 
of  the  staff  of  the  New  York  city  hospital,  in  which  institution 
he  completed  his  service  of  eighteen  months,  occupying  therein 
the  position  of  both  house  physician  and  surgeon.  On  completing 
this  service  he  immediately  returned  to  his  old  home  at  Columbus, 
and  at  once  entered  upon  the  work  to  which  in  truth,  he  had  de- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


.378 

voted  his  life.  In  July,  1891,  he  entered  into  a professional  partner- 
ship with  Ur.  George  Grimes  and  they  have  since  been  associated 
under  the  firm  name  of  Grimes  & Stewart.  Doctor  Stewart’s  career 
as  a physician  has  been  phenomenally  successful.  In  fact  it  has 
been  said  of  him  that  he  had  no  novitiate  or  term  of  waiting  for 
practice  as  is  common  with  the  young  physician,  but  that  he  stepped 
from  the  lecture  room  into  a most  successful  and  professional 
career.  Combining  marked  ability  as  a physician  with  superb 
surgical  skill,  it  is  not  surprising  that  he  has  a magnificent  practice, 
while  he  is  in  the  very  prime  of  his  useful  and  virile  career.  In 
1903,  at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  state  board  of  health. 
Governor  Terrell  appointed  Doctor  Stewart  a member  of  the  body 
for  six  years.  In  Nov.,  1892  Doctor  Stewart  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Euphan  Marshall  Collier,  daughter  of  C.  Myles  and 
Hannah  (Shackelford)  Collier,  of  New  York  city,  whither  the 
family  removed  from  Memphis,  Tenn.  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Stewart 
have  three  children,  namely:  George  Grimes,  Myles  Collier,  and 

Edward  Comer. 

Stiles,  William  H.,  was  born  at  Savannah  in  1808.  He  received 
a good  education,  studied  law  and  began  practice  in  his  native  city. 
In  1833  he  was  elected  solicitor-general  of  the  eastern  circuit,  rep- 
resentative in  Congress  in  1842,  and  was  sent  as  minister  to  Aus- 
tria in  1845.  During  the  war  he  served  as  a colonel  in  the  Con- 
federate army.  He  died  at  Savannah  in  December,  1865. 

Stilesboro,  a town  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Bartow  county, 
is  on  a short  railroad  that  connects  Cartersville  with  Rockmart. 
It  has  an  express  and  telegraph  office,  a money  order  postoffice 
with  rural  free  delivery,  several  stores  and  good  church  and  school 
privileges.  The  population  by  the  census  of  1900  was  221. 

After  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston  had  retired  to  the  south  bank 
of  the  Etowah  in  May,  1864,  he  learned  that  the  Federal  troops 
were  crossing  the  river  to  his  left  near  Stilesboro.  The  crossing 
was  effected  at  several  points  between  Stilesboro  and  Rome  and 
the  advance  was  delayed  by  Wheeler’s  cavalry  which  skirmished 
in  front  on  the  23rd  as  Johnston  was  forming  his  lines  along 
Pumpkinvine  and  Allatoona  Creeks  to  meet  their  movement.  This 
was  the  beginning  of  the  ten  days  fight  styled  in  Sherman  and 
Johnston’s  reports  of  the  Atlanta  campaign  as  the  battle  of  New 
Hope  Church,  (q.  v.) 

Stillmore,  a town  in  the  central  part  of  Emanuel  county,  was 
incorporated  by  act  of  the  general  assembly  on  Nov.  13,  1889.  It  is 
the  second  largest  town  in  the  county,  and  is  one  of  the  great  rail- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


379 


road  centers  of  the  eastern  part  of  the  state.  The  Dover  and  Brew- 
ton  division  of  the  Central  of  Georgia,  the  Milieu  & Southwestern, 
and  the  Stillmore  Air  Line  all  pass  through  the  town,  giving  facil- 
ities for  transportation  in  six  different  directions.  The  population 
in  1900  was  741.  It  has  a bank,  several  good  stores,  some  factories, 
express  and  telegraph  offices,  a money  order  postoffice,  large  ship- 
ping interests  and  good  church  and  school  advantages. 

Stillwell,  a post-village  of  Effingham  county,  about  six  miles 
northeast  of  Springfield,  is  a station  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line 
railway,  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  110.  It  has  some  stores 
doing  a good  business,  an  express  office,  and  ships  considerable 

Stillwell,  William  B.,  a lumberman  of 
note,  a prince  of  good  fellows,  and  above 
all  a man  among  men — neither  spoiled 
by  the  smiles,  nor  dismayed  by  the 
frowns  of  the  fickle  Goddess  of  Fortune, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  stands  to-day 
a forceful  factor  in  the  lumber  trade,  the 
delight  of  a host  of  friends  and  a worthy 
exponent  of  American  manhood.  Nich- 
olas Stillwell,  the  first  of  the  name  to 
land  in  America,  brought  to  the  aid  of 
the  infant  colonies  an  iron  will  and 
mighty  arm,  and  his  descendants  set- 
tling north,  south,  east  and  west  have  won  enviable  distinction  in 
the  pursuits  of  peace  as  well  as  in  the  art  of  war — many  to-day 
ocupying  prominent  positions  in  the  army,  in  the  national  guard 
and  in  the  great  enterprises  and  industries  of  the  country.  In  direct 
line  of  descent  from  Nicholas,  his  grandson,  Maj.  Thomas  Stillwell, 
and  great  grandson,  John  Stillwell,  who  won  distinction  during  the 
Revolution,  came  Charles  H.  Stillwell,  who  in  addition  to  the  spirit 
of  his  forefathers,  was  fortunate  enough  to  inherit  from  his  mother, 
a Huguenot  of  the  South  Carolina  colony,  the  spirit  which  ani- 
mated the  French  martyrs.  To  him,  though  always  beset  by  dif- 
ficulties and  adversity  and  twice  made  a cripple — the  last  time  for 
life — the  State  of  Georgia  is  indebted  for  nine  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, who  have  worthily  illustrated  in  their  various  vocations,  the 
indomitable  energy,  peerless  courage  and  Christian  faith  which 
characterized  their  sire.  William,  one  of  the  sons  thus  endowed, 
though  starting  without  a dollar  amid  confusion  which  follows  in 
the  wake  of  civil  strife,  has  won  both  means  and  position  even  in 


produce  to  Savannah. 


380 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


a business  which  requires  as  much  capital  and  individual  effort  for 
its  successful  prosecution  as  the  lumber  trade.  He  was  born  in 
Rome,  Ga.,  March  11,  1851,  and  his  name  is  not  quite  half  way 
down  the  official  register  of  family  births  which  must  have  over- 
flowed the  record  pages  in  the  old  family  Bible,  for  there  were 
sixteen  children.  At  the  close  of  the  Civil  war  ten  of  these  were 
still  living — nine  boys  and  one  girl — four  boys  older  than  William 
having  seen  service  under  the  Confederate  flag.  The  family,  which 
during  the  war  had  “refugeed”  pretty  much  all  over  the  state, 
moved  back  to  Rome  at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  William  got 
his  first  experience  in  sawmill  operations  in  an  upright  saw  water 
mill  operated  by  his  father,  whom  he  assisted  as  yardman  and 
general  utility  man.  In  February,  1866,  he  went  into  the  employ 
of  Millen  & Wadley,  at  Savannah,  Ga.,  which  firm  afterward  be- 
came Millen,  Wadley  & Co.,  by  the  admission  of  D.  C.  Bacon  as 
junior  partner.  In  1876  Messrs.  Bacon  & Stillwell  formed  the  firm 
of  D.  C.  Bacon  & Co.,  IT.  P.  Smart  being  afterward  admitted  to 
the  firm.  The  firm  formed  and  operated  a number  of  other  com- 
panies including  the  Vale  Royal  Manufacturing  Company,  the  At- 
lanta Lumber  Company,  Central  Georgia  Lumber  Company,  Scre- 
ven County  Lumber  Company,  and  Amoskeag  Lumber  Company, 
Mr.  Stillwell  being  for  several  years  president  of  the  last  named, 
as  well  as  an  officer  in  all  of  the  others.  While  with  this  firm, 
Mr.  Stillwell  served  also  as  director  of  the  Savannah  board  of  trade 
for  several  years,  and  for  two  years  was  its  vice-president.  He  was 
for  several  years  a director  and  vice-president  of  the  Citizens  bank, 
a member  of  the  cotton  exchange  and  a director  in  the  Savannah 
Construction  Company,  which  built  the  road  from  Columbia  to 
Savannah,  afterwards  operated  by  the  Florida  Central  & Peninsular 
railroad,  now  part  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line.  In  1887  the  firm  of 
D.  C.  Bacon  & Co.  was  dissolved,  and  the  firm  of  Stillwell,  Millen 
& Co.  was  established,  with  headquarters  at  Savannah,  and  L.  R. 
Millen  & Co.,  of  New  York  city,  consisting  of  W.  B.  Stillwell,  Lor- 
ing  R.  Millen  and  L.  Johnson,  R.  H.  and  W.  R.  Bewick  being  ad- 
mitted several  years  later.  The  firm  owned  and  operated  the 
Screven  County  Lumber  Company,  Central  Georgia  Lumber  Com- 
pany, and  Augusta  Lumber  Company,  and  also  built  and  operated 
the  Waycross  Air  Line  railroad  and  the  Millen  and  Southern  rail- 
road. In  all  these  companies  Mr.  Stillwell  held  official  positions 
and  was  president  of  the  Waycross  Lumber  Company.  In  1895 
the  lumber  business  of  Stillwell,  Millen  & Co.,  L.  R.  Millen  & Co., 
McDonough  & Co.,  the  James  K.  Clarke  Lumber  Company,  Henry 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


381 


P.  Talmadge,and  C.  C.  Southard  was  consolidated  into  the  Southern 
Pine  Company  of  Georgia,  and  Mr.  Stillwell  became  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  company,  which  position  he  still  holds,  being  also 
director  of  the  purchasing  and  shipping  department.  So  much  for 
the  busy  career,  but  this  sketch  would  be  incomplete  without  some 
reference  to  the  movements  of  wider  scope  in  which  Mr.  Stillwell 
has  been  pre-eminent,  and  to  the  social  side  of  his  well  rounded 
nature.  In  1875  Mr.  Stillwell  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary 
Reily  Royall,  of  the  well  known  Carolina  family  of  that  name, 
and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  three  daughters,  Edith  (now 
Mrs.  W.  F.  Train),  Mamie  R.  and  Laleah  P.,  and  three  sons,  Wil- 
liam H.,  Herbert  L.,  and  Walter  B.,  who  with  their  mother  and 
father  constitute  an  unbroken  family  circle.  Early  in  life  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  joined  the  Baptist  church,  of  which  he  has  ever 
since  been  a regular  attendant,  and  he  holds  membership  in  many 
social  and  fraternal  orders,  among  which  are  the  Masons,  Knights 
Templars,  Mystic  Shriners  and  Elks.  In  military  circles  he  is  also 
well  known,  having  served  as  an  active  member  for  twenty  years 
in  the  Chatham  artillery,  and  being  now  an  honorary  member  of 
that  historic  corps.  He  is  also  a life  member  of  the  Savannah 
volunteer  guards  and  a pay  member  of  the  Savannah  cadets.  As 
early  as  the  seventies  Mr.  Stillwell  seems  to  have  been  a moving 
spirit  in  organizing  lumbermen  on  lines  tending  towards  the  pres- 
ervation of  their  business  interests  and  the  promotion  of  good  fel- 
lowship and  social  intercourse.  In  1879  he  was  active  in  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Southern  lumber  and  timber  association,  and  was  its 
secretary  when  it  gave  to  the  lumber  world  its  classification  and 
inspection  rules  of  1883,  which  have  ever  since  been  the  basis  of  the 
operation  of  the  yellow  pine  and  cypress  trade.  Later  he  was  a 
useful  member  and  has  been  now  for  two  years  vice-president 
of  the  Georgia  interstate  saw  mill  association,  and  is  now  also 
a director  in  the  Southern  lumber  manufacturers’  association.  The 
material  mens  association  of  Georgia  owed  its  existence  largely 
to  his  efforts  and  during  his  incumbency  as  its  first  president  an  im- 
portant amendment  to  the  lien  laws  of  Georgia  was  made  and  is 
still  in  force.  From  its  inception  the  National  lumber  manufactur- 
ers’ association,  which  is  destined  to  accomplish  much  for  the  lum- 
ber trade,  has  been  the  object  of  his  zeal  and  untiring  efforts.  He 
has  been  the  chairman  of  its  transportation  committee  and  now  rep- 
resents the  Georgia  interstate  saw  mill  association  as  its  member 
on  the  board  of  governors.  It  is,  however,  as  a Hoo-PIoo  that  Mr. 
Stillwell  became  most  widely  known  to  the  lumber  men  of  recent 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


' 382 


years  his  zeal  and  untiring  work  for  the  order,  together  with  his 
personal  popularity  having  won  for  him  four  years  ago  the  highest 
position  within  its  gift.  How  well  he  filled  the  office  of  Snark  of 
the  Universe  contemporary  criticism  fully  testified.  The  Savannah 
board  of  trade  has  had  no  more  devoted  member  and  has  testified 
its  appreciation  by  electing  him  its  president  this  year.  Through 
these  various  channels  and  the  medium  of  an  extensive  and  thriv- 
ing business,  Mr.  Stillwell  is  well  and  favorably  known  to  the 
lumbermen  and  business  communities  of  the  entire  United  States. 
But  after  all,  it  is  when,  man  to  man,  the  hearts  fires  are  focused 
that  the  true  metal  or  the  dross  is  most  clearly  revealed  and  the 
highest  tribute  that  can  be  paid  to  the  subject  of  this  sketch  it  to 
say  that  his  life  around  the  sacred  hearth  of  home  as  well  as  to 
the  outermost  circle  of  individual  friendship  has  shown  but  pure 
gold — never  too  absorbed  in  business  or  taken  up  by  the  attraction 
of  the  larger  social  life  to  be  unmindful  of  the  claims  of  a loved 
one  or  friend,  the  crown  and  summit  of  his  earthly  achievement  is 
and  ever  will  be  the  high  place  he  holds  in  the  hearts  of  those 
whose  life  long  love  and  regard  he  has  won  by  his  bright  and  unsel- 
fish nature. 

Stilson,  a town  in  the  eastern  part  of  Bulloch  county,  is  on  the 
Savannah  & Statesboro  railway  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  138. 
It  has  important  mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  a money  order 
postoffice,  good  school  and  church  advantages,  etc. 

Stinson,  a town  of  Meriwether  county,  is  on  the  branch  of  the 
Central  of  Georgia  railway  system  that  runs  from  Greenville  to 
Columbus.  The  population  in  1900  was  120.  It  has  a money  order 
postoffice,  telegraph  and  express  service,  several  stores,  and  does 
considerable  shipping. 

Stirk,  Samuel,  Revolutionary  patriot,  was  born  in  Savannah, 
according  to  popular  belief,  but  the  date  is  unknown.  His  first 
appearance  as  a public  character  was  as  a clerk  of  the  executive 
council  under  Governor  Treutlen’s  administration.  On  August 
16,  1781,  he  was  elected  a member  of  the  Continental  Congress; 
afterward  served  as  attorney-general  of  Georgia;  was  justice  of 
Chatham  county,  and  was  appointed  with  Button  Gwinnett  to 
settle  the  question  of  the  boundary  between  Georgia  and  Florida. 
The  place  and  date  of  his  death  are  uncertain. 

Stobo,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northern  part  of  Hall  county,  is  not 
far  from  the  Lumpkin  county  line.  The  nearest  railroad  station 
is  Lula. 

Stockbridge,  a town  in  Henry  county,  is  on  the  Aalanta  & Macon 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


383 


division  of  the  Southern  railway  system,  about  ten  miles  north  of 
McDonough.  Its  population  in  1900  was  287.  It  has  important 
mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  some  manufacturing,  a money 
order  postoffice,  from  which  several  rural  routes  supply  mail  to  the 
surrounding  districts,  telegraph  and  express  offices,  and  good  edu- 
cational and  religious  advantages. 

Stockton,  one  of  the  important  towns  of  Clinch  county,  is  on  the 
Atlantic  Coast  Line  railway,  a few  miles  east  of  the  Allapaha  river. 
In  1900  it  reported  a population  of  270.  It  has  a money  order  post- 
office,  with  rural  free  delivery,  telegraph  and  express  offices,  several 
good  stores,  some  factories,  schools,  churches,  etc.  Large  quantities 
of  lumber  and  naval  stores  are  shipped  from  this  point  every  year. 

Stogner,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Carroll  coun- 
ty, is  a trading  center  for  the  neighborhood  in  which  it  is  located 
Waco,  on  the  Southern  railroad,  is  the  nearest  station. 

Stokes,  Anthony,  a native  of  England,  came  to  Georgia  in  1760. 
Three  years  later  he  succeeded  William  Grover  as  chief  justice  of 
the  colony  and  continued  in  that  position  until  control  of  the  courts 
was  assumed  by  the  Provincial  Congress  in  1775.  He  was  able  and 
honest  and  during  his  administration  the  law  was  firmly  and  im- 
partially administered.  In  March,  1776,  he  was  arrested  as  an  act 
of  reprisal  for  the  imprisonment  of  some  American  officers,  but  was 
soon  released  on  parole.  His  house,  library  and  legal  records  were 
destroyed  by  fire  during  the  siege  of  Savannah,  in  the  fall  of  1779, 
and  in  1782  he  returned  to  England,  where  he  published  a scholarly 
and  impartial  treatise  on  the  American  colonies. 

Stokes,  Charles  A.,  superintendent  of  Station  B of  the  Atlanta 
postoffice,  was  born  in  this  city,  July  10,  1876,  a son  of  William  F. 
and  Fannie  (Cooper)  Stokes,  the  former  born  in  Athlone,  Ireland, 
April  12,  1845,  and  the  latter  in  LaGrange,  Ga.,  Sept.  26,  1848. 
The  father  is  of  Scotch-Irish  genealogy  and  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  the  Emerald  Isle,  where  he  remained  until  1866,  when  he 
came  to  the  United  States,  becoming  a successful  merchant  in 
Atlanta.  He  disposed  of  his  business  in  1S79  and  removed  with 
his  family  to  England,  where  they  remained  until  1884,  when 
they  returned  to  America,  again  taking  up  their  residence  in  At- 
lanta, where  the  parents  still  maintain  their  home.  Charles  A. 
Stokes  secured  his  rudimentary  education  in  England,  and  after 
the  return  of  the  family  to  Atlanta  he  entered  the  public  schools 
of  this  city,  continuing  his  studies  until  he  had  completed  a course 
in  the  Boys’  high  school,  in  which  he  was  graduated  as  a member 
of  the  class  of  1894.  Soon  afterward  he  entered  the  local  postoffice 


384 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


service,  beginning  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder  and  rising  through 
various  grades  of  promotion  to  his  present  responsible  office,  of 
which  he  has  been  incumbent  since  January,  1904,  his  station  being 
located  at  the  corner  of  Pryor  and  Mitchell  streets.  Mr.  Stokes 
is  one  of  the  zealous  and  valued  members  of  the  Central  Presby- 
terian church  in  which  he  is  a deacon.  Dr.  George  Stokes,  a broth- 
er of  Mr.  Stokes’  father  was  a professor  in  Trinity  college,  Dublin, 
Ireland,  and  also  a Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  of  antiquarians. 

Stone,  William  Alexander,  president  of 
the  Stone  & Murphey  Company,  one  of 
the  leading  mercantile  concerns  of  Louis- 
ville, and  also  the  owner  of  valuable  plan- 
tation interests  in  Jefferson  county,  was 
born  in  that  county,  Sept.  3,  1859,  a son 
of  Robert  A.  and  Julia  E.  (Robinson) 
Stone,  both  of  whom  were  likewise  born 
there.  Robert  A.  Stone  was  a successful 
planter,  continuing  a resident  of  Jefferson 
county  until  his  death,  and  was  a loyal 
soldier  of  the  Confederacy  in  the  Civil 
war.  He  was  a son  of  William  D. 
and  Martha  (Little)  Stone,  both  of  whom  were  born  and  reared  in 
Jefferson  county,  the  former  having  been  a son  of  William  D. 
Stone,  Sr.,  who  was  the  founder  of  the  family  in  Jefferson  county, 
whither  he  came  from  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  in  an  early  day.  Wil- 
liam D.  and  Martha  (Little)  Stone  became  the  parents  of  six  sons 
and  six  daughters,  and  five  of  the  sons  were  soldiers  in  the  Con- 
federate service  during  the  Civil  war,  in  which  four  of  the  number 
sacrificed  their  lives,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  having 
been  the  only  one  who  survived  the  service.  He  is  survived  by 
three  children — William  A.,  whose  name  introduces  this  article; 
James  Albert,  who  is  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Wrens, 
this  county;  and  Alice  E.,  wife  of  William  J.  Wren,  of  the  same 
place.  His  widow  is  still  living  and  now  makes  her  home  with  her 
daughter,  Alice  E.,  wife  of  William  J.  Wren,  the  founder  and 
builder  of  the  village  of  Wrens,  this  county.  William  Alexander 
Stone  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  on  the  homestead  plantation 
which  was  the  place  of  his  birth,  and  his  early  educational  ad- 
vantages were  those  afforded  in  the  schools  of  Jefferson  county. 
He  remained  on  the  farm  until  1880  when  he  assumed  a clerical 
position  in  the  general  store  of  the  firm  of  Little  & Clark,  of  Louis- 
ville. In  1885  he  associated  himself  with  a fellow  clerk,  William 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


385 


W.  Abbot,  and  engaged  in  the  same  line  of  enterprise,  under  the 
firm  title  of  Abbot  & Stone.  They  built  up  a very  prosperous 
trade  and  the  alliance  continued  until  1900,  when  Mr.  Stone  bought 
his  partner’s  interest  in  the  business,  whereupon  the  present  title, 
the  Stone  & Murphey  Company,  was  adopted,  the  business  being 
incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  state.  Mr.  Stone  became  presi- 
dent of  the  company,  which  is  the  direct  successor  of  the  firm  of 
Abbot  & Stone,  and  which  figures  as  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
solid  mercantile  houses  in  Jefferson  county.  Mr.  Stone  is  a direc- 
tor of  the  First  National  bank  of  Louisville  and  a stockholder  in 
the  Louisville  Manufacturing  Company,  manifesting  a lively  in- 
terest in  all  that  concerns  the  welfare  and  progress  of  his  home 
city  and  county,  being  at  the  present  time  a member  of  the  Louis- 
ville council.  He  is  a stanch  Democrat  in  his  political  allegiance, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  valued  and  zealous  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  in  which  he  is  a deacon.  On  April  17,  1889,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Pearl  E.  Sinquefield,  daughter  of  the 
late  Hon.  Francis  A.  Sinquefield,  who  was  one  of  the  prominent 
and  influential  citizens  of  Jefferson  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stone 
have  five  children,  whose  names,  with  respective  dates  of  birth, 
are  as  follows:  Francis  Albert,  Jan.  12,  1890;  Mary  Louise,  March 
14,  1892;  Robert  Augustus,  May,  13,  1894;  Julia  R.,  Nov.  24,  1896; 
and  William  Alexander,  Jr.,  Jan.  19,  1900. 

Stoneman’s  Raid. — While  the  city  of  Atlanta  was  in  a state  of 
siege  in  1864,  General  Stoneman  was  sent  by  Sherman  to  cooperate 
with  McCook  in  a raid  upon  the  Macon  railroad.  The  two  were  to 
meet  at  Lovejoy’s  Station  and  there  begin  the  work  of  destruction. 
After  the  completion  of  his  work  at  Lovejoy’s  Stoneman  was  to 
march  against  Macon,  then  to  Andersonville  and  release  the  Fed- 
eral prisoners  there  confined.  On  the  morning  of  July  27th  he  left 
Garrard’s  division  at  Flat  Rock  and  with  three  brigades,  about  2,- 
200  in  all,  crossed  the  Ocmulgee  river  near  Covington.  At  Gris- 
woldville  and  Gordon  he  destroyed  a large  number  of  engines  and 
cars,  while  a detachment  went  eastward  and  destroyed  the  bridges 
over  Walnut  Creek  and  the  Oconee  river.  He  then  concentrated 
his  forces  and  marched  upon  Macon.  Dibrell  had  been  sent  by 
Wheeler  to  hold  Garrard  in  check  and  General  Iverson  with  his 
Georgia  brigade  and  the  brigades  of  Allen  and  Breckenridge,  came 
up  in  time  to  save  the  city.  A few  shells  were  thrown  into  Macon, 
after  which  Stoneman  retired  toward  Clinton.  On  the  way  he 
was  attacked  by  General  Iverson,  whose  forces  coming  upon  him 
from  different  directions  led  Stoneman  to  believe  that  he  was  sur- 


25-1 1 1 


38G 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


rounded  by  superior  numbers.  He  therefore  gave  directions  to 
two  thirds  of  his  force  to  escape,  while  he  held  the  Confederates 
in  check  with  the  remainder,  about  700  men  and  two  light  field 
pieces.  This  force  was  attacked  and,  after  considerable  loss  in 
killed  and  wounded,  Stoneman  surrendered,  with  500  of  his  men. 
One  of  his  brigades  (Colonel  Adams’)  that  had  escaped,  got  back 
to  Sherman  in  fair  condition,  but  Capron’s  was  surprised  and  scat- 
tered, and  after  losing  many  killed,  wounded  and  captured,  the 
survivors  got  in  mostly  unarmed  and  on  foot.  Thus  Stoneman 
had  lost  nearly  a thousand  men  with  their  horses  and  two  cannon. 

Stone  Mountain. — This  name  is  applied  to  a huge  formation  of 
granite  in  De  Kalb  county,  and  also  a town  near  the  foot  of  the 
mountain.  The  mountain  is  about  three-fourths  of  a mile  in  height 
and  nearly  seven  miles  in  circumference  at  the  base.  Seen  from  the 
east  it  has  the  appearance  of  a dark  cloud,  with  streaks  of  zigzag 
lightning  running  through  it.  About  two-thirds  of  the  way  up 
are  seen  the  ruins  of  some  ancient  fortification,  that  formerly  ex- 
tended all  the  way  round  the  peak  and  defended  every  possible 
approach  to  the  summit,  the  only  entrance  being  through  a natural 
pass,  so  small  that  only  one  person  could  enter  at  a time,  and  that 
only  by  crawling  on  the  hands  and  knees.  Various  places  around 
the  mountain  have  received  names,  such  as  the  “Buzzard’s  Roost,”' 
the  “Lion’s  Den,”  the  “Panther  Hole,”  the  “Eagle’s  Nest,”  etc. 
The  view  from  the  top  of  Stone  Mountain  is  one  of  the  finest  in 
the  state.  A few  years  ago  a company  began  taking  the  granite 
from  the  mountain  and  converting  it  into  paving  blocks,  of  which 
large  quantities  find  their  way  to  various  cities  in  the  South.  To 
the  lover  of  nature  this  looks  like  a desecration  of  one  of  her  nob- 
lest works. 

The  town  of  Stone  Mountain  stands  near  this  lone  peak  and  had 
in  1900  a population  of  835.  It  is  on  the  Georgia  railroad,  ten 
miles  northeast  of  Decatur,  and  forms  the  principal  shipping  point 
for  the  granite  taken  from  the  mountain.  It  has  an  international 
money  order  postoffice,  from  which  a number  of  free  delivery  routes 
supply  mail  to  the  adjacent  rural  districts,  express  and  telegraph 
service,  several  good  mercantile  establishments  and  some  manu- 
factories. The  University  School  for  Boys  is  located  here. 

Stonewall,  a village  in  the  eastern  part  of  Campbell  county,  is 
a station  on  the  Atlanta  & West  Point  railroad,  five  miles  north- 
east of  Fairburn.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free 
delivery,  and  is  the  principal  trading  and  shipping  point  in  that  part 
of  the  county. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


387 

Stono,  a post-hamlet  of  Milton  county,  is  five  miles  east  of  Alph- 
aretta and  seven  miles  northwest  of  Duluth,  the  latter  being  the 
nearest  railroad  station. 

Stovall,  Charles  Theodore,  M.  D.,  of  Vienna,  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing physicians  and  surgeons  of  Dooly  county,  where  he  has  passed 
practically  his  entire  life.  He  was  born  in  the  thriving  little  city 
which  is  now  his  home,  July  28,  1857,  a son  of  Dr.  Stephen  B. 
and  Savannah  A.  (Gartrell)  Stovall,  the  former  born  in  Lincoln 
county,  Ga.,  Dec.  6,  1826,  and  the  latter  in  Wilkes  county.  Dr. 
Stephen  B.  Stovall  was  one  of  the  honored  citizens  and  repre- 
sentative medical  practitioners  of  Georgia,  having  long  followed 
the  work  of  his  profession  in  Vienna  and  serving  with  fidelity  and 
ability  as  a surgeon  in  the  Confederate  ranks  during  the  war  be- 
tween the  states.  Dr.  Charles  T.  Stovall  secured  his  earlier  educa- 
tional discipline  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town  and  in  the  mean- 
while determined  to  devote  himself  to  that  profession  which  his 
father  had  so  honored  and  dignified  by  his  services.  He  took  up 
the  study  of  medicine  and  was  finally  matriculated  in  the  Atlanta 
medical  college,  in  which  he  was  graduated  March  4,  1879,  duly 
receiving  his  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  Since  his  graduation 
.he  has  continued  in  the  active  work  of  his  profession  in  Vienna, 
controlling  a large  and  representative  practice  in  this  locality, 
and  has  served  as  county  physician  for  more  than  a score 

of  years.  From  1884  until  1901  he  was  also  engaged  in  the 
drug  business  here,  disposing  of  his  interests  in  the  line  in 

the  year  last  noted.  He  is  a member  of  the  Medical  Associa- 
tion of  Georgia.  In  politics  he  gives  an  unfaltering  allegiance 

to  the  Democratic  party,  has  served  as  clerk  of  the  city  coun- 
cil of  Vienna  and  also  as  mayor  of  the  city.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South ; he  is 
affiliated  with  Vienna  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons ; Wo- 
lilin  Chapter,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  also  of  Vienna ; St.  Omer 
Commandery,  Knights  Templars,  at  Macon;  Yaarab  Temple,  An- 
cient Arabic  Order  of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  in  Atlanta; 
and  with  the  organizations  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  in  his  home  city.  On  Sept.  23, 
1878,  Doctor  Stovall  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mildred  Wells 
Forbes,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Ella  F.  (Smith)  Forbes,  of  Vienna, 
and  they  have  three  children — Rupert  Hope,  Ernest  Forbes  and 
' Carl  Theodore. 

Stovall,  Marcellus  A.,  was  born  at  Sparta,  Ga.,  Sept.  18,  1818. 
Both  his  grandfathers  were  Revolutionary  soldiers.  He  was  edu- 


388 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


cated  in  Massachusetts  and,  when  only  seventeen  years  old,  en- 
listed for  the  Seminole  war.  In  1836  he  entered  the  military  acade- 
my at  West  Point,  but  was  forced  by  ill  health  to  leave  before  grad- 
uating. After  an  extended  European  trip  he  went  into  business  at 
Augusta  and  at  once  became  prominent  in  the  military  circles  of 
the  state.  In  1846  he  removed  to  Floyd  county,  where  he  lived 
at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  He  at  once  offered  his  services 
to  Governor  Brown  and  was  made  colonel  of  artillery.  The  follow- 
ing October  he  was  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Third 
Georgia  infantry  battalion  and  ordered  to  Richmond.  He  served 
during  the  entire  war,  and  was  several  times  specially  mentioned  for 
gallant  conduct  on  the  field  of  battle.  In  1863  he  was  commissioned 
brigadier-general.  After  the  war  he  returned  to  Augusta  and  en- 
gaged in  the  cotton  and  fertilizer  business.  He  died  August  4,  1895. 

Stovall,  Pleasant  Alexander,  editor  of 
The  Savannah  Press,  was  born  in  Au- 
gusta, Ga.,  July  10,  1857.  He  is  the  son 
of  Bolling  A.  and  Martha  Wilson  Stovall, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Sparta, 
Ga.,  Aug.  19,  1827,  and  the  latter  in  South 
Africa,  Jan.  15,  1836.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Presbyterian  missionaries 
stationed  at  that  post.  Mr.  Stovall’s  an- 
cestors on  both  sides  fought  as  patriot 
soldiers  during  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. Bolling  A.  Stovall  served  during 
the  Civil  war  in  the  Confederate  army, 
leaving  Augusta  as  sergeant  in  Company  A,  Richmond  Hussars. 
Afterward  he  was  transferred  to  the  engineer  corps  and  when  the 
war  closed  was  captain  of  artillery.  He  took  part  in  the  cam- 
paigns of  Virginia,  Tennessee  and  Georgia.  His  son,  Pleasant 
A.  Stovall,  secured  preliminary  training  at  the  academy  of  Rich- 
mond county  in  Augusta  and  then  entered  the  University  of  Geor- 
gia at  Athens,  where  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class 
of  1875  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Science.  He  went  to  work 
in  the  editorial  rooms  of  the  Augusta  Chronicle,  of  which  paper 
he  finally  became  editor-in-chief — under  the  management  of  the 
Hon.  Patrick  Walsh.  In  1891  he  moved  to  Savannah  and  started 
The  Savannah  Press  of  which  journal  he  has  been  editor  and  pro- 
prietor ever  since.  He  is  the  author  of  “The  Life  of  Robert 
Toombs,”  published  by  Cassell  & Company,  New  York  and  Lon- 
don. At  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the  Spanish-American  war, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


389 


Mr.  Stovall  was  a member  of  Governor  Atkinson's  staff  and  vol- 
unteered with  the  governor  for  service  in  Cuba,  but  the  governor's 
offer  to  enter  the  volunteer  service  Avas  not  accepted.  In  1891 
Mr.  Stovall  was  appointed  by  Governor  Gordon  a member  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  State  University.  He  is  now  a member 
of  the  board  of  education  of  Chatham  county;  was  an  aide  on  the 
staff  of  Governor  Northen  and  Governor  Atkinson ; has  represented 
Chatham  county  for  two  terms  in  the  lower  house  of  the  general 
assembly,  and  in  August,  1892,  Avas  elected  chairman  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic state  convention  in  Atlanta.  He  is  a member  of  Zerub- 
babel  Lodge,  No.  15,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  Georgia  Chapter, 
Royal  Arch  Masons;  Palestine  Commandery  Knights  Templars 
and  of  Alee  Temple,  Mystic  Shrine.  On  Jan.  7,  1885,  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Augusta  to  Miss  Mary  Ganahl,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Harriet  H.  Ganahl.  They  haAre  two  daughters,  Sarah  Adams  and 
Pleasant,  and  one  son,  Joseph  Ganahl  Stovall. 

Strickland,  John  J.,  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  representative  members  of  the 
Clarke  county  bar,  being  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  the  city  of 
Athens  as  the  senior  member  of  the 
strong  and  prominent  law  firm  of  Strick- 
land & Green.  He  was  born  on  his 
father’s  farm,  near  the  village  now  known 
as  Ila,  Madison  county,  Ga.,  Jan.  30, 
1856.  His  father,  Samuel  Green  Strick- 
land, was  born  in  the  same  county,  Jan. 
24,  1830,  a son  of  Samuel  Strickland, 
who  Avas  a son  of  Jacob  and  Ann  (Pierce) 
Strickland.  Jacob  Strickland  Avas  a son  of  Isaac,  who  was  born 
in  Guilford  county,  N.  C.,  in  1742.  The  last  mentioned  was  a 
grandson  of  John  Strickland,  Avho  was  born  and  reared  in  Scotland, 
whence  he  immigrated  to  America  and  located  in  Virginia,  in  the 
early  colonial  era,  there  marrying  a woman  of  Irish  birth.  Isaac 
Strickland  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  family  in  Georgia,  to 
which  state  he  \Aras  accompanied  by  his  brothers,  Jacob,  Solomon, 
Henry  and  MattheA\r.  Isaac  and  Solomon  both  rendered  yeomen 
service  as  Continental  soldiers  in  the  A\rar  of  the  Revolution ; the 
latter  was  six  feet  and  four  inches  in  height,  and  Isaac  was  nearly 
as  tall.  Samuel  Green  Strickland  AATas  a loyal  soldier  of  the  Confed- 
eracy, ha\dng  gone  to  the  front  with  a company  raised  in  Madison 
county  and  commanded  by  Capt.  Dabney  Gholston.  He  Avas  honor- 


390 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


ably  discharged  in  1864,  by  reason  of  physicial  disability.  He 
married  Miss  Catherine  Barbara  Stapler,  who  was  born  in  Jackson 
county,  Ga.,  Jan.  22,  1837,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  only 
child  of  the  union.  John  j.  Strickland  secured  his  preparatory 
educational  training  in  the  Martin  institute  at  Jefferson,  Jackson 
county,  after  which  he  was  matriculated  in  the  University  of  Geor- 
gia, where  he  was  graduated  in  1879,  receiving  the  degrees  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts  and  Bachelor  of  Laws,  having  been  the  first 
student  who  ever  took  the  arts  and  law  courses  simultaneously 
in  the  senior  years  and  secured  from  the  institution  the  two  degrees 
at  the  same  time.  He  was  a member  of  the  Demosthenian  society 
of  the  university,  of  which  he  was  the  first  member  of  his  class  to 
be  elected  president.  He  also  became  a member  of  the  Phi  Delta 
Theta  fraternity  while  a student  in  the  university.  Mr.  Strickland 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Jackson  county  in  August,  1879,  on 
presentation  of  his  diploma.  He  served  his  professional  novitiate 
in  Danielsville,  Madison  county,  where  he  built  up  a good  business, 
there  continuing  until  November,  1888,  his  practice  extending  into 
adjoining  counties.  He  was  the  moving  spirit  in  organizing  the 
village  of  Danielsville  into  a municipality,  under  its  charter,  and 
he  also  effected  the  establishing  of  a newspaper  in  the  town,  the 
same  being  still  continued  under  another  name.  On  Nov.  1, 
1888,  he  removed  to  Athens  and  formed  a professional  partnership 
with  George  C.  Thomas,  with  whom  he  was  associated  in  practice 
until  Nov.  1,  1893,  when  the  firm  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent. 
Mr.  Strickland  then  conducted  an  individual  practice  until  Dec. 
1,  1897,  when  he  formed  a partnership  with  Thomas  F.  Green,  and 
on  March  1,  1903,  Judge  Hamilton  McWhorter  also  became  a mem- 
ber of  the  firm,  but  went  out  on  being  appointed  assistant  general 
counsel  for  the  Southern  Railroad  Company,  Sept.  1,  1905.  Mr. 
Strickland  has  been  identified  with  practically  all  of  the  important 
litigation  in  the  courts  of  this  section  for  many  years  past,  and 
while  in  partnership  with  Mr.  Thomas  his  firm  represented  the 
Macon  & Northern  railroad,  during  the  period  of  its  construction. 
On  March  1,  1903,  he  was  made  counsel  for  the  Southern  Railway 
Company.  In  politics  he  gives  an  unqualified  support  to  the  cause 
of  the  Democratic  party.  He  has  never  held  political  office,  but 
has  narrowly  escaped  the  same.  He  was  candidate  for  judge  of 
the  circuit  court  in  1894,  being  defeated  by  a few  votes.  While 
he  was  a resident  of  Danielsville  he  was  tendered  the  nomination 
for  representative  of  the  thirtieth  district  in  the  state  senate,  but 
declined  the  honor  on  the  score  of  his  youth  and  inexperience.  He 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


391 


has  thus  been  a candidate  for  public  office  only  once.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen  years  he  united  with  the  Baptist  church  at  Union,  Madi- 
son county,  and  he  is  now  a member  of  the  First  Baptist  church 
at  Athens.  He  is  a member  of  the  Georgia  bar  association,  in 
which  he  has  held  various  offices,  being  at  the  present  time  one  of 
its  vice-presidents.  He  is  also  a member  of  the  American  bar  as- 
sociation and  was  a delegate  to  the  congress  of  lawyers  which  met 
in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in  September,  1901.  He  is  affiliated  with  the 
lodge,  chapter  and  commandery  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and 
with  its  adjunct,  the  Mystic  Shrine,  being  a past  master  of  his 
lodge.  He  also  holds  membership  in  the  Benevolent  and  Protec- 
tive Order  of  Elks  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  On 
Oct.  15,  1879,  Mr.  Strickland  was  married  to  Miss  Lucie  L.  Mc- 
Norton,  daughter  of  Jefferson  G.  and  Matilda  Frances  (Hays)  Mc- 
Norton,  of  Clarke  county,  and  she  was  summoned  into  the  life 
eternal  May  3,  1900,  being  survived  by  four  children,  namely: 
Norma  Lucille,  Roy  McNorton,  Samuel  Guy,  and  John,  Jr.  On 
July  17,  1902.  Mr.  Strickland  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Eleanor  Otey  Anderson,  daughter  of  Thomas  C.  and  Betty  (Otey) 
Anderson,  of  Clarkesville,  Tenn.  In  his  professional  life  Mr.  Strick- 
land is  noted  for  his  clear  conception,  fair  and  logical  analysis  and 
forcible  presentation  of  his  client’s  cause,  and  at  the  same  time 
universal  courtesy  to  and  consideration  of  all  with  whom  he  comes 
in  contact.  It  has  been  said  of  him  that  “He  represents  all  that 
is  most  admirable  in  that  aggressive  intellectuality  and  visible 
energy  that  characterize  the  New  South  and  still  carries  about  him 
the  delightful  aroma  of  that  geniality,  graciousness  and  chivalry 
that  makes  the  memory  of  the  old  South  so  dear  to  us.” 

Strong,  Rev.  Charles  Hall,  rector  of 
St.  John’s  church,  of  Savannah,  is  one 
of  the  representative  and  honored  mem- 
bers of  the  clergy  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal church  in  Georgia  and  presides 
over  one  of  the  important  parishes  of 
the  state.  He  was  born  in  the  city  of 
New  Orleans,  La.,  Dec.  29,  1850,  a son  of 
Pascal  Nilson  and  Louisa  (Hall)  Strong, 
the  former  born  in  New  York  city  and 
the  latter  in  Augusta,  Ga.,  both  families 
being  of  patrician  lineage,  founded  in 
America  in  the  early  colonial  epoch, 
es  H.  Strong  was  prepared  for  college  under  the  instruc- 


392 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


tion  of  private  tutors  and  finally  was  matriculated  in  Yale  univer- 
sity, in  which  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1870, 
receiving  the  degrees  of  Bachelor  and  Master  of  Arts  from  this 
historic  old  institution.  After  his  graduation  he  entered  Oxford 
university,  England,  where  he  completed  a special  course  in  the- 
ology in  1872.  He  then  returned  to  the  United  States  and  entered 
Berkeley  divinity  school,  Middletown,  Conn.,  where  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  the  same  year,  1872.  He  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  at  the  hands  of  Rt.  Rev.  John 
Williams,  D.  D.,  bishop  of  the  diocese  of  Connecticut  and  entered 
upon  the  active  work  of  his  high  calling  in  Grace  church,  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  in  1873.  He  remained  there  two  years,  when  he  re- 
signed the  rectorship,  on  account  of  the  impaired  health  of  his 
wife,  and  removed  to  Stratford,  Conn.,  where  he  assumed  pastoral 
charge  of  the  parish  of  Christ  church,  the  old  historic  parish  of 
the  state.  He  retained  this  incumbency  until  1878,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Savannah,  having  been  called  to  the  rectorship  of  St. 
John’s  parish,  where  he  has  since  continued  to  labor  with  all  of 
zeal  and  devotion  and  with  eminent  success,  his  rectorship  having' 
now  covered  a period  of  nearly  thirty  years.  It  is  needless  to  say 
that  he  has  grown  close  to  the  hearts  and  lives  of  his  parishioners, 
to  whom  he  is  endeared  by  the  warmest  of  personal  and  pastoral 
ties,  and  to  him  is  accorded  the  unqualified  regard  of  the  entire 
community  in  which  he  has  so  long  lived  and  labored.  March  6, 
1903,  marked  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  Mr.  Strong’s  pas- 
torate of  St.  John’s.  In  commemoration  of  this  noteworthy  occa- 
sion his  parishioners  tendered  him  a most  gracious  and  elaborate 
reception  and  at  the  time  gave  further  evidence  of  their  affection- 
ate regard  by  presenting  to  him  a handsome  chest  of  silver.  This 
appreciable  testimonial  deeply  touched  the  heart  of  the  faithful 
rector,  as  may  well  be  imagined,  as  it  stood  voucher  for  the  esti- 
mate placed  upon  him  and  his  efforts  by  those  whose  interests  and 
hopes  lay  most  closely  parallel  to  his  own.  Mr.  Strong  is  a vigor- 
ous and  convincing  pulpit  orator,  his  every  utterance  bearing  the 
impress  of  earnest  conviction  and  being  fortified  by  recondite  study 
and  investigation,  his  intellectual  attainments  are  of  high  order. 
He  has  made  valuable  contributions  to  published  literature,  among 
his  productions  being  works  entitled:  “Is  Punishment  Endless?”, 

“In  Paradise,  or  the  State  of  the  Faithful  Dead,”  and  “Creed  in 
Deed.”  In  addition  to  these  volumes,  he  has  also  written  and  pub- 
lished a collection  of  letters,  in  book  form,  under  title  of  “Holidays 
in  Highlands  and  Lowlands,”  many  brochures  and  pamphlets  on 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


393 


ecclesiastical,  parochial  and  secular  topics,  and  has  also  been  a 
frequent  contributor  to  magazines.  Mr.  Strong  is  president  of  the 
Yale  Alumni  association  of  Savannah ; was  for  twenty  years  chap- 
lain of  the  Savannah  Volunteer  Guards,  with  rank  of  captain;  is  a 
thirty-second  degree  Mason ; has  been  master  of  his  lodge  of  An- 
cient and  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  Masons  in  Savannah ; was  grand 
prelate  of  the  grand  commandery  of  Knights  Templars  of  Geor- 
gia ; is  state  chaplain  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  and  the  So- 
ciety of  Colonial  Wars ; and  has  served  as  a member  of  the  stand- 
ing committee  of  his  diocese,  which  he  has  represented  as  delegate 
to  the  general  convention  of  the  church.  On  Feb.  12,  1874,  was 
solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Strong  to  Miss  Jennie  Butler 
Rich,  daughter  of  Edward  S.  and  Minnie  (Butler)  Rich,  of  New 
York  city,  and  they  have  three  children : Pascal  Nilson,  Ormond 

Butler,  and  Charles  Hall,  Jr. 

Strouds,  a village  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Monroe  county,  is 
about  five  miles  northeast  of  Culloden,  which  is  the  nearest  rail- 
road station.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice  and  is  a trading  cen- 
ter for  that  part  of  the  county.  The  population  in  1900  was  79. 

Strumbay,  a post-hamlet  of  Liberty  county,  is  twelve  miles 
north  of  Hinesville,  and  not  far  from  the  Cannouchee  river.  Mor- 
rison, eight  miles  north  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line,  is  the  nearest 
railroad  station. 

Stubbs,  a post-hamlet  of  Mitchell  county,  is  sixteen  miles  south- 
west of  Camilla  and  near  the  Flint  river.  The  nearest  railroad 
station  is  Boykin. 

Stuckey,  a post-hamlet  of  Montgomery  county,  is  a station  on 
the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railway,  six  miles  west  of  Mount  Vernon. 
It  has  a few  stores  and  does  some  shipping. 

Subligna  is  a village  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Chattooga  county 
where  on  Jan.  22,  1864,  there  was  a slight  cavalry  skirmish,  but 
without  serious  loss  or  signal  importance  to  either  side. 

Suches,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southern  part  of  Union  county,  is 
not  far  from  the  Lumpkin  county  line.  The  nearest  railroad  sta- 
tion is  Blueridge. 

Sugar  Cane. — Georgia  was  the  first  of  the  thirteen  original  states 
to  introduce  the  cultivation  of  sugar  cane.  There  is  a tradition 
that  two  sugar  plants  were  in  operation  near  Savannah  prior  to 
the  Revolution.  One  of  these  was  on  Hutchinson’s  island  and  the 
other  one  upon  the  island  of  Oatland.  The  ruins  of  these  plants 
could  be  traced  up  to  a few  years  ago,  but  Dr.  W.  C.  Stubbs,  of  the 
Sugar  Experiment  Station,  at  New  Orleans,  is  of  the  opinion  that 


394 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


they  were  rice  instead  of  sugar  mills.  About  1814  a vessel  brought 
from  St.  Eustatius,  one  of  the  Dutch  West  Indies,  samples  of  the 
purple  and  striped  varieties  of  cane  to  Savannah,  and  they  were 
planted  by  a Mr.  King  on  St.  Simon’s  island.  From  this  small 
beginning  the  striped  or  ribbon  cane  was  introduced  into  Louis- 
iana in  1825.  About  1829  James  M.  Couper  erected  upon  his  place, 
“Hopeton  Plantation,”  the  first  complete  sugar  manufacturing  es- 
tablishment in  Georgia.  In  both  dimensions  and  equipment  this 
plant  was  superior  to  any  in  the  West  Indies  or  Louisiana.  The 
ruins  of  this  mill  may  be  still  seen  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Alta- 
maha  river,  about  five  miles  from  Darien,  Glynn  county.  In  a re- 
port of  Doctor  Stubbs,  issued  in  1900,  he  says : “A  recent  visit 

to  the  cane-growing  regions  of  Southern  Georgia  and  Florida  has 
convinced  me  of  the  adaptability  of  these  sections  to  the  success- 
ful growing  of  sugar  cane  and  the  manufacture  of  sugar,  when  the 
intelligent  and  progressive  practices  of  the  best  sugar  producing 
countries  are  universally  adopted.  Both  the  soil  and  climate  of 
this  section  are  favorable  to  the  growth  of  cane,  as  was  evidenced 
by  the  splendid  patches,  sometimes  increasing  to  small  fields  or 
plantations,  found  everywhere  throughout  this  belt.  * * * The 

numerous  samples  of  sugar  cane  grown  in  these  sections,  and  for- 
warded to  us  last  season,  show  by  analyses  to  be  greatly  superior  in 
sugar  content  to  that  grown  upon  the  alluvial  lands  in  Louisiana.” 

These  statements,  from  an  eminent  authority  on  the  subject, 
show  beyond  question  that  Georgia  is  capable  of  becoming  a great 
sugar  producing  state.  Cane  is  now  successfully  grown  in  Bul- 
loch, Thomas,  Brooks,  Burke,  Rockdale  and  many  other  counties 
in  Middle  and  Southern  Georgia,  the  yield  running  from  480  to 
700  gallons  to  the  acre.  In  1900,  according  to  the  United  States 
census,  there  were  25,056  acres  of  cane  raised  in  the  state ; 18,868 
tons  of  cane  were  sold ; the  entire  crop  producing  3,226,367  gal- 
lons of  syrup  and  226,730  pounds  of  sugar. 

Sugar  Valley,  an  incorporated  town  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
Gordon  county,  is  situated  on  the  Southern  railway  a few  miles 
south  of  Resaca.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free 
delivery,  telegraph  and  express  offices,  a number  of  mercantile 
concerns,  good  educational  and  religious  advantages,  and  in  1900 
reported  a population  of  231.  On  May  12,  1864,  while  the  Fed- 
eral forces  were  moving  against  Dalton  and  Resaca,  there  was  a 
slight  skirmish  at  Sugar  Valley,  but  it  was  attended  by  no  impor- 
tant results. 

Suits  at  Law. — (See  Actions). 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


395 


Sullivan,  George  F.,  is  numbered 
among  the  representative  retail  grocers 
of  Augusta,  his  finely  equipped  establish- 
ment being  located  at  1599  Hicks  street. 
He  was  born  near  Dawson,  Terrell 
county,  Ga.,  March  23,  1851,  a son  of 
Templeton  Reed  and  Martha  Ann  (Sea- 
born) Sullivan,  both  of  whom  were  born 
in  Georgia.  The  father,  who  was  a loco- 
motive engineer  by  vocation,  was  killed 
by  Federal  troops  during  the  Civil  war, 
the  soldiers  having  blown  up  his  engine 
and  train  by  placing  explosives  on  the 
track.  His  wife  passed  away  in  1888,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
being  the  only  surviving  child.  When  George  F.  Sullivan  was 
nine  years  of  age  his  parents  removed  to  Columbus,  Muscogee 
county,  where  he  was  reared  to  maturity  and  received  a good  com- 
mon-school education.  For  several  years  he  was  employed  in  a 
manufactory  of  loom-pickers,  in  Columbus.  On  Feb.  11,  1881,  he 
removed  to  Augusta,  and  the  following  year  he  engaged  in  the  re- 
tail grocery  business,  on  Hicks  street,  on  which  thoroughfare  he 
has  successfully  continued  in  this  line  of  trade  during  the  inter- 
vening twenty-three  years.  He  is  the  owner  of  the  building  in 
which  his  store  is  located,  having  erected  the  same,  as  did  he  also 
his  handsome,  modern  residence,  at  1597,  same  street.  He  is  also 
the  owner  of  several  other  pieces  of  productive  property  in  the 
city  and  is  a progressive,  reliable  and  popular  business  man.  The 
Democratic  party  secures  his  support  and  influence,  and  he  and 
his  wife  are  valued  members  of  St.  Luke’s  church,  Methodist  Epis- 
copal South,  in  which  he  has  served  as  trustee  and  steward  for  a 
decade  past.  In  July,  1872,  Mr.  Sullivan  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Delilah  Catharine  Cooper,  who  died  Nov.  28,  1903,  survived 
by  one  son,  George  Eugene,  born  Nov.  13,  1886.  On  April  3,  1901, 
Mr.  Sullivan  contracted  a second  marriage,  being  then  united  to 
Miss  Hattie  C.  Rhodes,  born  in  Richmond  county,  Ga.,  where  she 
was  reared  and  educated. 

Sulphur  Springs,  a village  in  Dade  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Alabama  Great  Southern  railway,  not  far  from  the  state  line.  The 
population  in  1900  was  45.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  express 
and  telegraph  service,  some  shipping  interests,  and  is  a trading 
center  for  that  part  of  the  county. 


396 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Sumach,  a post-village  of  Murray  county,  is  on  a branch  of  the 
Oostanaula  river,  about  ten  miles  north  of  Springplace.  The  near- 
est railroad  station  is  VarneH’s  ten  miles  west. 

Summertown,  a village  in  the  western  part  of  Emanuel  county, 
is  a station  on  the  Midville,  Swainsboro  & Red  Bluff  railroad,  and 
in  1900  had  a population  of  168.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice, 
several  good  stores,  church  and  school  privileges,  and  does  some 
shipping. 

Summerville,  the  county  seat  of  Chattooga  county,  about  half 
way  between  Rome  and  Chattanooga,  on  that  part  of  the  Central 
of  Georgia  system  formerly  known  as  the  Chattanooga,  Rome  & 
Southern,  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1839.  Al- 
though by  the  census  of  1900  the  population  of  Summerville  was 
only  486,  the  entire  Summerville  district  had  at  that  time  2,261 
people.  It  has  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a money  order  post- 
office,  with  rural  free  delivery,  a court  house,  a bank,  handsome 
business  houses  and  residences,  and  streets  paved  with  chert. 
Bauxite  is  mined  in  the  town  and  iron  at  Taylor’s  Ridge  near  by. 
In  1901  there  was  shipped  from  Summerville  157  cars  of  iron  ore, 
65  cars  of  logs  and  over  100  cars  of  chert.  It  is  also  a great  ship- 
ping point  for  berries  to  northern  and  western  markets. 

On  Sept.  7,  1863,  before  the  retreat  of  the  Confederates  from 
Chattanooga,  there  was  some  skirmishing  near  the  town.  Again 
from  the  10th  to  the  15th  of  the  same  month  there  was  some  fight- 
ing here  during  the  Chickamauga  campaign.  As  Hood  marched 
north  into  Tennessee  a skirmish  occurred  at  Summerville  on  Oct. 
18,  1864,  and  on  May  5,  1865,  after  the  war  was  really  at  an  end, 
there  was  another  slight  affair  here  in  which  a few  shots  were 
exchanged  by  small  parties  of  the  Federal  and  Confederate  armies. 

Summerville,  in  Richmond  county,  is  a beautiful  suburb  of  the 
city  of  Augusta,  with  which  it  is  connected  by  an  electric  rail- 
way. It  contained  in  its  corporated  limits  according  to  the  census 
of  1900,  a total  population  of  3,245,  of  whom  1,941  were  whites 
and  1,304  colored.  In  Summerville  is  located  the  United  States 
arsenal,  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  buildings  of  which  is  the 
armory  built  by  the  Confederate  government.  To  the  Southwest 
of  the  arsenal  is  “Monte  Sano”,  or  “Sand  Hill”,  located  on  a ridge 
known  as  the  Sand  Hills,  stretching  southwestward  from  Au- 
gusta. “Monte  Sano”  is  a part  of  Summerville  and  is  a favorite 
residence  section  for  many  of  the  citizens  of  Augusta,  some  of 
whom  reside  there  the  year  round,  while  others  make  it  their  sum- 
mer home. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


397 


Summit,  an  incorporated  town  of  Emanuel  county,  is  on  the 
Millen  & Southwestern  railroad,  ten  miles  northeast  of  Stillmore. 
It  is  one  of  the  important  towns  of  the  county,  has  a money  order 
postoffice,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a number  of  mercantile 
concerns,  a few  factories,  large  shipping  interests,  and  in  1900  had 
a population  of  264. 

Sumner,  an  incorporated  town  in  Worth  county,  reported  a pop- 
ulation of  333  in  1900.  It  is  located  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line 
railway,  about  nine  miles  southeast  of  Isabella,  has  a money  order 
postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  an  express  office,  several  stores 
with  good  trade,  and  does  considerable  shipping. 

Sumter,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southern  part  of  Sumter  county,  is 
a station  on  the  Albany  & Columbus  division  of  the  Central  of 
Georgia  railway,  four  miles  north  of  Smithville. 

Sumter  County  was  laid  out  from  Lee  in  1831  and  was  named 
for  Gen.  Thomas  Sumter,  of  Virginia,  who  commanded  the  South 
Carolina  troops  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  who,  by  his 
dashing  leadership,  won  the  sobriquet  of  the  “Game  Cock.”  It  is 
situated  in  the  western  part  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Schley  and  Macon  counties,  on  the  east  by  Dooly  and 
Crisp,  on  the  south  by  Lee  and  Terrell  and  on  the  west  by  Web- 
ster and  Marion.  A northern  projection  is  bounded  on  the  west 
by  Schley  and  the  Flint  river  forms  the  eastern  boundary.  The 
surface  is  level  or  gently  rolling,  and  the  soil  is  generally  fertile. 
All  the  usual  farm  products  are  raised  in  this  county,  a number  of 
market  gardens  are  successfully  operated  and  a considerable  quan- 
tity of  fruit  is  shipped.  The  forests  have  been  worked  for  many 
years,  but  there  is  still  some  yellow  pine  left,  which  a number  of 
saw-mills  are  rapidly  converting  into  lumber  for  the  market.  The 
main  line  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railway  and  two  branches  of 
the  Central  of  Georgia  traverse  the  county,  providing  excellent 
facilities  for  transportation.  Americus  is  the  county  seat.  Plains, 
Desoto,  Andersonville  and  Leslie  are  the  principal  towns.  The 
population  in  1900  was  26,212,  an  increase  of  4,105  during  the 
decade. 

Sunbury,  one  of  the  early  settlements  of  Georgia,  was  located 
on  a bluff  on  the  south  side  of  the  Medway  river,  not  far  from  the 
present  village  of  Octagon.  The  site  was  first  observed  by  Ogle- 
thorpe, while  on  one  of  his  exploring  expeditions  in  January,  1734, 
but  the  place  was  not  settled  until  1758.  On  Oct.  4,  1757,  Mark 
Carr  was  granted  500  acres  of  land,  including  the  bluff,  and  in  the 
following  June  he  transferred  300  acres  to  James  Maxwell,  Ken- 


39S 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


neth  Baillie,  John  Elliott  and  John  Stevens,  as  trustees,  to  lay  out 
the  town.  Its  growth  was  rapid  and  in  1760  it  was  made  a port  of 
entry.  A fort  was  built  for  the  protection  of  the  people  (See  Fort 
Morris)  and  its  prominence  continued  until  after  the  Revolution, 
when  its  trade  was  gradually  diverted  to  Savannah  and  it  sank  into 
insignificance.  A few  families  now  live  where  this  historic  town 
once  stood. 

Sunhill,  a post-village  of  Washington  county,  with  a population 
of  50,  is  a station  on  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway,  about  half-way 
betw'een  Tennille  and  Davisboro.  It  has  a good  local  trade  and 
does  some  shipping. 

Sunnyside,  one  of  the  important  towns  of  Spalding  county,  is  on 
the  main  line  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway,  not  far  from  the 
Henry  county  line.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  express  of- 
fice, several  mercantile  concerns,  and  does  a good  shipping  busi- 
ness. The  population  in  1900  was  220.  This  place  was  for  years 
the  home  of  Capt.  John  McIntosh  Kell,  who  was  for  some  time 
first  officer  on  the  Confederate  cruiser  Alabama. 

Sunset,  a post-hamlet  of  Colquitt  county,  is  a station  on  the  At- 
lantic & Birmingham  railroad,  eight  miles  southwest  of  Moultrie. 

Superior  Courts. — (See  Courts,  Superior). 

Supreme  Court. — (See  Court,  Supreme). 

Surrency,  a town  of  Appling  county,  is  on  the  Macon  & Bruns- 
wick division  of  the  Southern  railroad,  twelve  miles  east  of  Baxley. 
It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  im- 
portant shipping  interests,  several  stores  doing  a good  business, 
and  in  1900  had  a population  of  190. 

Susina,  a post-village  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Grady  county, 
with  a population  of  58,  is  a trading  center  for  that  part  of  the 
county.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Pinepark,  eight  miles  north 
on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line. 

Sutallee,  a post-hamlet  in  the  western  part  of  Cherokee  county, 
is  eight  miles  from  Canton,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Sutlive,  William  Greene,  managing  editor  of  the  Savannah  Press, 
a well  ordered  daily  paper,  is  known  as  one  of  the  representative 
newspaper  men  of  the  state  and  has  attained  to  his  present  re- 
sponsible position  through  his  own  well  directed  efforts,  his  entire 
business  career  having  been  one  of  close  identification  with  jour- 
nalism. He  was  born  in  Clayton,  Barbour  county,  Ala.,  and  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  place  he  secured  his  early  educa- 
tional discipline.  He  is  a son  of  John  W.  and  Etta  (Kirkland) 
Sutlive.  the  former  now  being  deceased.  John  Wesley  Sutlive  was 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


399 


born  in  Tennessee,  but  was  for  many  years  a resident  of  Georgia, 
whence  he  went  forth  as  a loyal  soldier  of  the  Confederacy  in  the 
Civil  war.  He  was  possessed  of  distinctive  literary  ability,  and 
his  poems  and  short  stories  appeared  at  frequent  intervals  in  the 
Macon  and  Savannah  papers,  in  the  early  70’s.  As  a youth  Will- 
iam G.  Sutlive  came  to  Savannah  and  secured  employment  in  the 
business  office  of  the  Savannah  Times.  AVhen  that  paper  sus- 
pended publication  he  secured  a position  in  the  business  office  of 
the  Savannah  Press,  for  which  he  later  became  a reporter.  After 
five  years  of  effective  service  on  the  reportorial  staff  he  was  made 
city  editor,  and  later  was  promoted  to  his  present  office  of  man- 
aging editor.  In  1905-6  he  holds  the  office  of  commandant  of 
Francis  S.  Bartow  Camp,  United  Sons  of  Confederate  Veterans, 
Savannah,  and  is  past  chancellor  of  Excelsior  Lodge,  No.  8, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  a member  of  Oglethorpe  Lodge,  No.  1,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  the  local  lodge  of  the  Wood- 
men of  the  World.  On  June  28,  1898,  Mr.  Sutlive  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Josephine  Laffitteau,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren. 

Sutton,  a post-village  of  Tift  county,  with  a population  of  49  in 
1900,  is  about  six  miles  northwest  of  Tifton,  and  is  a trading  cen- 
ter for  the  neighborhood  in  which  it  is  situated.  The  nearest  rail- 
road station  is  Ruby,  on  the  Georgia  Southern  & Florida. 

Suwanee,  a town  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Gwinnett  county, 
is  at  the  junction  of  the  Lawrenceville  and  the  Southern  railroads, 
and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  247.  It  has  a money  order 
postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery  routes  emanating  from  it,  ex- 
press and  telegraph  service,  important  mercantile  and  shipping 
interests,  schools,  churches,  etc. 

Swainsboro,  the  county  seat  of  Emanuel  county,  is  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Stillmore  Air  Line  and  the  Swainsboro  & Red  Bluff 
railroads,  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  895.  It  was  incor- 
porated by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1853,  has  express  and  tele- 
graph service,  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  a 
court-house  that  cost  $30,000,  two  banks,  a number  of  manufac- 
tories, several  good  business  houses,  excellent  schools,  good  church 
buildings  and  attractive  homes.  About  5,000  bales  of  cotton  are 
handled  here  every  season  and  there  are  large  shipments  of  naval 
stores. 


400 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Swann,  Thomas  C.,  was  a man  of  im- 
pregnable sincerity  and  integrity  and 
made  his  life  count  for  good  in  all  its 
relations.  He  was  a typical  American. 
His  passion  for  honesty,  for  fair  play,  for 
straight  dealing  was  the  key  to  his  per- 
sonal character  and  business  success. 
The  enterprise  and  pluck  with  which  he 
built  up  the  Covington  cotton  mills,  at 
Covington,  Newton  county,  indicated  his 
tenacity  of  purpose  and  his  distinctive 
initiative  ability,  and  the  enterprise 
which  he  thus  founded  stands  as  a monu- 
ment to  his  aggressiveness  and  honest  dealing.  Mr.  Swann  was 
endowed  with  a fine  mind,  a wonderful  memory,  and  these  attri- 
butes, as  taken  in  connection  with  his  ready  “Irish  wit”  and  his 
pleasant,  genial  manner,  gained  and  retained  to  him  the  stanchest 
of  friends,  their  number  being  limited  only  by  the  circle  of  his  ac- 
quaintanceship. Thomas  C.  Swann  was  born  in  Newton  county, 
Ga.,  Jan.  1,  1849.  His  father,  Thomas  D.  Swann,  was  a prosperous 
planter  in  this  county  prior  to  the  Civil  war,  in  which  he  and  his 
older  sons  went  forth  to  do  gallant  service  as  leal  and  loyal  sol- 
diers of  the  Confederacy.  The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  in  his 
’teens  at  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  and  was  too  young 
to  enter  the  service.  His  father  was  made  lieutenant  in  his  com- 
pany, which  was  a part  of  the  regiment  of  Georgia  infantry  com- 
manded by  Colonel  Richardson.  Thomas  C.  Swann  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  county,  where  he  was  reared 
to  maturity  and  where  the  greater  portion  of  his  life  was  passed. 
He  manifested  sterling  characteristics  and  marked  business  abil- 
ity even  as  a youth,  and  his  life  was  guided  and  governed  by  a 
spirit  of  the  loftiest  integrity  and  honor.  In  1872  he  engaged  in 
the  general  merchandise  business  in  Conyers,  Rockdale  county, 
where  he  remained  seven  years,  meeting  with  success  in  his  en- 
terprise. He  then  removed  to  Covington,  where  he  continued  in 
the  mercantile  business  until  his  death,  which  occurred  March  9, 
1906.  When  thus  summoned  from  the  scene  of  life’s  endeavors, 
his  interests  were  many  and  varied.  He  was  president  of  the  Cov- 
ington cotton  mills,  of  the  Bank  of  Newton  county,  of  the  Eagle 
Gold  Mining  Company,  of  Logan,  Id.,  and  of  the  Swann-Davis 
Mercantile  Company.  He  was  president  of  the  Covington  & Ox- 
ford Street  Railway  Company  for  years,  but  retired  from  this  of- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


401 


fice  before  his  death  in  order  to  have  more  time  for  other  interests. 
Mr.  Swann  was  a steadfast  and  loyal  supporter  of  the  principles 
and  policies  of  the  Democratic  party  and  he  ever  took  a deep  in- 
terest in  public  affairs,  particularly  those  of  a local  nature.  For  a 
number  of  years  he  was  a member  of  the  board  of  county  commis- 
sioners and  at  different  times  served  the  town  as  mayor,  council- 
man and  chairman  of  the  board  of  education.  It  had  been  his 
intention  to  retire  from  active  business  and  travel  for  his  health 
and  pleasure,  but  in  the  prime  of  life  and  the  midst  of  his  greatest 
usefulness,  death’s  summons  came  and  ended  all  his  earthly  plans. 
He  loved  his  town  and  did  much  to  add  to  its  reputation  and  to 
forward  its  civic  and  material  interests,  leaving  an  impress  upon 
Covington  that  can  not  but  endure  for  years.  In  1873  Mr.  Swann 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Stowers,  of  Oxford, 
Miss.,  and  she  survives  him.  To  them  were  born  three  children: 
Stella,  who  died  in  1883 ; Olive,  wife  of  J.  H.  Porter, of  Covington ; 
and  Thomas  C.,  Jr.,  who  likewise  remains  a resident  of  Coving- 
ton. Mr.  Swann’s  steadfast  devotion  to  his  family  did  not  en- 
tirely absorb  the  love  of  his  great  heart.  His  tenderness  went  out 
to  all  humanity  and  was  manifested  by  many  acts  of  noble  gener- 
osity to  the  needy.  All  classes  went  to  him  for  advice,  being  as- 
sured of  wise  and  sympathetic  counsel,  and  he  always  inspired 
them  with  confidence  and  hope  and  found  a way  to  assist  them. 
He  was  a distinct  man.  He  was  a good  man.  His  was  the  faith 
that  makes  faithful,  and  his  name  and  personality  will  long  be 
remembered  in  the  community  in  which  he  so  long  made  his  home. 

Sweat,  Frank  L.,  a prominent  and  in- 
fluential citizen  and  business  man  of 
Douglas,  Coffee  county,  and  an  ex-mem- 
ber of  the  state  senate,  was  born  in  the 
vicinity  of  Waycross,  Ware  county,  Ga., 
March  19,  1866,  a son  of  Capt.  James  A. 
and  Serena  (Miller)  Sweat,  the  former 
born  near  Blackshear,  Pierce  county, 
Ga.,  and  the  latter  at  Waresboro,  Ware 
county.  Captain  Sweat  was  in  command 
of  a company  during  the  Indian  war  and 
thus  gained  his  title,  but  was  too  old  to 
be  eligible  for  service  in  the  Civil  war, 
prior  to  which  he  had  been  a large  slaveholder.  He  was  a man  of 
influence  and  of  sterling  character  and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-one 
years.  He  had  large  plantation  interests  and  also  engaged  in  the 


26—111 


402 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


raising  of  live  stock  upon  an  extensive  scale.  His  wife  survived 
him  by  a number  of  years.  Frank  L.  Sweat  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  Ware  county,  Ga.,  and  at  Madison,  Fla.  He 
has  been  identified  with  the  turpentine  and  timber  business  since 
he  was  twenty  years  of  age  and  has  been  very  successful  in  his 
business  operations.  He  now  has  interests  in  turpentine  produc- 
tion and  lumbering  in  Georgia,  Florida  and  Alabama,  and  is  also 
concerned  in  banking,  wholesale  grocery  business  and  railroad 
enterprises,  his  reputation,  both  as  a citizen  and  business  man,  be- 
ing unassailable.  He  became  interested  in  the  Douglas,  Augusta 
& Gulf  railroad  at  the  time  of  its  organization,  took  stock  in  the 
company,  of  which  he  is  now  a director  and  general  superintend- 
ent. In  a fraternal  way  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
In  politics  he  is  an  uncompromising  Democrat,  and  is  an  active 
worker  in  the  party  cause.  He  represented  the  fifth  district  in 
the  state  senate  from  1902  to  1904  and  proved  a valuable  working 
member  of  that  body.  He  was  the  author  of  the  bill  providing 
that  only  pure  spirits  of  turpentine  be  permitted  to  be  manufac- 
tured in  the  state,  and  this  act  has  worked  to  great  advantage  in 
doing  away  with  the  adulteration  of  such  products.  He  also  in- 
troduced various  other  bills  and  was  a member  of  a number  of 
important  senate  committees.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South.  On  Feb.  3,  1897,  Mr.  Sweat 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Minnie  Lee  Lott,  daughter  of 
John  M.  Lott.  They  have  no  children. 

Sweat,  Joel  L.,  one  of  the  prominent 
members  of  the  bar  of  Ware  county,  is 
established  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Waycross,  the  county  seat. 
He  is  a veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  an  ex- 
member of  the  state  legislature  and 
served  seven  years  on  the  bench  of  the 
superior  courts  of  the  Brunswick  cir- 
cuit. He  was  born  in  that  part  of  Ware 
county  which  is  now  included  in  the 
county  of  Pierce,  Sept.  21,  1847,  a son  of 
Samuel  and  Maria  (Strickland)  Sweat, 
both  of  whom  died  when  he  was  a boy. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Nathaniel  Sweat,  was  a soldier  in  the 
Continental  line  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  with  the  North  Caro- 
lina troops.  Judge  Sweat  secured  his  early  education  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  county  and  about  four  months  prior  to  his  fifteenth 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


403 


birthday  he  tendered  his  services  in  defense  of  the  Confederate 
cause.  In  May,  1863,  he  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  G, 
Fourth  Georgia  cavalry,  with  which  he  served,  under  Colonel 
Clinch,  along  the  Georgia  coast,  and  later  was  with  General 
Wheeler  in  the  memorable  campaign  around  Atlanta,  following 
Sherman  to  Savannah.  The  youthful  but  loyal  soldier  took  part  in 
a number  of  hotly  contested  engagements  and  continued  with  his 
command  in  active  service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  had  at- 
tended Blackshear  academy  prior  to  his  enlistment,  and  after  the 
close  of  the  war  he  located  in  Homerville,  Clinch  county,  where 
he  was  identified  with  mercantile  pursuits  until  1869,  having  in 
the  meanwhile  given  careful  attention  to  the  study  of  law,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  that  year.  He  then  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Homerville,  where  he  remained  until  1887, 
when  he  removed  to  Waycross,  where  he  has  since  been  actively 
and  successfully  engaged  in  the  general  practice  of  his  profession, 
save  as  his  official  duties  have  placed  demands  upon  his  time  and 
attention.  Judge  Sweat  has  ever  been  found  aligned  as  a stanch 
supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  in  1875-6 
he  was  chief  clerk  of  the  house  of  representatives  of  Georgia ; in 
1880-81  he  represented  Clinch  county  in  the  state  legislature,  and 
was  chosen  as  his  own  successor  in  1883,  thus  serving  two  terms. 
He  was  judge  of  the  superior  courts  of  the  Brunswick  circuit  for 
seven  years  and  made  an  admirable  record  as  a jurist.  He  retired 
from  the  bench  on  Jan.  1,  1899.  He  is  attorney  for  the  Atlantic  & 
Birmingham  Railway  Company,  the  First  National  bank  of  Way- 
cross,  the  Waycross  Electric  Light  and  Power  Company  and  the 
South  Atlantic  Car  and  Manufacturing  Company.  He  is  identified 
with  the  lodge  and  chapter  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  with  the 
United  Confederate  Veterans,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  hold  mem- 
bership in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South.  On  Jan.  10, 
1869,  Judge  Sweat  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Margaret  M. 
Hitch,  daughter  of  Sylvanus  and  Annie  A.  (Nicholls)  Hitch,  of 
Homerville,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  two  children, — Lee 
L.,  who  is  now  a practicing  attorney  in  Waycross,  and  Lulu  M., 
who  died  in  young  womanhood. 

Sweden,  a post-hamlet  in  the  extreme  northwest  corner  of 
Pickens  county,  is  eight  miles  west  of  Talking  Rock,  which  is  the 
nearest  railroad  station. 

Sweetgum,  a post-village  of  Fannin  county,  with  a population  of 
50  in  1900,  is  a station  on  the  Murphy  division  of  the  Atlanta, 


.404 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Knoxville  & Northern  railroad,  and  is  not  far  from  the  North  Caro- 
lina line. 

Sweetwater  Creek  is  a small  stream  in  the  southern  part  of 
Paulding  and  Cobb  counties.  As  Iiood  was  marching  northward 
in  the  fall  of  1864  there  was  skrimishing  along  this  creek  from 
October  1st  to  the  3rd,  between  the  cavalry  of  Wheeler  and  Kil- 
patrick. 

Swifton,  a post-hamlet  of  Upson  county,  is  about  twelve  miles 
southwest  of  Culloden,  which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  sta- 
tion. 

Swindel,  a post-village  of  Liberty  county,  reported  a population 
of  100  in  1900.  It  is  located  on  a branch  of  the  Cannouchee  river, 
twelve  miles  northwest  of  Hinesville,  and  is  a trading  center  for 
that  section  of  the  county.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Moody, 
on  the  Glennville  & Register  road. 

Sybert,  a post-hamlet  of  Lincoln  county,  is  near  the  headwaters 
of  Soap  creek,  six  miles  west  of  Lincolnton.  The  most  convenient 
railroad  station  is  Washington. 

Sycamore,  a town  of  Turner  county,  was  incorporated  by  act 
of  the  legislature  on  Sept.  29,  1891.  It  is  located  on  the  Georgia 
Southern  & Florida  railroad,  about  six  miles  southeast  of  Ashburn, 
and  in  1900  had  a population  of  274.  It  has  important  mercantile 
and  shipping  interests,  telegraph  and  express  service,  a money  or- 
der postoffice,  which  supplies  the  adjacent  rural  districts  with  mail 
through  the  medium  of  several  free  delivery  routes,  and  good  edu- 
cational and  religious  advantages. 

Sylvan  Grove. — On  the  evening  of  Nov.  26,  1864,  Murray’s 
brigade  went  into  camp  at  Sylvan  Grove,  about  ten  miles  east  of 
Gibson.  The  Eighth  Indiana  and  Second  Kentucky  cavalry  were 
posted  at  the  forks  of  the  road  as  a picket  and  about  midnight  were 
attacked  by  a detachment  of  Wheeler’s  cavalry.  The  fighting  con- 
tinued until  daylight,  when  the  two  regiments  were  withdrawn 
under  heavy  fire,  with  a loss  of  70  men,  and  the  Federals  took  up 
the  march  toward  Waynesboro. 

Sylvania,  the  county  seat  of  Screven  county,  is  the  terminus  of 
a short  railroad  connecting  it  with  the  Central  of  Georgia  at  Rocky- 
ford.  It  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1854,  though 
it  was  the  county  seat  long  previous  to  that  date.  The  militia  dis- 
trict in  which  it  is  situated  had  in  1900  a population  of  3,135,  al- 
though the  town  proper  contained  only  545  inhabitants.  It  is  an 
important  shipping  point  for  the  county  and  handles  large  quan- 
tities of  lumber,  turpentine,  cotton,  sugar-cane,  fruits  and  vege- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


405 


tables.  It  has  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a money  order 
postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  a bank,  several  successful  mer- 
cantile houses,  a lumber  company,  an  oil  mill  and  a court  house 
and  jail  valued  at  $20,000. 

Sylvester,  the  county  seat  of  Worth  county,  is  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast  Line  railway  and  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature 
in  1897.  In  1900  it  had  in  its  corporate  limits  552  inhabitants  and 
1,612  in  its  entire  militia  district.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice, 
with  rural  free  delivery,  two  banks,  express  and  telegraph  offices, 
saw-mills,  two  flour  and  grist  mills  and  several  stores  doing  a 
profitable  business.  About  3,000  bales  of  cotton  are  handled  annu- 
ally by  the  merchants  and  shippers  of  the  town  and  the  people 
have  good  school  and  church  privileges. 

T 

Tailscreek,  a post-hamlet  of  Gilmer  county,  is  in  the  valley  of 
the  Cartecay  river,  eight  miles  west  of  Ellijay,  which  is  the  near- 
est railroad  station. 

Tait,  Charles,  was  born  in  Louisa  county,  Va.,  in  1768.  He  re- 
ceived a liberal  education,  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  Georgia.  He  was  made  judge  of  the  superior  court;  was 
elected  United  States  senator  in  1809  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of 
John  Milledge,  and  served  until  1816.  He  then  removed  to  Wil- 
cox county,  Ala.,  where  he  died  Oct.  7,  1835. 

Talbot  county  was  laid  out  in  1827  and  named  for  Hon.  Matthew 
Talbot,  for  years  a member  of  the  Georgia  legislature  and  gover- 
nor of  the  state  to  succeed  William  Rabun.  The  county  lies  in 
the  western  part  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Meri- 
wether county,  on  the  northeast  by  Upson,  on  the  east  by  Taylor, 
on  the  south  by  Taylor  and  Muscogee  and  on  the  west  by  Harris 
and  Muscogee.  The  Flint  river  flows  along  the  northeastern  side 
and  separates  it  from  Upson.  The  surface  is  hilly,  and  the  Oak 
Mountains  cross  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  where  the  soil 
is  brown,  with  red  clay  subsoil,  and  covered  with  hardwood  forests. 
In  the  south  the  soil  is  gray,  sandy  or  gravelly  and  the  growth  is 
long-leaf  pine.  Corn,  wheat,  oats,  field  and  ground  peas,  cotton 
and  potatoes  are  the  staple  productions.  Peaches,  plums,  apples, 
pears  and  cherries  are  the  principal  fruits  raised.  The  Flint  river 
and  the  tributaries  of  the  Chattahoochee  furnish  water-power,  part 
of  which  is  utilized.  The  county  is  well  supplied  with  facilities 
for  travel  and  shipping.  Talbotton  is  the  county  seat.  Geneva  is 
also  a thriving  town.  The  population,  according  to  the  census  of 


406 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


1900  was  12,197,  a loss  of  1,061  since  1890.  The  schools  are  good 
and  at  Talbotton  there  are  two  excellent  private  schools,  the  Col- 
linsworth  institute,  and  LeVert  female  college. 

Talbot,  Matthew,  governor  and  legislator,  was  born  in  Virginia. 
He  settled  in  Wilkes  county,  Ga.,  which  he  repeatedly  represented 
in  the  legislature,  but  later  removed  to  Oglethorpe  county.  In 
1798  he  was  a member  of  the  convention  which  drafted  the  state 
constitution;  was  elected  state  senator  in  1808;  president  of  the 
senate  from  1818  to  1821  and  became  governor  ex-officio  on  the 
death  of  Governor  Rabun,  in  1819.  He  died  in  Wilkes  county, 
Sept.  17,  1827.  Talbot  county  was  named  in  his  honor. 

Talbotton,  the  county  seat  of  Talbot  county,  was  incorporated 
by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1828  and  in  1860  was  reincorporated. 
It  has  a high  location  with  invigorating  air  and  good,  cool  water. 
By  it  flows  Lazer  creek.  It  has  a court  house  worth  $20,000,  a 
bank,  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  express 
and  telegraph  offices,  successful  business  houses,  a cotton  seed  oil 
mill,  many  attractive  residences  and  excellent  schools.  The  Le- 
Vert female  college,  and  the  Collinsworth  institute  were  noted  in- 
stitutions before  the  Civil  war  and  are  now  a part  of  the  public 
school  system.  The  Masonic  hall  gives  the  town  a good  audience 
room  for  meetings  and  entertainments.  Talbotton  handles  about 
6,000  bales  of  cotton  annually.  The  population  of  the  eirtire  Tal- 
botton district  in  1900  was  1,963,  and  of  these  1,131  lived  in  the 
corporate  limits  of  the  town. 

Talc. — There  are  three  principal  varieties  of  this  mineral, — foli- 
ated, steatite  and  pseudomorphic, — with  numerous  subdivisions  of 
each.  The  foliated  variety  is  of  little  importance  as  a commercial 
product.  Steatite,  or  soapstone  as  it  is  commonly  called,  is  of 
compact  massive  form  and  is  extensively  used  for  lining  stoves, 
furnaces,  etc.  Ground  to  a fine  powder  it  is  used  as  lubricator  for 
reducing  the  friction  in  machinery,  and  by  dealers  in  fitting  shoes 
and  gloves.  Mixed  with  cheap  grades  of  soap  it  makes  them  as 
pleasant  to  the  touch  as  the  finest  brands,  and  it  frequently  forms 
the  basis  of  toilet  and  cosmetic  powders.  Cut  into  small  blocks, 
it  is  sold  as  “French  chalk,”  so  largely  used  by  tailors.  When 
• mixed  with  rubber  it  renders  it  more  elastic  and  less  liable  to 
crack.  It  is  also  used  as  an  ingredient  in  patent  wall  plaster,  as  a 
moulding  sand,  in  the  manufacture  of  wall  paper,  and  for  a num- 
ber of  other  purposes.  Talc  is  found  in  several  places  in  Georgia 
along  the  line  of  contact  between  the  Paleozoic  and  Crystalline 
areas.  It  has  been  mined  in  Fannin,  Murray  and  Cherokee  conn- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


407 


ties,  with  more  or  less  success,  for  a number  of  years.  The  most 
important  deposit  is  probably  at  Mineral  Bluff,  Fannin  county. 
The  talc  from  these  quarries  is  compact  and  of  a dark  gray  or  blue 
color.  It  occurs  in  veins  ranging  from  a few  inches  to  several  feet 
in  thickness.  The  Murray  county  deposits  are  similar,  both  in 
formation  and  character.  White  talc  is  found  in  the  marble  belt 
running  from  Fannin  to  Cherokee  county  and  a beautiful  light 
green  variety  is  found  near  Spring  Place  in  Murray.  The  product 
of  the  Georgia  talc  quarries  amount  to  about  $5,000  a year,  though 
the  possibilities  exist  for  a much  larger  output.  The  pseudomor- 
phic  variety,  like  the  foliated,  is  of  comparatively  little  value. 

Taliaferro,  a post-hamlet  of  Chattooga  county,  is  a station  on 
the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  about  three  miles  south  of  Lyerly. 

Taliaferro,  Benjamin,  was  a native  of  Virginia.  His  opportuni- 
ties to  acquire  an  education  were  limited,  but  he  made  the  best  of 
them.  During  the  Revolutionary  war  he  served  under  Morgan 
and  was -captured  by  the  British  at  Charleston.  After  the  war  he 
settled  in  Georgia ; was  elected  state  senator ; delegate  to  the  con- 
stitutional convention  of  1798;  representative  in  Congress  in  1798 
and  again  in  1800;  and  later  was  judge  of  the  superior  court.  He 
died  in  Wilkes  county  in  1821.  Taliaferro  county  was  named  in 
his  honor. 

Taliaferro  County  was  formed  in  1825  from  Wilkes,  Warren, 
Hancock,  Greene  and  Oglethorpe.  It  was  enlarged  by  the  addition 
of  a part  of  Hancock  in  1828,  and  by  parts  of  Wilkes  in  1828  and 
1835.  It  was  named  for  Col.  Benjamin  Taliaferro.  It  is  situated  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  and  north- 
east by  Wilkes  county,  on  the  east  and 'southeast  by  Warren,  on 
the  south  by  Hancock,  on  the  west  and  southwest  by  Greene  and 
on  the  northwest  by  Oglethorpe.  Little  river  and  the  North  and 
South  Forks  of  the  Ogeechee  cross  the  county,  and  the  lands  along 
the  streams  are  very  fertile.  The  staple  productions  are  corn, 
wheat,  oats,  rye,  barley,  sweet  and  Irish  potatoes,  upland  cotton, 
field  and  ground  peas.  Garden  vegetables  and  the  usual  fruits  are 
also  raised.  Crawfordville  is  the  county  seat.  It  is  located  near 
the  center  of  the  county  on  the  line  of  the  Georgia  railroad.  Nye, 
Sharon,  Robinson  and  Hillman  are  the  principal  towns.  The  popu- 
lation in  1900  was  7,912,  a gain  of  621  during  the  decade. 

Talking  Rock,  an  incorporated  town  in  the  northern  part  of 
Pickens  county,  is  a station  on  the  Atlanta,  Knoxville  & North- 
ern railroad,  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  102.  It  has  a 
money  order  postoffice,  telegraph  and  express  offices,  some  ship- 


408 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


ping  interests,  and  is  the  principal  trading  point  in  that  section 
of  the  county. 

Tallapoosa,  the  metropolis  of  Haralson  county,  is  on  a branch 
of  the  Southern  railway  that  runs  from  Atlanta  to  Birmingham, 
Ala.,  and  is  a comparatively  new  town,  having  been  incorporated 
by  act  of  the  general  assembly  in  1860,  four  years  after  the  county 
was  organized.  It  is  now  quite  a busy  place  and  by  the  census 
of  1900  showed  a population  of  2,128  inhabitants,  while  the  entire 
district  had  3,005.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  serv- 
ice, express  and  telegraph  offices,  a bank,  a glass  works,  shops  of 
the  Southern  railway,  a gold  mining  plant,  an  iron  company  which 
makes  a specialty  of  iron  for  car  wheels,  several  prosperous  mer- 
cantile establishments,  good  schools,  and  churches  of  the  leading 
sects.  Besides  the  Southern  railway  connection  mentioned  above 
there  is  a short  line  from  Alabama  which  has  its  northern  terminus 
at  Tallapoosa.  About  3,000  bales  of  cotton  find  a market  here 
every  year. 

Tallulah  Falls,  an  incorporated  town  in  Rabun  county,  is  lo- 
cated on  the  Tallulah  river,  a short  distance  above  its  confluence 
with  the  Chattooga,  and  not  far  from  the  Habersham  county  line. 
The  population  in  1900  was  134.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice, 
telegraph  and  express  offices,  some  manufacturing  enterprises,  a 
weekly  independent  newspaper  called  the  Echo,  and  affords  a mar- 
ket for  a considerable  portion  of  the  products  of  the  county. 

Here  are  the  picturesque  falls,  from  which  the  town  takes  its 
name.  The  Tallulah  river  flows  through  a range  of  mountains, 
the  banks  along  the  falls  being  from  two  hundred  to  five  hundred 
feet  high,  perpendicular,  and  worn  into  grotesque  shapes  by  the 
action  of  the  water.  There  are  four  vertical  falls,  ranging  from 
fifteen  to  eighty  feet  in  height,  and  a number  of  smaller  cascades. 

Tallulah  Lodge,  a village  of  Habersham  county,  with  a popula- 
tion of  50  in  1900,  is  on  the  Tallulah  Falls  railway,  near  the  Rabun 
county  line.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  an  express  office, 
some  stores  with  good  local  trade,  and  does  some  shipping. 

Talmage,  a post-hamlet  of  Pickens  county,  is  near  the  Cherokee 
county  line,  twelve  miles  west  of  Tate,  which  is  the  nearest  rail- 
road station. 

Talmo,  a post-village  of  Jackson  county,  is  a station  on  the 
branch  of  the  Gainesville,  Jefferson  & Southern  railroad  that  runs 
from  Bellmont  to  Jefferson,  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  46. 
It  is  a trading  and  shipping  point  of  some  importance  to  that  sec- 
tion of  the  county. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


409 


Talona,  a post-village  of  Gilmer  county,  with  a population  of  58 
in  1900,  is  a station  on  the  Atlanta,  Knoxville  & Northern  railway, 
seven  miles  south  of  Ellijay. 

Tanner,  William  A.,  station  master  of  the  Union  Station  at  Au- 
gusta, is  one  of  the  well  known  and  distinctively  popular  citizens 
of  that  city,  and  is  also  an  honored  veteran  of  the  Confederate  serv- 
ice in  the  Civil  war.  He  was  born  in  Rutherfordton,  Rutherford 
county,  N.  C.,  Jan.  31,  1839,  and  that  county  was  likewise  the  birth- 
place of  his  parents,  Andrew  and  Susan  (DuPriest)  Tanner.  When 
William  A.  was  a small  child  his  parents  undertook  to  immigrate 
to  the  state  of  Missouri,  this  being  before  the  period  of  railway 
construction  in  more  than  a very  limited  way.  They  set  forth  on 
the  long  overland  trip,  utilizing  a large  covered  wagon  for  the 
transportation  of  the  family  and  household  effects.  As  the  result 
of  exposures  while  en  route  the  father  was  taken  ill,  and  died  in 
the  city  of  Louisville,  Ky.  The  widowed  mother  and  her  seven 
children  then  returned  to  North  Carolina,  and  she  passed  the  clos- 
ing years  of  her  life  in  Augusta,  Ga.,  attaining  the  extremely  ven- 
erable age  of  ninety-eight  years.  So  far  as  known  to  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  only  two  of  the  seven  children  are  living,  he  himself 
being  the  elder  of  the  two.  His  brother,  George  C.,  who  was 
formerly  a United  States  consul  in  both  Belgium  and  Germany,  is 
now  employed  in  the  department  of  the  interior  of  the  United  States 
government,  in  the  city  of  Washington.  Daniel  F.  Tanner,  the 
eldest  brother,  served  throughout  the  Civil  war  as  one  of  Gen. 
Wade  Hampton’s  scouts  and  made  a brilliant  record.  Francis  D., 
another  brother  served  as  courier  for  Gen.  James  Longstreet,  and 
George  C.,  previously  mentioned,  was  also  in  the  Confederate 
service.  William  A.  Tanner,  to  whom  this  sketch  is  dedicated 
was  in  the  Confederate  service  during  practically  the  entire  period 
of  the  war,  as  a bugler  in  Gen.  Wade  Hampton’s  brigade.  General 
Hampton  remained  his  warm  personal  friend  during  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  and  frequently  visited  Mr.  Tanner  in  his  home  in  Augus- 
ta. All  four  of  the  Tanner  brothers  made  fine  records  as  loyal 
and  valiant  supporters  of  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy.  Mr.  Tan- 
ner received  his  earlier  educational  discipline  in  the  schools  of 
Rutherford  county,  N.  C.,  and  supplemented  this  by  attending  the 
free  schools  of  Augusta,  Ga.,  to  which  city  his  mother  removed 
with  her  family  in  1850.  This  city  has  thus  been  his  home  for 
more  than  half  a century.  In  1854  Mr.  Tanner  became  identified 
with  railroad  affairs  and  since  that  year  he  has  been  the  greater 
portion  of  the  time  in  the  employ  of  the  Georgia  Railroad  Company, 


410 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


serving  in  various  capacities  and  winning  promotion  through  abil- 
ity and  fidelity.  He  was,  of  course,  retired  from  the  railway  service 
during  the  period  of  the  war  between  the  states.  In  1890  he  was 
appointed  to  his  present  position  as  station  master  of  the  union 
passenger  station  of  Augusta  and  is  popular  alike  with  the  rail- 
road officials,  those  employed  under  his  direction,  and  the  traveling 
public.  He  is  a stanch  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party;  is  affil- 
iated with  Camp  No.  435,  United  Confederate  Veterans,  and  also 
with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  St.  James  church,  Methodist  Episcopal  South, 
in  which  he  is  a steward.  On  Jan.  4,  1870,  Mr.  Tanner  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Isabella  W.  Cooper,  daughter  of  William  H. 
and  Ellen  Jane  (Henderson)  Cooper,  of  Augusta,  and  they  have 
three  children — William  W.,  Ellen  J.  and  Susan  I. 

Tanner’s  Bridge. — Some  historians  mention  an  engagement  here 
on  May  15,  1864,  as  the  Federal  forces  were  advancing  upon  Dal- 
ton. The  official  records  of  the  war  department  make  no  note  of 
such  a place,  but  mention  Tanner’s  Ferry,  on  the  Oostanaula,  as  be- 
ing the  scene  of  a skirmish  on  this  date.  (See  Resaca). 

Tanner’s  Ferry,  on  the  Oostanaula  river,  is  a little  southwest  of 
Resaca.  (For  skirmish  here  see  Resaca). 

Tapley,  a post-hamlet  of  Irwin  county,  is  about  four  miles  north- 
west of  Irwinton,  which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Tarboro,  a village  in  the  western  part  of  Camden  county,  re- 
ported a population  of  162  in  1900.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice 
and  is  the  principal  trading  point  in  that  section  of  the  county. 
Whiteoak,  four  miles  east  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line,  is  the  nearest 
railroad  station. 

Tarrytown,  a post-hamlet  of  Montgomery  county,  is  a short  dis- 
tance east  of  a station  of  the  same  name  on  the  Macon,  Dublin  & 
Savannah  railroad. 

Tarver,  a town  in  the  southern  part  of  Echols  county,  was  in- 
corporated by  act  of  the  legislature  on  Oct.  15,  1887.  It  is  located 
on  the  branch  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  railway  that  runs  south 
from  Dupont  Junction,  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  62.  It 
has  a money  order  postoffice,  and  express  office,  a few  stores,  and 
does  some  shipping. 

Tarver,  James  B.,  the  head  of  the  wholesale  and  retail  grocery 
firm  of  J.  Bi.  & W.  H.  Tarver,  of  Columbus,  has  here  been  consec- 
utively engaged  in  this  line  of  business  for  nearly  a quarter  of  a 
century  and  is  one  of  the  honored  and  valued  citizens  of  the  city 
where  he  has  attained  to  well  merited  success.  He  was  born  at 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


411 


Enon,  Bullock  county,  Ala.,  Feb.  10,  1849,  a son  of  James  Monroe 
and  Rachel  Jones  (Banks)  Tarver,  the  former  of  whom  was  born 
in  Upson  county,  Ga.,  and  the  latter  at  Culloden,  Monroe  county. 

The  father  was  a farmer  and  merchant 
and  served  as  a member  of  the  Alabama 
Home  Guards  in  the  Confederate  service 
during  the  Civil  war.  He  died  in  1896, 
his  cherished  and  devoted  wife  passing 
away  a few  months  later  in  the  same 
year.  The  paternal  grandparents  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  were  Elijah  and 
Dicv  Tarver,  the  former  of  whom  came 
to  Georgia  from  North  Carolina.  The 
maternal  grandparents  were  James  J.  and 
Hannah  Banks.  Mr.  Tarver  has  one 
brother,  M.  W.  Tarver,  of  James,  Bul- 
lock county,  Ala.,  the  two  being  the  only  living  representatives  of 
the  immediate  family.  James  B.  Tarver  secured  his  earlier  educa- 
tional discipline  in  the  schools  of  Bullock  county,  and  supplemented 
this  by  a course  in  the  old  Auburn  college,  at  Auburn,  Ala.  He 
continued  his  studies  until  he  had  attained  to  the  age  of  twenty 
years,  and  for  several  years  thereafter  rvas  associated  with  his 
father  in  the  management  of  the  latter’s  general  store  at  Enon, 
as  well  as  in  the  supervision  of  the  home  plantation.  Later  he 
and  his  father  conducted  a mercantile  business  at  Guerryton,  in 
the  same  county,  under  the  firm  name  of  J.  M.  & J.  B.  Tarver. 
In  1884  the  son  withdrew  from  the  firm  and  removed  to  Columbus, 
Ga.,  where  he  has  since  been  successfully  established  in  the  whole- 
sale and  retail  grocery  trade,  now  being  one  of  the  oldest  merchants 
in  this  line  to  be  found  in  this  city,  so  far  as  continuous  business  as- 
sociation is  involved.  For  the  first  two  years  he  was  a member  of 
the  firm  of  Pearce  & Tarver;  from  1886  to  1900  he  conducted  the 
enterprise  individually,  under  the  title  of  J.  B.  Tarver  & Co.,  on 
Jan.  1,  1900,  he  admitted  his  elder  son  to  partnership,  under  the 
firm  name  of  J.  B.  & W.  FI.  Tarver,  which  is  still  retained.  The 
large  and  well  equipped  establishment  of  the  firm  is  located  at  1249 
Broad  street.  Mr.  Tarver  is  a member  of  the  Columbus  board  of 
trade,  is  a Democrat  in  his  political  proclivities  and  is  affiliated 
with  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  is  a valued  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  Columbus  public  schools,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
are  zealous  members  of  St.  Luke’s  church,  Methodist  Episcopal 
South,  of  which  he  is  a steward.  On  Feb.  10.  1874.  Mr.  Tarver  was 


412 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sallie  Hannah  Banks,  daughter  of  the 
late  Newton  P.  Banks,  of  Opelika,  Ala.,  and  they  have  four  children 
— Rosalie,  wife  of  H.  M.  Wade,  of  Columbus;  William  H.,  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  in  business;  Clifford,  and  Annie  Belle. 

Tarver,  James  E.,  is  the  owner  of  a large  wholesale  and  retail 
hardware  establishment,  one  of  the  most  important  and  best  known 
of  the  sort  in  the  city  of  Augusta,  where  he  is  held  in  high  regard 
as  a reliable  and  progressive  business  man  and  loyal  citizen.  He 
was  born  on  the  old  Tarver  plantation  in  Burke  county,  Ga.,  Jan. 
7,  1857,  a son  of  Noah  S.  and  Narcissa  (Youngblood)  Tarver,, 
both  born  in  that  county,  the  former  in  1822  and  the  latter  in 
1834.  Noah  S.  Tarver  was  a prosperous  planter  and  influential 
citizen  of  Burke  county,  where  he  passed  his  entire  life,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  He  was  born  on  the  same  planta- 
tion and  in  the  same  house  as  was  James  E.  Tarver,  his  only  living 
son  and  the  present  owner  of  the  old  homestead.  The  original 
dwelling,  which  is  constructed  of  logs  and  which  was  erected  more 
than  a century  ago,  is  still  standing  on  the  plantation  and  is  still 
utilized  as  a dwelling,  though  the  family  home  is  a fine  old  resi- 
dence erected  in  later  years.  Mrs.  Narcissa  (Youngblood)  Tarver, 
now  seventy-one  years  of  age,  (1906)  resides  with  her  only  daugh- 
tre,  Mrs.  T.  W.  Pilcher  of  Augusta.  James  E.  Tarver  attended  the 
schools  of  Burke  county  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  seventeen 
years,  and  for  six  years  thereafter  was  associated  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  old  home  plantation.  In  1880  he  took  up  his  residence 
in  Augusta  where  he  was  employed  a number  of  years  in  the  hard- 
ware establishment  of  John  B.  Moore.  In  1887  he  associated  him- 
self with  E.  M.  Averett,  purchased  the  business  from  Mr.  Moore 
and  the  enterprise  was  continued  under  the  firm  name  of  Tarver  & 
Averett  for  the  ensuing  three  years.  In  1890  Mr.  Tarver  purchased 
the  interest  of  his  partner  and  has  since  remained  sole  proprietor 
of  the  business  which  is  conducted  under  his  name.  The  finely 
appointed  establishment,  one  of  the  largest  and  most  successful 
of  the  sort  in  the  city,  has  been  located  for  the  past  decade  at  927 
Broad  street.  In  addition  to  the  exceptionally  large  stock  of  hard- 
ware, Mr.  Tarver  also  carries  a fine  line  of  saddlery  and  harness 
farm  implements  and  machinery,  wagons,  carriages,  etc.  The  stock 
as  a whole  has  a conservative  valuation  of  $50,000  and  the  business 
in  all  departments  is  both  wholesale  and  retail.  Mr.  Tarver  is 
an  extensive  owner  of  valuable  realty  in  Augusta,  his  real  estate 
holdings  there  approximating  in  value  $35,000,  and  his  fine  landed 
interests  in  Burke  county  are  large,  his  plantation  yielding  large 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


413 


products  of  cotton  each  year.  He  is  a director  of  the  Augusta  cham- 
ber of  commerce  and  also  of  the  Merchants’  bank.  He  is  unswerving 
in  his  allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  while  he  has  been  im- 
portuned on  a number  of  occasions  to  become  a candidate  for  the 
state  legislature  or  the  city  council,  he  has  invariably  refused  to 
permit  the  consideration  of  his  name  in  the  connection.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  First  Baptist  church  of  Augusta. 
On  Dec.  12,  1878  Mr.  Tarver  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jac- 
queline E.  Farmer,  daughter  of  the  late  Jackson  J.  Farmer  of  Jef- 
ferson county,  Ga.  They  have  no  children. 

Tate,  a town  in  Pickens  county,  is  on  the  Atlanta,  Knoxville  & 
Northern  railroad,  five  miles  south  of  Ellijay,  and  in  1900  reported 
a population  of  100.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  express  and 
telegraph  offices,  important  mercantile  and  shipping  interests  and 
good  educational  and  religious  advantages.  Some  of  the  finest 
marble  quarries  in  the  United  States  are  near  Tate. 

Tate,  Farish  Carter,  was  born  in  Pickens  county  in  1856.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  the  North  Georgia  agricul- 
tural college  at  Dahlonega,  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  prac- 
tice in  1880.  For  six  years  he  represented  his  district  in  the  legis- 
lature, during  which  time  he  served  as  chairman  of  the  judiciary 
and  railroad  committees  and  as  a member  of  the  special  committee 
to  redistrict  the  state.  In  1892  he  was  elected  representative  in 
Congress  and  reelected  at  each  succeeding  election  until  1902. 
In  1906  he  was  appointed  United  States  district  attorney  in  Geor- 
gia by  President  Roosevelt. 

Tatham  Mines,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northern  part  of  McDuffie 
county,  is  not  far  from  the  Little  river.  Thomson  is  the  nearest 
railroad  station. 

Tattnall  County  was  formed  from  Montgomery  county  in  1801. 
Portions  of  it  were  given  back  to  Montgomery  in  1812  and  in  Au- 
gust, 1905,  another  portion  was  set  aside  for  the  formation  of 
Jeff  Davis  and  Toombs  counties.  It  was  named  in  honor  of  Josiah 
Tattnall,  of  Chatham  county,  who  was  prominent  in  the  affairs 
of  Georgia  for  many  years.  Before  the  formation  of  the  new  coun- 
ties the  boundaries  were  as  follows : Bulloch  and  Bryan  on  the 

northeast,  Liberty  on  the  east  and  southeast,  Wayne  and  Appling 
on  the  South,  and  Montgomery  and  Emanuel  on  the  west.  The 
Altamaha  and  the  Ogeechee  rivers  with  their  tributaries  drain  the 
land.  Tattnall  is  noted  for  its  fine  climate.  The  northern  portion 
of  the  county  is  hilly,  but  toward  the  south  the  surface  becomes 
level.  The  soil  is  fertile  and  the  leading  productions  are  corn, 


414 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


wheat,  oats,  sweet  potatoes,  peas,  cotton  and  sugar-cane.  Melons 
and  all  vegetables  are  raised  and  lumber  and  naval  stores  are 
shipped  to  Savannah.  Railroad  accommodations  are  good.  The 
Seaboard  Air  Line  runs  east  and  west  through  the  center  of  the 
county,  the  Glennville  & Register  runs  north  and  south  through 
the  eastern  part,  the  Stillmore  Air  Line  runs  northwest  from  Col- 
lins, and  a short  road  called  the  Collins  & Reidsville  connects  the 
latter  place  with  the  Seaboard  Air  Line.  Reidsville  is  the  county 
seat.  Claxton,  Hagan,  Glennville,  Collins  and  Manassas  are  thriv- 
ing towns.  The  population  in  1900  was  20,419,  an  increase  of  over 
10,000  in  the  preceding  ten  years. 

Tattnall,  Edward,  was  a native  of  Savannah  and  a member  of 
one  of  Georgia’s  historic  families.  Lie  held  several  local  offices, 
was  elected  to  Congress  as  a representative  in  1820  and  was  twice 
reelected. 

Tattnall,  Josiah,  soldier  and  statesman,  was  born  at  Bonaven- 
ture,  near  Savannah,  in  1762.  During  the  Revolution  his  father  and 
grandfather,  who  sympathized  with  the  mother  country,  sought 
refuge  in  England  and  their  estates  were  confiscated.  When  Josiah 
was  eighteen  years  of  age  he  ran  away  from  home,  came  to  Amer- 
ica, joined  the  Continental  army  and  served  to  the  close  of  the  war. 
In  recognition  of  his  services  in  the  cause  of  independence  part  of 
the  confiscated  estates  were  returned  to  him.  After  the  war  he  was 
active  in  putting  the  militia  of  the  state  on  a sound  footing,  serving 
as  captain  of  the  Chatham  artillery,  colonel  of  the  First  regiment 
and  brigadier  of  the  state  forces.  In  1793  he  was  elected  to  the 
legislature ; was  made  state  senator  in  1796,  and  governor  in  1802. 
He  died  at  Nassau,  in  the  West  Indies,  June  6,  1803. 

Tattnall,  Commodore  Josiah,  was  born  at  the  Bonaventure  estate 
near  Savannah,  Ga.,  Nov.  9,  1795,  and  was  the  son  of  Josiah 
Tattnall,  born  at  the  same  place,  who,  when  his  parents  during  the 
war  for  American  independence,  returned  to  England,  espoused 
the  cause  of  the  patriots,  served  under  Wayne  and  Greene,  re- 
ceived a portion  of  his  father’s  confiscated  estate  and  became  United 
States  senator  and  governor  of  Georgia.  The  younger  Josiah 
Tattnall  was  educated  in  England, .but  leaving  that  country  in  1811, 
entered  the  United  States  navy  as  a midshipman,  Jan.  1,  1812.  He 
saw  service  on  Craney  island  and  at  the  battle  of  Bladensburg, 
during  the  second  war  with  Great  Britain,  then  with  Decatur’s 
squadron  in  the  Algerian  war,  also  on  the  Macedonian  in  the 
Pacific  1818-21.  In  1828  lie  cut  out  the  Spanish  cruiser,  Federal, 
and  rendered  other  important  service  to  commerce  in  the  Gulf, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


415 


on  account  of  which  he  was  given  a service  of  plate  by  the  mer- 
chants of  Vera  Cruz  and  New  Orleans.  In  1838  he  was  in  charge 
of  the  Boston  navy  yard  and  in  1843  received  great  commendation 
for  saving  the  Saratoga  from  sinking  in  a hurricane.  During  the 
war  with  Mexico  he  won  distinction  in  the  bombardment  of  Tux- 
pan,  where  he  was  wounded,  and  in  command  of  the  “Mosquito” 
division  of  the  American  squadron  covered  the  landing  of  Scott’s 
army  at  Vera  Cruz.  For  distinguished  services  he  received  from 
Georgia  a sword  and  a vote  of  thanks.  Promoted  to  captain  in  1850 
he  performed  delicate  duty  during  the  Cuban  insurrection.  While 
flag  officer  of  the  Asiatic  squadron  in  1857  he  interfered  to  protect 
a British  vessel  from  an  attack  of  the  Chinese,  excusing  his  breach 
of  neutrality  by  the  declaration  “Blood  is  thicker  than  water,” 
and  public  opinion  justified  him.  Resigning  his  commission  in  the 
United  States  navy  in  1861  he  threw  in  his  lot  with  the  Confederate 
States,  served  with  credit  on  the  Georgia  coast,  then  as  commander 
of  the  Merrimac  or  Virginia,  after  the  wounding  of  Admiral  Frank- 
lin Buchanan,  and  later  in  command  of  the  Confederate  naval  force 
at  Savannah.  At  the  evacuation  of  that  city  he  destroyed  his  fleet 
and,  repairing  to  Augusta,  was  there  included  in  the  surrender  of 
Johnston’s  army.  He  resided  at  Halifax  from  1866  to  1870,  when, 
returning  to  Savannah,  he  served  as  inspector  of  that  port,  an  office 
created  for  him  and  abolished  after  his  death,  which  occurred  June 
14,  1871. 

Tax,  a post-hamlet  of  Talbot  county,  is  ten  miles  northwest  of 
Talbotton  and  five  miles  east  of  Shiloh,  the  latter  being  the  nearest 
railroad  station. 

Taxes. — On  all  property  within  the  state  taxes  constitute  the 
first  lien.  When  property  is  sold  for  taxes  the  owner  has  one 
year  in  Which  to  redeem  it  by  the  payment  of  all  taxes  and  penal- 
ties. This  is  the  only  redemption  in  the  state  where  property  is 
sold  under  the  judicial  authority. 

Taylor,  Augustus  P.,  M.  D.,  has  been  successfully  established  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Thomasville,  Thomas  county,  for 
more  than  thirty  years,  and  is  known  and  esteemed  as  one  of  the 
able  and  popular  physicians  and  surgeons  of  that  section  of  the 
state.  He  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  Fla.,  March  4,  1849,  a son 
of  Joshua  and  Margaret  (Pullen)  Taylor,  both  natives  of  Washing- 
ton county,  Ga.,  where  the  former  was  born  June  1,  1813,  and  the 
latter  May  1,  1824.  When  Joshua  Taylor  was  about  seven  years 
old,  his  parents,  Andrew  Taylor  and  wife,  Polly  (Askew)  Taylor, 
removed  from  Washington  county,  Ga.,  to  Florida,  and  located  on 


416 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


fertile  tracts  of  land  on  the  Miccosukee  lake  in  Jefferson  and  Leon 
counties.  The  family  home  was  thus  established  in  Florida  about 
1820  and  there  Joshua  Taylor  was  reared  to  maturity  and  took 

part  in  the  Indian  wars  of  that  territory 
while  still  a youth,  having  been  made 
first  lieutenant  in  his  company  of  volun- 
teers. Fie  took  part  in  the  severe  fight 
in  the  cove  on  the  'Withlacoochee  river, 
and  continued  in  active  service  until  the 
Indians  were  quelled.  In  1839  he  was 
commissioned  major  in  the  Florida  mili- 
tia, and  after  the  territory  was  admitted 
to  the  Union  he  represented  Jefferson 
county  in  the  state  legislature.  He  later 
returned  to  Georgia,  and  at  the  time 
of  the  Civil  war  was  a member  of 
the  state  militia  in  the  Confederate  service,  on  duty  around  the 
city  of  Atlanta.  Dr.  Augustus  P.  Taylor  secured  his  early  educa- 
tional training  in  private  schools  at  Thomasville  and  in  1870,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years,  he  was  graduated  in  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York,  duly  receiving  his 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  and  coming  forth  admirably  equipped 
for  the  work  of  his  chosen  calling.  Since  1871  he  has  been  contin- 
uously engaged  in  practice  in  Thomasville,  where  his  success  has 
been  unqualified  and  where  his  prestige  best  indicates  the  hold 
which  he  has  upon  popular  confidence  and  regard.  He  is  a member 
of  the  state  board  of  health  and  is  also  identified  with  the  Medical 
Association  of  Georgia.  In  politics  he  is  a stalwart  supporter  of 
the  principles  and  policies  of  the  Democracy,  is  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  and  his  wife  is  a Presbyterian. 
On  Nov.  18,  1887,  Dr.  Taylor  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  El- 
fieda  Bennett,  daughter  of  Thomas  R.  and  Mary  (Townsend)  Ben- 
nett, of  Camilla,  Ga.,  and  they  have  one  son,  Frederic  Taylor,  born 
Sept.  26,  1888. 

Taylor  County  was  created  from  Talbot,  Crawford,  Macon, 
Monroe  and  Marion  in  1852  and  was  named  for  Gen.  Zachary 
Taylor,  of  Louisiana,  who  fought  in  the  Mexican  war  and  was 
afterwards  president  of  the  United  States.  It  lies  in  the  western 
part  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  by  the  following  counties : Upson 
and  Crawford  on  the  northeast,  Macon  on  the  east,  southeast  and 
south,  Schley  on  the  south,  Marion  and  Talbot  on  the  west  and 
Talbot  on  the  northwest.  The  Flint  river  flows  along  the  north- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


417 


eastern  border  and  separates  the  county  from  Upson  and  Crawford. 
Numerous  tributaries  of  this  river  flow  across  the  county  from  the 
west  and  drain  the  land.  There  is  fine  water-power  along  these 
streams  and  it  is  utilized  by  several  mills.  The  timber  is  hard- 
wood, yellow  pine  or  swamp  growth,  according  to  location,  though 
the  timber  products  are  small.  Truck  farming  is  carried  on  to 
a great  extent  and  thousands  of  acres  are  planted  to  peach,  apple, 
pear  and  plum  trees.  Taylor  county  peaches  are  especially  fine, 
and  in  great  demand  in  the  northern  and  eastern  markets.  The 
staple  products  are  corn,  sweet  and  Irish  potatoes,  ground  and 
field  peas,  and  cotton.  Butler,  the  county  seat,  and  Reynolds  are 
the  chief  towns.  A branch  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  Railroad 
traverses  the  county  from  east  to  west,  and  supplies  transportation 
facilities.  The  population  according  to  the  census  of  1900  was  9,- 
846,  an  increase  of  1,180  since  1890.  In  Taylor  county  Gen.  John 
B.  Gordon  owned  a plantation  on  which  he  spent  a part  of  his 
time  during  the  winter  seasons. 

Taylor’s  Creek,  a village  of  Liberty  county,  is  about  seven  miles 
northwest  of  Hinesville  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  125.  It  has 
a money  order  postoffice  and  is  the  principal  trading  center  for  a 
large  agricultural  district.  McIntosh,  twelve  miles  southeast  on 
the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  railroad,  is  the  most  convenient  station. 

Taylor’s  Ridge,  an  elevation  or  mountain  chain  in  northwestern 
Georgia,  runs  from  the  Tennessee  line  near  Graysville  in  a south- 
westerly direction  into  Chattooga  county.  On  Nov.  27,  1863,  a 
battle  was  fought  at  a gap  in  this  ridge  near  Ringgold,  (q.  v.) 
On  April  14,  1864,  a slight  skirmish  occurred  near  the  same  place 
and  on  the  27th  of  the  same  month  Kilpatrick’s  pickets  on  the  old 
Alabama  road  were  cut  off  and  attacked,  nearly  all  the  horses  be- 
longing to  the  outpost  being  captured.  No  casualties  reported. 

Taylorsville,  an  incorporated  town  in  Bartow  county,  is  located 
on  the  Cartersville  & Rockmart  division  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line 
railway,  and  is  not  far  from  the  Polk  county  line.  The  population 
in  1900  was  139.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free 
delivery,  express  office,  mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  schools, 
churches,  etc. 

Tazewell,  a village  of  Marion  county,  is  on  the  headwaters  of 
Buck  creek,  ten  miles  northeast  of  Buena  Vista,  which  is  the  near- 
est railroad  station.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  several 
free  delivery  routes  emanating  from  it,  and  is  the  principal  trading 
point  in  that  part  of  the  county.  The  population  in  1900  was 
122. 


27— III 


418 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Telfair  County  was  laid  out  in  1807  and  named  in  honor  of  Ed- 
ward Telfair,  twice  governor  of  Georgia.  Parts  Of  it  were  added 
to  Montgomery  in  1812  and  1820,  a part  was  taken  from  Appling 
and  added  to  Telfair  in  1818,  in  1854  a part  of  Telfair  was  given 
to  Coffee  county,  and  in  August,  1905,  still  another  portion  was 
taken  to  help  form  Jeff  Davis  county.  Previous  to  the  formation 
of  the  last  named  county,  the  boundaries  were  as  follows : Mont- 

gomery on  the  northeast,  Coffee  on  the  southeast,  Coffee  and  Ir- 
win on  the  south,  Wilcox  on  the  southwest  and  Dodge  on  the 
northwest.  The  Ocmulgee  and  Little  Ocmulgee  rivers,  with  their 
tributaries,  drain  the  county.  The  face  of  the  country  is  level  and 
the  soil  is  sandy,  with  clay  subsoil.  Corn,  oats,  sweet  and  Irish 
potatoes,  cotton,  rice,  millet,  sugar-cane  and  peas  are  the  staple 
productions.  The  principal  fruits  are  peaches,  apples,  plums  and 
pears.  Thousands  of  acres  of  timber  still  stand  and  there  is  a 
large  trade  in  turpentine,  lumber,  rosin  and  shingles.  The  South- 
ern and  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railways  cross  the  county  and  pro- 
vide ample  facilities  for  transportation.  McRae  is  the  county  seat. 
Helena  and  Lumber  City  are  other  towns.  The  population  of  the 
county  in  1900  was  10,083,  an  increase  of  4,406  since  1890. 

Telfair,  Edward,  second  governor  of  Georgia  after  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States  was  established,  was  born  in  Scotland 
in  1735.  He  received  his  education  in  the  grammar  school  of 
Kirkcudbright  and  in  1758  came  to  America  as  a representative 
of  a commercial  establishment.  Lor  some  time  he  lived  in  Vir- 
ginia, then  went  to  Halifax,  N.  C.,  and  in  1766  located  at  Savannah. 
When  the  rupture  came  between  the  colonies  and  the  mother 
country  he  became  a stanch  supporter  of  the  colonial  cause ; was  a 
Son  of  Liberty;  a member  of  the  committee  in  July,  1774,  which 
drew  up  the  resolutions  urging  Georgia  to  join  the  other  colonies 
in  resistance  to  British  tyranny ; was  one  of  those  appointed  to 
receive  subscriptions  for  the  relief  of  the  sufferers  from  the  effects 
of  the  Boston  Port  Bill ; was  with  Habersham’s  party  that  rifled 
the  Savannah  powder  magazine  and  confiscated  the  contents,  and 
was  a member  of  the  Council  of  Safety.  In  February,  1778,  he  was 
elected  to  the  Continental  Congress,  where  he  signed  the  ratifica- 
tion of  the  Articles  of  Confederation ; was  reelected  in  1780  and 
served  to  1783,  when  he  was  appointed  commissioner  to  negotiate 
a treaty  with  the  Cherokee  Indians.  In  1785  he  was  again  elected 
to  Congress,  but  this  time  did  not  take  his  seat.  On  Nov.  9,  1790, 
he  became  governor,  succeeding  George  Walton,  and  served  until 
Nov.  7,  1793.  He  died  at  Savannah,  Sept.  17,  1807.  His  mansion 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


419 


ifi  that  city  was  converted  by  his  daughter  into  the  Telfair  art 
gallery,  and  Telfair  county  is  named  in  his  honor. 

Telfair,  Thomas,  was  born  near  Savannah,  graduated  at  Prince- 
ton college  in  1805,  studied  law,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and 
began  to  practice  at  Savannah.  He  was  elected  representative  in 
Congress  in  1812,  reelected  two  years  later  and  died  on  April  12, 
1818. 

Telfairville,  a little  village  of  Burke  county,  is  fifteen  miles  east 
of  Waynesboro,  on  the  ridge  between  Brier  creek  and  the  Savannah 
river.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice  and  some  local  trade.  The 
nearest  railroad  station  is  Robbins,  S.  C. 

Teloga,  a post-hamlet  of  Chattooga  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Chattanooga  Southern  railroad,  a short  distance  south  of  the 
Walker  county  line. 

Temperance  Laws. — In  1827  temperance  societies  were  formed 
throughout  the  Atlantic  states.  Adiel  Sherwood  organized  one  in 
Putnam  county,  which  was  the  beginning  of  the  movement  in  Geor- 
gia. By  1839  a number  of  such  societies  were  scattered  over  the 
state  and  in  that  year  a canvas  of  all  the  counties  was  made  under 
the  direction  of  Josiah  Flournoy,  the  object  being  to  secure  the 
passage  of  an  act  to  prohibit  the  licensing  of  saloons.  The  move- 
ment failed  of  its  main  purpose,  but  charters  were  granted  to  Ox- 
ford, Penfield  and  Culloden,  giving  the  local  authorities  power  to 
prohibit  the  sale  of  liquors.  Very  little  change  was  made  in  the 
system  of  selling  liquors  until  1885.  On  September  10th,  of  that 
year,  the  governor  approved  an  act  of  the  general  assembly,  pro- 
viding that  on  the  petition  of  one-tenth  of  the  voters  in  any  county, 
the  question  of  allowing  or  prohibiting  the  sale  of  liquors  should 
be  submitted  to  the  people  of  that  county  at  a special  election. 
For  many  years  prior  to  that  time  it  had  been  the  custom  of  the 
legislature  to  forbid  the  sale  of  intoxicants  within  certain  pre- 
scribed distances  of  schools  and  churches,  and  under  the  temper- 
ance agitation  that  had  been  going  on  a majority  of  the  counties 
were  really  prohibition  counties,  even  before  the  passage-  of  the 
local  option  act.  The  first  election  under  the  new  law  was  in 
Fulton  county  on  Nov.  25,  1885,  and  resulted  in  a majority  of  225 
for  prohibition.  A non-resident  of  the  state,  interested  in  the 
liquor  business  in  Atlanta,  secured  a temporary  restraining  order 
in  the  United  States  district  court,  to  prevent  the  result  from  being 
declared.  The  injunction  was  afterward  dissolved  and  the  law 
stood  the  test  in  the  courts,  so  far  as  its  constitutionality  was  con- 
cerned. Under  its  operation  a large  majority  of  the  counties  went 


420 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


“dry”  as  it  was  termed  when  the  sale  of  liquors  was  prohibited. 
A slight  reaction  followed,  however,  and  two  years  later  there  were 
sixty-four  “wet”  counties  in  the  state.  The  local  option  act  was 
amended  by  the  legislature  of  1892,  providing  for  elections  not 
oftener  than  every  four  years,  instead  of  every  two,  and  the  oper- 
ations of  the  law  were  materially  strengthened  by  the  act  of  Dec. 
18,  1893,  which  prohibited  manufacturers  and  dealers  from  so- 
liciting orders  for  liquors  in  prohibition  counties,  either  by  mail  or 
agent,  except  from  licensed  druggists  and  practicing  physicians. 
The  law  was  rendered  still  more  effective  by  the  legislation  of 
1897,  which  prohibited  the  sale  of  intoxicants  by  peddlers.  Not- 
withstanding these  laws  there  were  some  who  persisted  in  selling 
liquors  in  violation  of  law.  The  legislature  of  1899,  therefore, 
passed  an  act  declaring  nuisances  all  places  where  such  liquors 
were  sold  without  legal  authority,  and  giving  officers  of  the  law 
authority  to  break  open  the  “blind  tigers,”  arrest  the  proprietors 
and  seize  their  goods.  This  law  had  a salutary  effect,  the  result  be- 
ing that  the  illegal  sale  has  been  reduced  to  a minimum,  and  in  most 
places  broken  up  entirely.  About  this  time  the  dispensary  system 
was  introduced  and  it  is  now  in  use  in  a number  of  counties.  Recent 
legislatures  have  passed  acts  prohibiting  the  manufacture  of  ardent 
spirits  in  counties  where  the  prohibition  or  dispensary  methods 
prevail.  In  counties  where  the  sale  of  liquors  is  permitted  the 
saloons  pay  a license  fee  to  the  state,  the  revenue  derived  from  this 
source  being  about  $175,000  for  the  year  ending  Dec.  31,  1904. 

Temple,  a town  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Carroll  county,  was 
first  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  on  August  28,  1883,  and 
a new  charter  was  granted  by  the  act  of  Nov.  23,  1901.  The  popu- 
lation in  1900  was  397.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  from  which 
a number  of  free  delivery  routes  supply  mail  to  the  surrounding 
country,  telegraph  and  express  offices,  mercantile,  manufacturing 
and  shipping  interests,  and  good  educational  and  religious  ad- 
vantages. It  is  on  the  branch  of  the  Southern  railway  that  runs 
from  Austell  into  Alabama. 

Templegrove,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northern  part  of  Murray 
county,  is  about  twelve  miles  east  of  Cohutta,  which  is  the  nearest 
railroad  town. 

Tennille,  a town  of  Washington  county,  is  located  on  the  Central 
of  Georgia  railway  between  Macon  and  Savannah,  three  miles 
south  of  Sandersville,  and  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legisla- 
ture in  1875.  It  is  connected  with  Augusta  by  the  Augusta  South- 
ern, and  with  Wrightsville,  Dublin  and  Hawkinsville  by  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


421 


Wrightsville  & Tennille  railway.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice 
with  rural  free  delivery,  two  banks,  a cotton  oil  mill,  a cotton 
factory  spinning  yarn,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a hardwood 
factory,  novelty  factory,  mineral  works,  machine  works,  electric 
light  plant,  mercantile  houses  with  a large  country  trade,  and  good 
schools  and  churches.  Tennille  is  the  second  in  importance  of  the 
Washington  county  towns,  and  according  to  the  census  of  1900, 
had  a population  of  1,121  within  the  corporate  limits,  while  its 
entire  militia  district  contained  3,195  inhabitants. 

Tennille,  George  Francis,  district  man- 
ager of  the  Southern  Cotton  Oil  Com- 
pany, with  headquarters  in  Savannah, 
was  born  in  New  York  city,  March  6, 
1873,  a son  of  William  Alexander  and 
Clara  (Tuttle)  Tennille,  the  former  born 
in  Washington  county,  Ga.,  July  3,  1840, 
his  death  occurring  Jan.  10,  1905,  and 
the  latter  in  Fort  Gaines,  Clay  county, 
Ga.,  May  30,  1847,  being  now  a resident 
of  East  Orange,  N.  J.  The  paternal 
great-grandfather,  Lieut.-Col.  Francis 
Tennille,  was  born  in  Prince  William 
county,  Va.,  in  1747,  and  removed  to  Georgia  just  before  the 
inception  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  He  was  a lieutenant 
in  the  Second  battalion,  Georgia  brigade,  in  the  Continental 
line,  having  been  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Washington 
county.  He  was  an  original  member  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincin- 
nati, his  death  ocurring  in  1812.  Other  Revolutionary  ancestors 
on  the  paternal  side  were  Robert  Dixon  and  John  Jordan,  both 
residents  of  Georgia  and  great-great-grandfathers  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  In  the  maternal  line  two  ancestors  who  assisted  the 
colonies  in  the  Revolution  were  Capt.  Amos  Wilson  and  Daniel 
Hudson.  The  founder  of  the  Tuttle  family  in  America  was  Wil- 
liam Tuttle,  who  was  born  in  England,  in  1609,  and  died  in  Connec- 
ticut, in  1673,  having  been  in  military  service  in  the  colony.  Other 
maternal  ancestors  who  were  in  the  military  service  of  America 
were  Gen.  Nathaniel  Bacon,  whose  name  is  well  known  in  history, 
Thomas  Barnes,  and  Lieut.  Francis  Bell,  the  former  serving  in  the 
Pequot  Avar,  in  1637.  William  Alexander  Tennille  went  forth  in 
defense  of  the  Confederate  cause  at  the  opening  of  the  Civil  war, 
becoming  second  lieutenant  in  a Georgia  regiment,  and  taking  part 
in  numerous  engagements  of  importance.  He  was  twice  promoted 


422 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


for  gallantry  on  the  field,  the  second  occasion  being  at  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg,  where  he  was  made  captain  of  his  company,  and 
served  as  such  until  the  close  of  the  war,  on  the  staff  of  General 
Anderson.  George  Francis  Tennille  secured  his  preliminary  educa- 
tion in  schools  of  the  national  metropolis,  and  in  1894  was  gradu- 
ated in  the  school  of  mines,  Columbia  university,  New  York  city. 
He  became  chemist  and  afterward  superintendent  of  factories  of 
the  Central  Lard  Company,  New  York  city,  1894-7,  and  in  the  latter 
year  came  to  Savannah  as  chief  chemist  of  the  Southern  Oil  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  later  became  district  manager.  In  politics  he  is 
a Democrat,  and  is  identified  with  the  following  named  organiza- 
tions : Delta  Kappa  Epsilon  fraternity  and  club ; Chemists’  club, 

of  New  York  city;  Society  of  Chemical  Industry;  American  Chem- 
ical society;  University  club,  of  New  York  city;  Sons  of  the  Rev- 
olution, in  New  York;  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  in  Georgia;  and 
the  Oglethorpe  club,  Yacht  club,  Cotillion  club,  Union  society, 
and  Chatham  Hunt  club,  all  of  Savannah.  On  Feb.  24,  1903,  Mr. 
Tennille  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jessie  M.  Chisholm, 
daughter  of  William  W.  and  Jessie  M.  (Fowke)  Chisholm,  of  Sa- 
vannah, and  they  are  prominent  in  the  social  life  of  the  city. 

Terrell  County  was  created  from  Lee  and  Randolph  in  1856 
and  was  named  for  Dr.  William  Terrell  of  Hancock  county,  a 
member  of  the  Georgia  legislature  and  representative  in  Congress. 
It  is  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Webster  and  Sumter  counties,  on  the  east  by  Lee,  on  the 
south  by  Dougherty  and  Calhoun  and  on  the  west  by  Randolph. 
The  county  is  well  watered,  the  soil  is  a gray,  sandy  loam,  the  face 
of  the  land  is  undulating,  and  there  is  a heavy  growth  of  yellow 
pine,  oak  and  hickory,  with  Avhite  oak,  ash,  maple,  sycamore,  poplar, 
gum,  and  magnolia  on  the  streams.  Much  of  the  yellow  pine  has 
been  cut  away,  but  there  is  still  a fine  revenue  from  lumber.  Cot- 
ton, sweet  and  Irish  potatoes,  sugar-cane  and  the  cereals  are  the 
principal  crops  raised.  Melons  and  peaches  do  well  and  prove 
profitable.  Sandstone  is  found  in  the  county,  but  it  is  not  quarried. 
Manufacturing  attracts  much  attention,  especially  at  Dawson,  the 
county  seat.  Parrott,  Bronwood,  and  Sasser  are  other  towns. 
The  county  roads  are  in  good  condition  and  the  wagon  trade  with 
these  towns  is  considerable.  The  population  of  the  county  in  4900 
was  19,023,  an  increase  of  4,520  since  1890. 

Terrell,  Joseph  M.,  the  sixty-eighth  incumbent  of  the  guberna- 
torial chair  in  Georgia  and  the  present  honored  and  distinguished 
governor  of  the  great  commonwealth,  was  born  June  6,  1861,  at 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


423 


Greenville,  Meriwether  county,  Ga.,  and  he  has  ever  continued  to 
make  his  home  in  that  county,  save  for  the  periods  of  his  official  resi- 
dence in  the  capital  of  the  state.  Governor  Terrell’s  father,  Dr. 
Joel  E.  G.  Terrell,  was  born  in  Wilkes  county,  Ga.,  in  1834,  and  was 
a child  at  the  time  of  his  parents’  removal  to  Meriwether  county. 
He  studied  medicine  in  Greenville,  under  the  preceptorship  of  Dr. 
J.  W.  Anthony,  later  had  the  distinction  of  being  the  first  gradu- 
ate of  the  Atlanta  medical  college,  and  completed  effective  post- 
graduate work  in  famous  old  Jefferson  medical  college,  of  Phila- 
delphia, from  which  he  also  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Med- 
icine. He  established  himself  in  practice  in  Greenville,  became  one 
of  the  best  known  and  most  loved  citizens,  as  well  as  one  of  the 
most  able  physicians  of  that  section  of  the  state,  and  never  laid 
aside  the  professional  harness  until  death  intervened  to  end  his 
noble  and  self-abnegating  career.  He  died,  Nov.  30,  1886,  having 
been  stricken  with  paralysis  while  at  the  bedside  of  a patient, 
and  passed  away  the  same  day.  On  account  of  physical  disability 
he  was  unable  to  render  active  service  in  the  Civil  war,  though 
he  did  all  in  his  power  to  uphold  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy 
during  the  great  conflict  between  the  states.  He  was  a son  of 
David  Meriwether  Terrell,  born  in  Wilkes  county,  whence  he  re- 
moved to  Meriwether  county,  as  noted,  there  passing  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  His  death  occurred  on  Nov.  20,  1882,  at  the  age  of  more 
than  three  score  and  ten  years.  The  maiden  name  of  his  first  wife 
was  Chapman  and  they  had  two  children,  Dr.  Joel  E.  G.  and  Ann ; 
after  her  death  he  married  Mrs.  Russell,  nee  Boozer,  and  they 
had  one  daughter.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  Confederate  service, 
being  in  the  ranks  of  the  state  troops  as  long  as  they  were  in  the 
field.  David  M.  Terrell  was  a son  of  Joel  and  Frances  (Butler) 
Terrell,  the  former  having  been  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Wilkes 
county,  whither  he  removed  from  Virginia,  his  native  state,  and  was 
a successful  planter  at  the  time  of  his  death.  The  maiden  name 
of  Governor  Terrell’s  mother  was  Sarah  Rebecca  Anthony,  born 
in  Wilkes  county,  in  1832,  and  her  death  occurred  in  1895.  Her 
grandmother  was  a Hamilton,  of  Scotch  descent,  and  her  mother 
was  a Render,  the  latter  family  having  been  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  prominent  in  Meriwether  county.  Joseph  Meriwether  Ter- 
rell secured  his  preliminary  educational  training  in  the  schools  of 
his  native  village,  attending  the  same  until  he  had  attained  the  age 
of  fourteen  years,  when  he  assumed  responsibilities  which  would 
have  overburdened  a less  resolute  and  self-reliant  boy,  for  he  be- 
came manager  of  his  father’s  farm,  in  Meriwether  county,  remain- 


424 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


ing  in  charge  of  the  same  for  the  ensuing  five  years.  His  ambition 
for  a broader  sphere  of  endeavor  had  been  insistently  quickened 
in  the  interim,  and  he  had  determined  to  prepare  himself  for  the 
legal  profession.  Concerning  this  period  in  his  career  and  the 
sequelae  thereof  the  following  has  been  written:  “Young  Terrell 
read  law  for  one  year  under  the  direction  of  Maj.  John  W.  Park, 
of  Greenville.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  no  young  man  ever  studied 
with  closer  application.  After  standing  a most  creditable  examina- 
tion, he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  February,  1882,  by  Judge  Samp- 
son W.  Harris,  of  the  Coweta  circuit.  He  opened  an  office  in 
Greenville  and  entered,  without  delay,  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  From  the  very  first  his  efforts  were  crowned  with 
success,  and  he  has  been  succeeding  ever  since.  Business  flowed 
in  upon  the  young  attorney  from  all  sides.  Such  was  his  ability, 
his  energy,  his  integrity,  his  devotion  to  duty  that  he  landed,  at  a 
bound,  in  the  confidence  and  affections  of  the  people.  No  young 
man  in  the  state  ever  rose  more  rapidly  at  the  bar.  But  the  people 
had  no  thought  of  allowing  him  to  pursue  the  even  tenor  of  his 
way  in  the  court  house.  They  saw  in  the  magnetic  and  indefa- 
tigable young  lawyer  all  the  elements  which  go  to  make  the  suc- 
cessful public  man.  They  began  to  call  him  up  higher  when  they 
realized  that  his  services  were  needed  at  the  capitol.  In  October, 
1884,  he  was  elected  to  represent  Meriwether  county  in  the  general 
assembly.  He  was  at  that  time  only  twenty-three  years  of  age, 
the  youngest  member  of  the  house  of  representatives ; but  his 
youthfulness  did  not  interfere  at  all  with  his  usefulness.  His  worth 
was  recognized  at  once  and  he  was  honored  accordingly.  He  was 
made  a member  of  the  most  important  committees — the  judiciary, 
local  bills,  and  temperance.  His  constituents  were  so  well  pleased 
with  the  record  which  he  made  that  he  was  returned  to  the  house 
in  October,  1886,  by  a handsome  majority.  While  serving  his 
second  term  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  county  affairs 
and  a member  of  the  judiciary  committee.  The  Alliance  wave 
swept  over  the  county  of  Meriwether  in  1888,  and  Mr.  Terrell,  who 
was  a candidate  for  the  third  time,  sustained  the  first  and  only 
defeat  of  his  political  career.  But  two  years  later,  in  1890,  after 
one  of  the  hardest  fought  and  most  intensely  exciting  campaigns 
ever  held  in  Georgia,  he  defeated  the  Alliance  candidate  and  was 
nominated  for  the  state  senate.  Flis  opponent,  not  satisfied  with 
the  verdict  of  the  party,  ran  in  the  ensuing  election  and  became 
the  victim  of  a double  defeat.  Honors  were  showered  upon  Mr. 
Terrell  while  state  senator,  and  right  well  did  he  sustain  his  repu- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


425 


tation  as  one  of  the  wisest  young  legislators  in  the  state.  He  was 
not  only  made  chairman  of  the  finance  committee,  but  was  also 
placed  on  the  committee  on  rules,  the  judiciary  committee,  the 
committee  on  congressional  districts,  and  the  committee  on  public 
schools.  It  was  in  1892  that  Mr.  Terrell,  fresh  from  his  conquests 
in  the  state  senate,  was  called  upon  to  serve  the  people  in  the  office 
of  attorney-general,  being  elected  to  serve  two  years.  Two  dis- 
tinguished lawyers  were  his  opponents  for  the  nomination,  but, 
by  a two-thirds  vote  of  the  convention,  Mr.  Terrell  was  made  the 
candidate.  In  1894  his  nomination  was  unanimous.  He  was  elec- 
ted, without  opposition,  in  1896,  1898  and  1900.  During  his  long 
and  distinguished  service  as  attorney-general  he  repeatedly  loomed 
up  as  a probable  gubernatorial  candidate.  Toward  the  close  of 
that  service  he  became  one  of  the  most  formidable  political  figures 
in  the  state.  Yielding  to  the  urgent  call  of  friends  throughout  the 
state,  Mr.  Terrell  resigned  the  office  of  attorney-general  in  Febru- 
ary, 1902,  and  became  a candidate  for  the  Democratic  nomination 
for  governor.  His  opponents  in  the  primary  were  Dupont  Guerry 
and  J.  H.  Estill,  both  of  whom  he  defeated  by  a large  majority. 
His  victory  at  the  polls  was  one  of  most  gratifying  order,  and  his 
commanding  ability  in  administration  as  chief  executive  of  the 
state  gained  him  that  constituent  and  popular  endorsement  which 
made  him  the  only  candidate  for  the  office  at  the  expiration  of  his 
first  term ; he  was  returned  to  the  governor’s  chair  in  the  election 
of  1904,  and  is  at  present  the  incumbent  of  the  same.  He  has  shown 
here,  as  in  other  official  capacities,  all  the  elements  of  political  and 
popular  strength,  while  his  entire  career  in  public  life  has  justified 
the  suffrages  of  the  people  and  the  confidence  of  all.”  In  the  affairs 
of  state,  as  taken  aside  from  the  extraordinary  conditions  of  warfare, 
there  are  demanded  men  whose  mental  ken  is  as  wide  and  whose 
generalship  is  as  effective  as  those  which  insure  successful  man- 
euvering of  armed  forces  by  the  skilled  commander  on  the  field  of 
battle.  The  nation’s  welfare,  progress  and  prosperity  may  be  said 
to  hinge  as  heavily  upon  individual  discrimination  and  executive 
ability  in  the  one  case  as  the  other.  It  requires  a master  mind 
to  marshal  and  organize  the  forces  for  political  purposes  and  pro- 
duce the  best  results  by  concerted  action.  Such  a leader  is  found 
in  Governor  Terrell,  who  has  facility  in  practical  politics,  but  whose 
labors  in  official  capacity  have  thrown  the  partisan  into  complete 
subordination  to  the  general  good,  while  the  very  training  and  dis- 
cipline which  made  him  successful  in  his  profession,  in  the  halls 
of  legislation  and  in  the  office  of  attorney-general,  all  the  more 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


426 


eminently  fit  him  for  the  effective  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the 
high  executive  position  of  which  he  is  now  incumbent  and  in  which 
he  has  made  and  is  making  so  enduring  and  admirable  a record. 
Governor  Terrell  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  both  he  and  Mrs.  Terrell 
are  members  of  the  Baptist  church.  On  Oct.  19,  1886,  Governor 
Terrell  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jessie  Lee  Spivey,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Spivey,  who  was  born  in  Georgia,  and  who  was  for  some 
time  before  his  death,  in  1904,  a resident  of  Texas.  For  many 
years  before  moving  to  Texas  he  was  one  of  the  leading  planters 
and  influential  citizens  of  Harris  county,  Ga.,  the  Spivey  home- 
stead, about  ten  miles  from  Hamilton,  being  one  of  the  fine  and 
picturesque  places  of  that  county.  Mrs.  Terrell  was  educated  in 
the  Wesleyan  college  at  Macon,  and  is  a woman  of  gracious  pres- 
ence and  marked  culture,  presiding  right  charmingly  in  the  execu- 
tive mansion. 

Terrell,  William,  was  born  in  Fairfax  county,  Va.,  in  1778.  Fie 
served  for  several  years  as  a member  of  the  Georgia  legislature  and 
was  elected  representative  in  Congress  as  a Democrat  in  1816  and 
1818,  but  declined  a reelection  in  1820.  He  died  at  Sparta,  July 
4,  1855. 

Tesnattee,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southwestern  part  of  White 
county,  is  near  the  Lumpkin  county  line.  Lula  is  the  most  conven- 
ient railroad  station. 

Texas,  a post-village  of  Heard  county,  is  six  miles  southwest 
of  Franklin.  Roanoke,  Ala.,  is  the  nearest  railroad  station.  The 
population  in  1900  was  80. 

Textile  Manufacturers  Association. — The  depressed  and  unsatis- 
factory condition  of  business  in  the  textile  industries  in  the  spring 
of  1896  led  the  manufacturers  in  those  lines  to  seek  some  plan 
for  the  mutual  advancement  of  their  interests.  Accordingly  a meet- 
ing was  called  at  Atlanta  on  May  13,  1896,  and  the  Textile  Manu- 
facturers’ Association  was  organized.  The  purposes  of  the  or- 
ganization are  succinctly  stated  in  the  resolutions  adopted,  viz : 
“That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  association  that  production  be  at  once 
curtailed,  and,  in  order  to  carry  out  this  idea,  that  the  chair  ap- 
point a special  committee  of  nine,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  at  once 
correspond  with  all  Southern  mills  at  as  early  a date  as  possible  to 
consider  and  take  action  on  the  curtailment  of  production.”  Man- 
ufacturers of  colored  goods  met  later  and  decided  to  reduce  the 
production  not  less  than  one-third  through  the  months  of  June, 
July  and  August.  Improved  business  conditions  have  obviated  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


427 


necessity  for  the  action  inaugurated  with  the  association,  but  the 
organization  has  been  kept  up  for  exchange  of  ideas  and  for  the 
general  good  of  the  textile  industries  of  the  South. 

Tharin,  a post-hamlet  of  Camden  county,  is  on  a branch  of  the 
Satilla  river,  twelve  miles  east  of  Waverly,  which  is  the  nearest 
railroad  station. 

Thaxton,  a post-hamlet  of  Wilkes  county,  is  about  twelve  miles 
northwest  of  Washington,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Thebes,  a post-hamlet  of  Liberty  county,  is  eight  miles  south- 
east of  Hinesville.  McIntosh,  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line,  and 
Arcadia,  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line,  are  the  most  convenient  rail- 
road stations. 

The  Glades,  a post-village  of  Hall  county,  with  a population  of 
91  in  1900,  is  about  four  miles  northwest  of  Lula,  which  is  the 
nearest  railroad  station.  It  is  a trading  center  for  that  part  of  the 
county. 

Thelma,  a post-town  of  Clinch  county,  is  on  the  Georgia  South- 
ern & Florida  railroad,  not  far  from  the  Echols  county  line.  It  is 
in  the  Magnolia  militia  district  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  175. 
It  has  several  stores,  and  does  some  shipping. 

Thena,  a post-hamlet  of  Washington  county,  is  about  ten  miles 
north  of  Sandersville,  and  six  miles  west  of  Warthen,  the  latter 
being  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Theo,  a post-hamlet  of  McIntosh  county,  is  at  the  junction  of  the 
Seaboard  Air  Line  and  the  Darien  & Western  railroads,  and  is 
known  to  railroad  men  as  Darien  Junction.  It  has  a money  order 
postoffice  and  some  shipping  interests. 

The  Rock,  an  incorporated  town  in  Llpson  county,  is  on  the 
Barnesville  & Thomaston  branch  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  rail- 
way, and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  180.  It  has  telegraph 
and  express  offices,  a money  order  postoffice,  and  is  a trading  and 
shipping  point  for  that  section  of  the  county. 

Thirteenth  Amendment. — The  first  step  toward  the  abolition  of 
slavery  was  the  president’s  emancipation  proclamation,  which  be- 
came effective  on  Jan.  1,  1863,  but  no  legislative  sanction  was 
offered  to  that  proclamation  until  during  the  first  session  of  the 
38th  Congress.  On  March  28,  1864,  there  was  introduced  in  the 
senate  of  the  United  States  a joint  resolution,  relative  to  a consti- 
tutional amendment  forever  prohibiting  slavery.  After  consider- 
able discussion  it  was  adopted  and  sent  to  the  house,  where  it  was 
rejected  in  June  following.  In  January,  1865,  it  was  again  brought 
up  in  the  house  and  finally  passed  by  a vote  of  119  to  56.  The  pro- 


428 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


posed  amendment  was  formally  submitted  to  the  legislatures  of  the 
states  on  February  1st.  It  was  ratified  by  the  Georgia  assembly 
on  Dec.  9,  1865,  and  on  the  18th  it  was  proclaimed  part  of  the 
Federal  constitution  by  the  secretary  of  state. 

Thomas,  a post-village  of  Burke  county,  is  a station  on  the  Au- 
gusta branch  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  about  six  miles 
south  of  Waynesboro.  During  the  war  it  was  known  as  Thomas 
Station.  Flere  there  was  some  sharp  fighting  between  the  cavalry 
forces  of  Wheeler  and  Kilpatrick  on  Nov.  27  and  Dec.  3,  1864, 
Kilpatrick  being  supported  in  the  latter  engagement  by  Baird’s 
division  of  infantry. 

Thomas,  Arthur  Allan,  president  of  the  Thomas  & Barton  Com- 
pany, wholesale  and  retail  dealers  in  furniture,  musical  instruments, 
sewing  machines,  etc.,  in  Augusta,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Mon- 
treal, Canada,  Feb.  23,  1850,  a son  of  Arthur  Joseph  and  Margaret 
Gertrude  (Haddigan)  Thomas,  both  born  in  County  Galway,  Ire- 
land, where  they  were  reared  and  educated  and  where  their  mar- 
riage was  solemnized.  Immediately  afterward,  about  the  year 
1847,  they  came  to  America,  remained  in  New  York  city  a few 
weeks  and  then  proceeded  to  Montreal,  which  was  their  home  for 
many  years.  In  1869  they  removed  to  Brookville,  province  of 
Ontario,  Canada,  where  the  father  died  in  1871,  and  where  his 
widow  still  resides  (1906)  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-two 
years.  Arthur  J.  Thomas  was  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  business 
during  the  greater  portion  of  his  active  business  career  in  Amer- 
ica. The  family  is  of  Welsh  extraction  but  was  early  founded  in 
Ireland.  Besides  the  subject  of  this  sketch  three  other  children 
survived  the  honored  father : Edward  George,  who  resides  in 

Aurora,  111.,  Isabel  Mary  and  Florence  Margaret,  who  remain  with 
their  widowed  mother,  in  Brookville,  Ontario.  Arthur  A.  Thomas 
attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city,  where  he  also  was 
for  a time  a student  in  Durham  college.  Fie  left  school  at  the  age 
of  fourteen  years ; became  a clerk  in  a wholesale  clothing  house  in 
Montreal ; was  thus  engaged  for  four  years,  at  the  expiration  of 
which,  in  1868,  he  came  to  the  south ; passed  seven  years  in  Sa- 
vannah, Ga. ; then,  in  1876,  took  up  his  residence  in  Augusta,  where 
he  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  and  has  ever  since  been  con- 
spicuously identified  with  the  business  interests  of  the  city.  A 
few  years  after  locating  in  Augusta  (about  1880)  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  John  E.  Barton,  under  the  firm  name  of  Thomas 
& Barton.  In  1899  the  firm  was  merged  into  a stock  company  and 
incorporated  under  the  title  of  the  Thomas  & Barton  Company, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


429 


Mr.  Thomas  being  made  president  of  the  concern.  The  com- 
pany’s fine  establishment  is  located  at  708-12  Broad  street  and  is 
one  of  the  largest  and  finest  furniture  stores  in  the  south,  the 
stock  carried  approximating  $100,000  in  value.  In  addition  to  the 
finest  imported  and  domestic  furniture  of  every  description  the  com- 
pany also  handle  pianos  and  other  musical  instruments,  sewing 
machines,  various  other  lines  of  merchandise,  and  in  both  the  retail 
and  wholesale  departments  a large  and  important  business  is  con- 
trolled. Mr.  Thomas  is  a Democrat  in  his  political  allegiance,  is 
a communicant  of  St.  Patrick’s  church,  Roman  Catholic,  is  affiliated 
with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  the  Royal 
Arcanum,  and  also  holds  membership  in  the  Commercial  club  and 
Country  club. 

Thomas,  Bryan  M.,  a native  of  Georgia,  graduated  at  West 
Point  in  1858,  entered  the  army  as  brevet  second  lieutenant,  and 
was  engaged  in  garrison  and  frontier  duty  until  the  beginning 
of  the  Civil  war.  When  Georgia  seceded  he  at  once  resigned  his 
commission  and  became  a lieutenant  in  the  regular  army  of  the 
Confederacy.  He  served  on  General  Withers’  staff  during  the 
Kentucky  and  Murfreesboro  campaigns ; was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  major,  and  after  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  was  commissioned 
brigadier-general.  After  the  surrender  he  retired  to  his  farm  in 
Dooly  county,  but  subsequently  removed  to  Dalton,  where  he  en- 

Thomas,  Charles  H.,  a resident  of 
Waynesboro,  numbered  among  the 
prominent  planters  of  Burke  county, 
where  his  landed  estate  includes  more 
than  2,000  acres,  was  born  in  Waynes- 
boro, Oct.  13,  1854,  a son  of  Jethro  and 
Nancy  (Cates)  Thomas,  both  of  whom 
were  likewise  born  and  reared  in  Burke 
county.  Prior  to  the  Civil  war  the  fath- 
er was  a successful  planter,  and  after  its 
close  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits 
in  Waynesboro,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  was  a loyal 
soldier  of  the  Confederacy  in  the  war  between  the  states  and  was 
captured  by  the  enemy  and  imprisoned  for  some  time  at  Point 
Lookout.  He  was  twice  married,  the  only  surviving  child  of  the 
first  union  being  Judge  George  C.  Thomas,  a prominent  member  of 
the  bar  of  the  state,  residing  in  the  city  of  Athens.  The  three  sur- 


gaged  in  teaching. 


430 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


viving  children  of  the  second  marriage  are  Charles  H.,  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Kate,  wife  of  C.  T.  Milner,  of  Waynesboro,  and  Jethro 
B.,  also  a resident  of  the  same  city.  The  widowed  mother  still 
lives,  at  a venerable  age.  Charles  H.  received  his  educational 
training  principally  in  the  Hephzibah  high  school  in  Richmond 
county,  continuing  to  attend  school  until  he  had  attained  the  age 
of  nineteen  years,  since  which  time  he  has  devoted  his  attention 
to  mercantile  pursuits  and  the  industry  of  agriculture,  having 
formerly  been  a merchant  in  Waynesboro.  About  1892  he  suffered 
the  amputation  of  his  right  arm,  which  had  been  accidently  caught 
in  a cotton  gin,  and  since  that  time  he  has  given  his  attention  to  the 
management  of  his  plantation,  having  disposed  of  his  store.  He  is 
the  owner  of  three  well  improved  farms  in  his  native  county,  and 
his  average  annual  yield  of  cotton  is  about  200  bales.  Mr.  Thomas 
is  a stanch  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party  but  has  never  sought 
official  preferment.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
church,  and  in  his  early  manhood  he  was  for  several  years  a mem- 
ber of  the  Stonewall  Rifles,  a local  military  organization.  On 
April  8,  1878,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ruth  M.  Miller, 
daughter  of  Dr.  B.  B.  Miller,  formerly  a resident  of  this  county 
but  now  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  have  two  children : 
Nellie,  wife  of  W.  C.  Hillhouse,  of  Waynesboro;  and  Kate  F., 
wife  of  Maj.  W.  A.  Wilkins,  of  the  same  city. 

Thomas  County  was  formed  from  Decatur  and  Irwin  in  1825 
and  was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  a part  of  Lowndes  in  1826. 
In  August,  1905,  a part  was  set  off  to  Grady  county.  It  was  named 
for  Capt.  Jett  Thomas,  who  fought  under  General  Floyd  in  the 
battles  of  Autossee  and  Chalibbee.  The  county  lies  in  the  extreme 
southern  part  of  the  state  and  before  the  partition  of  1905  was 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Mitchell  and  Colquitt  counties,  on  the 
east  by  Brooks,  on  the  south  by  the  State  of  Florida,  and  on  the 
west  by  Decatur  county.  An  elevated  ridge  extends  through  the 
county  from  northeast  to  southwest,  numerous  springs  burst  from 
the  hillsides,  and  a number  of  creeks  flow  from  it,  both  to  the  east 
and  the  west.  The  surface  is  undulating,  in  some  places  becoming 
hilly,  and  the  soil  is  fertile.  The  staple  crops  are  cotton,  sweet 
and  Irish  potatoes,  sugar-cane  and  all  varieties  of  peas.  The  fruits 
are  mainly  apples,  peaches,  pears,  plums,  strawberries,  figs,  grapes 
and  melons.  Much  of  the  land  is  still  covered  with  the  original 
growth  of  yellow  pine,  oak,  hickory,  poplar,  maple,  magnolia,  gum, 
beech  and  other  woods,  which  numerous  sawmills  are  busy  con- 
verting into  lumber  for  the  market.  The  county  has  within  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


431 


last  few  years  become  the  center  of  the  syrup  trade  of  the  state. 
Cairo,  formerly  in  Thomas,  now  the  county  seat  of  Grady  county, 
in  one  year  shipped  10,000  barrels,  valued  at  $100,000.  Two 
branches  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  and  the  Atlantic  & Birming- 
ham railroads  supply  transportation  facilities  and  the  county  roads 
are  kept  in  excellent  condition  for  wagon  traffic.  Thomasville 
is  the  county  seat  and  the  center  of  the  cotton  trade.  Boston, 
Ochlochnee,  Metcalf,  Pavo  and  Meigs  are  other  towns  of  im- 
portance. The  population  of  the  county  in  1900  was  31,076,  an  in- 
crease of  4,922  in  ten  years. 

Thomas,  Edward,  J.,  of  Savannah,  is 
one  of  the  representative  civil  engineers 
of  this  part  of  the  state,  and  is  the  pres- 
ent county  surveyor  of  Chatham  county. 
He  was  born  in  Savannah,  March  25, 
1840,  a son  of  Maj.  John  A.  and  Malvina 
H.  (Huguenin)  Thomas,  the  former 
born  in  McIntosh  county,  Ga.,  and  the 
latter  in  Charleston,  S.  C.  Maj.  John  A. 
Thomas  was  a planter  by  vocation,  in 
McIntosh  county,  and  his  death  occurred 
in  1860.  He  was  a son  of  Jonathan  and 
Mary  Jane  (Baker)  Thomas.  His  wife 
Malvina,  was  a daughter  of  John  and  Eliza  (Vallard)  Huguenin, 
who  were  of  French  Huguenot  stock.  Mrs.  Thomas  survived  her 
husband  by  many  years,  her  death  occurring  in  1895,  and  of  their 
children  four  are  living,  Edward  J.  being  the  only  surviving  son. 
Eliza  is  the  wife  of  John  W.  Magill ; Mary  Jane  is  the  wife  of 
George  .Gaydon ; Malvina  H.  is  unmarried,  and  resides  in  Savannah. 
Edward  J.  Thomas  secured  a good  education  in  the  academic  sense, 
as  well  as  in  the  line  of  his  profession.  He  was  graduated  in  the 
University  of  Georgia  as  a member  of  the  class'  of  1860,  receiving 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  In  early  manhood  he  taught 
school  for  two  terms,  but  his  vocation  during  practically  his  entire 
career  has  been  that  of  civil  engineer.  For  many  years  he  was  the 
civil  engineer  for  the  Savannah  street-car  system  and  for  six  years 
he  has  rendered  most  efficient  service  as  surveyor  of  Chatham  coun- 
ty, being  the  incumbent  of  that  office  at  the  present  time.  His 
loyalty  to  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy  was  manifested  in  no 
equivocal  way  during  the  Civil  war,  through  the  entire  period  of 
which  he  served  as  quartermaster-sergeant  in  the  Fifth  Georgia 
cavalry,  with  Wheeler’s  command  in  Johnston’s  army  and  sur- 


432 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


rendered  at  Greensboro,  N.  C.  He  is  a member  of  the  United  Con- 
federate Veterans;  a stanch  Democrat  in  politics,  a member  of  the 
University  club  of  Georgia  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  St. 
John’s  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  in  Savannah.  On  April  2, 
1862,  Mr.  Thomas  was  married  to  Miss  Alice  G.  Walthour,  daughter 
of  George  W.  and  Mary  (Russell)  Walthour,  of  Walthourville, 
Liberty  county,  Georgia,  and  they  had  seven  children — Abbott, 
Walthour,  Julia  (Mrs.  C.  H.  Gibbes),  Alice  (Mrs.  R.  C.  Gordon), 
Edward  J.,  Jr.,  Huguenin  and  Dr.  Marion  R.  Of  these  Walthour 
died  in  youth,  and  Mrs.  Gibbes  in  1900. 

Thomas,  Edward  L.,  distinguished  as 
an  officer  in  the  Confederate  service  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war,  known  as  a citizen  of 
utmost  loyalty  and  a man  of  exalted 
virtues,  was  an  outstanding  figure  in  the 
history  of  Georgia  during  the  war  be- 
tween the  states,  as  well  as  afterward, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  March  10, 
1898,  was  the  incumbent  of  a responsible 
government  position  in  the  Indian  Ter- 
ritory. He  also  reaped  high  military 
honors  through  his  gallant  service  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Mexican  war.  Gen.  Ed- 
ward Lloyd  Thomas  was  born  in  Clarke  county,  Ga.,  March  23, 
1825,  and  was  a direct  descendant  of  the  well  known  Thomas, 
Lloyd  and  Wiles  families,  which  were  early  founded  in  Maryland. 
His  paternal  grandfather  removed  from  Maryland  to  Virginia, 
and  from  the  Old  Dominion  he  finally  came  to  Georgia,  in  his 
family  at  the  time  being  a young  son,  Edward  Lloyd  Thomas. 
This  son  grew  to  maturity  under  propitious  circumstances  and  be- 
came a man  of  potent  influence  in  the  development  of  the  Empire 
state  of  the  South.  His  parents  were  people  of  noble  character 
and  reared  their  several  children  with  scrupulous  care  and  devotion, 
while  to  their  youngest  son  they  gave  the  full  patronymic  of  the 
sire,  Edward  Lloyd  Thomas.  After  receiving  due  academic  in- 
struction young  Edward  entered  Emory  college  at  Oxford,  Ga., 
where  he  was  graduated  with  honors  as  a member  of  the  class  of 
1846.  In  the  early  spring  of  the  following  year  the  characteristic 
ardor  and  patriotism  of  the  youth  prompted  him  to  enter  the 
service  of  his  country  as  a private  in  a Georgia  regiment  which  had 
been  raised  for  the  Mexican  war.  For  conspicuous  bravery  he  was 
soon  made  a lieutenant,  and  he  took  a spirited  part  in  the  battles 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


433 


on  the  line  between  Vera  Cruz  and  the  city  of  Mexico.  In  one  dar- 
ing charge  upon  the  enemy  he  effected  the  capture  of  Iturbide, 
a member  of  the  staff  of  Santa  Ana.  In  1848  the  legislature  of 
Georgia  adopted  resolutions  commendatory  of  his  gallantry  in  sev- 
eral battles  incidental  to  the  progress  of  the  Mexican  war.  He  was 
tendered  a lieutenancy  in  the  regular  army  of  the  United  States, 
by  George  H.  Crawford,  then  the  secretary  of  war,  but  for  domestic 
reasons  he  declined  the  position.  After  his  retirement  from  the 
military  service  Lieutenant  Thomas  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Jennie  H.  Gray,  of  Talbot  county,  Ga.,  a member  of  one  of  the 
prominent  and  wealthy  families  of  the  state.  He  then  settled  on  his 
large  plantation,  where  he  led  the  life  of  a planter  and  country 
gentleman  until  the  inception  of  the  war  between  the  states.  He 
at  once  gave  evidence  of  his  intrinsic  loyalty  to  the  southern  cause 
by  tendering  his  aid  in  support  of  the  same,  ready  to  sacrifice  all  in 
defense  of  the  principles  and  institutions  in  which  he  so  firmly 
believed.  President  Davis  appointed  him  colonel  and  he  was 
authorized  to  raise  a regiment  in  Georgia.  He  effected  such  an 
organization  and  led  his  regiment  into  prompt  service  in  the  battle 
of  Seven  Pines.  Concerning  his  notable  military  career  as  a soldier 
and  officer  of  the  Confederacy  the  following  epitome  has  been 
written : “When  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines  began  his  regiment  was 
armed  with  old  remodeled  flint-lock  guns,  but  it  came  out  bearing 
the  best  arms  of  the  enemies.  During  the  battle  Brigadier-General 
Pettigrew  was  shot  from  his  horse,  and  the  command  of  the  bri- 
gade devolved  upon  Edward  L.  Thomas  as  the  ranking  colonel. 
The  regiments  were  then  brigaded  by  states,  and  Colonel  Thomas 
was  assigned  to  a brigade  commanded  by  Gen.  J.  R.  Anderson.  In 
the  battles  around  Richmond  General  Anderson  was  transferred 
to  the  control  and  management  of  the  Tredegar  iron  works,  and 
Colonel  Thomas  then  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  brigade. 
He  retained  General  Anderson’s  staff,  which  was  composed  of 
such  brave,  true  men  as  Maj.  Lewis  Ginter,  Maj.  Robert  Taylor 
and  Adjutant-General  Norwood,  all  of  Richmond,  Va.  His  brigade 
was  then  assigned  to  Gen.  A.  P.  Hill’s  light  division,  Stonewall 
Jackson’s  corps.  General  Thomas  was  in  all  the  battles  around 
Richmond  and  was  ordered  to  open  fire  in  the  battle  of  Mechanics- 
ville.  His  command  crossed  the  famous  pond  in  front  of  the 
enemy’s  works  and  held  its  position  with  unsurpassed  bravery  until 
Stonewall  Jackson  came  upon  the  Federal  right  flank.  General 
Thomas  was  wounded  in  this  battle  but  remained  in  the  saddle  and 
fought  in  every  battle  around  Richmond.  He  was  in  every  battle 


28-m 


434 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


fought  by  General  Lee  in  Virginia,  and  only  missed  that  of  Sharps- 
burg,  Md.,  by  reason  of  being  detached  at  Harper’s  Ferry  to  receive 
the  parole  of  the  prisoners  captured  there.  In  the  official  reports 
he  was  frequently  mentioned  by  his  superior  officers  for  gallantry 
in  the  field.  Count  de  Paris,  in  his  history  of  the  war,  states  that 
in  one  of  the  battles,  when  the  front  line  of  the  Confederates  was 
broken  by  the  Federal  forces,  the  manner  in  which  General  Thomas 
moved  his  command  and  struck  their  advancing  column,  turned 
their  confident  victory  into  immediate  and  perfect  defeat.  He  was 
a born  soldier,  by  nature  a tactician.  His  shrewd  military  eye 
would  at  a glance,  even  in  the  thunder  of  battle,  catch  the  enemy’s 
weak  points,  and  his  intrepid  courage  ever  enabled  him  to  strike 
with  telling  force.  His  private  life  was  as  pure  as  his  military 
career  was  courageous  and  stainless.  In  all  his  exciting  experiences 
he  never  was  guilty  of  using  a profane  oath.”  After  the  cessation 
of  hostilities  General  Thomas  lived  a quiet,  retired  life  on  his  plan- 
tation, in  Newton  county,  Ga.,  until  1885,  when  President  Cleve- 
land appointed  him  to  an  important  office  in  the  land  department, 
and  in  1893  he  was  again  given  a prominent  official  preferment  in 
the  same  department,  his  duties  in  these  connections  causing  him 
to  take  up  his  residence  in  the  West,  where  the  last  years  of  his 
life  were  passed.  He  was  a most  appreciative  member  of  the 
United  Confederate  Veterans,  and  was  commander  of  the  Okla- 
homa division  of  the  same  in  1896.  His  wife  is  still  living  at  the 
age  of  seventy-three  years,  in  good  health.  The  other  surviving 
members  of  the  family  are  his  son,  Dr.  Edward  G.  Thomas  of 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  a grandson,  Edward  Garland  Thomas.  For  years 
he  was  connected  with  the  Southern  Methodist  church. 

Thomas,  George  C.,  was  born  in  Burke 
county,  Ga.,  Oct.  20,  1850.  His  father 
was  a farmer.  His  father  J.  Thomas, 
enlisted  in  Company  D,  Fifth  Georgia 
cavalry,  and  spent  three  years  in  the 
army,  during  the  war  between  the  states. 
In  December,  1864,  he  was  captured  by 
the  enemy,  and  kept  confined  in  prison 
at  Point  Lookout  until  after  the  surren- 
der. The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  ed- 
ucated at  Hephzibah  high  school,  from 
which  school  he  went  to  Mercer  univer- 
sity, which  was  then  located  at  Penfield, 
Greene  county,  Ga.,  at  which  university  he  graduated  in  August, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


435 


1869.  After  his  graduation  he  taught  school  in  Wilkes  county 
for  one  year,  then  married  Miss  Anna  M.  McWhorter,  the  youngest 
daughter  of  Moses  E.  McWhorter,  of  Athens,  Ga.,  and  moved  to 
Watkinsville,  Clarke  county,  Ga.,  as  principal  of  the  Watkinsville 
high  school,  where  he  taught  until  September,  1879,  when  he  was 
admitted  to  practice  law.  He  was  soon  thereafter  appointed  judge 
of  the  city  court  of  Oconee,  which  position  he  held  for  four  years. 
He  then  moved  to  Athens,  and  opened  a law  office,  where  he  has 
been  ever  since.  He  was  elected  to  the  general  assembly  in  1896 
and  ’97.  While  a member  of  the  legislature  he  secured  an  appro- 
priation of  $45,000  for  building  purposes,  with  which  to  erect  new 
buildings  on  the  university  campus.  This  was  the  first  appro- 
priation ever  given  the  University  of  Georgia  for  building  new 
houses,  since  which  time  the  institution  has  been  receiving  annually 
like  appropriations.  He  was  one  of  the  most  useful  members  of 
the  general  assembly  that  ever  went  from  Clarke  county,  and  his 
work  there  will  be  a lasting  monument  to  his  skill  and  ability. 
He  is  a great  fraternal  order  man,  being  an  active  member  of 
the  Masons,  Odd  Fellows  and  Red  Men,  and  has  frequently  repre- 
sented each  of  these  orders  in  their  Grand  Lodges.  He,  to-day, 
is  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  lawyers  in  Georgia,  and  has  been 
remarkably  successful  as  a practitioner.  He  married  Miss  Anna 
M.  McWhorter  of  Athens,  Georgia,  in  April,  1872.  His  family 
consists  of  his  wife  and  two  children,  Miss  Mary  McWhorter 
Thomas,  and  Mr.  W.  Milton  Thomas,  who  is  in  the  hardware  bus- 
iness in  Athens.  He  has  held  high  positions  of  trust;  has  always 
been  a Democrat,  frequently  holding  the  positions  of  chairman 
of  his  county  and  district  executive  committees.  He  is  now  filling 
the  office  of  solicitor  of  the  city  court  of  Athens.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Baptist  church,  and  an  uncompromising  prohibitionist. 

Thomas,  Marion  R.,  M.  D.,  is  established  in  the  successful  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  in  the  city  of  Savannah,  where  he  was  born 
on  Feb.  25,  1878,  a son  of  Edward  J.  and  Alice  G.  (Walthour) 
Thomas,  both  born  in  Walthourville,  Liberty  county,  Ga.,  and 
now  reside  in  Savannah,  the  father  being  surveyor  of  Chatham 
county,  a position  which  he  has  held  for  many  years.  Both  the 
Thomas  and  Walthour  families- were  early  established  in  Georgia, 
and  the  names  have  been  prominently  identified  with  the  annals 
of  the  commonwealth.  After  securing  proper  preliminary  discipline 
in  public  and  private  schools  of  his  native  city,  Dr.  M.  R.  Thomas 
began  the  work  of  preparing  himself  for  his  chosen  profession, 
finally  entering  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Mary- 


436 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


land,  where  he  was  graduated  with  honor  as  a member  of  the  class 
of  1902,  receiving  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  He  thereafter 
served  one  year  as  interne  in  the  university  hospital,  and  in  June, 

1903,  opened  an  office  in  Savannah,  where 
he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  general 
practice  of  his  profession.  He  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Medical  Association  of 
Georgia ; the  Georgia  medical  society,  of 
Savannah ; is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  the  Phi  Sigma  Kappa  col- 
lege fraternity.  Pie  and  his  wife  are  com- 
municants of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
church,  being  members  of  the  parish  of 
St.  John’s.  On  June  9,  1903,  Doctor 
Thomas  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Ethel  R.  Butler,  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  and 
they  are  prominent  in  the  social  life  of  Savannah. 

Thomas,  Nathaniel  P.,  of  Waynesboro, 
is  one  of  the  representative  merchants 
and  planters  of  Burke  county,  which  has 
been  his  home  from  the  time  of  his  birth, 
on  April  15,  1863.  He  is  a son  of  Joseph 
H.  and  Geraldine  (Gordon)  Thomas, 
both  now  deceased.  The  father,  who 
was  a native  of  Richmond  county,  was  a 
successful  planter  of  Burke  county  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  and  the  mother 
was  born  and  reared  in  Burke  county. 
Nathaniel  P.  Thomas  passed  his  child- 
hood on  the  homestead  plantation,  and 
after  attending  the  Hephzibah  high  school,  in  Richmond  county, 
he  continued  his  studies  in  a private  school  in  the  city  of  Augusta 
until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  At  the  age  of  six- 
teen he  began  farming  on  his  own  responsibility,  and  during  all 
the  intervening  years  he  has  been  identified  with  plantation  in- 
dustry in  Burke  county,  having  been  very  successful  and  is  now 
one  of  the  leading  cotton-growers  of  this  section  as  well  as 
one  of  the  prominent  merchants  of  Waynesboro,  where  he  has  a 
well  stocked  and  well  appointed  general  store.  In  1894  he  turned 
his  plantation  interests  over  to  capable  overseers,  and  established 
his  mercantile  enterprise,  to  which  he  has  since  given  his  personal 
supervision,  and  has  built  up  a large  business.  He  is  a director 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


437 


of  the  Citizens’  bank  and  also  of  the  Waynesboro  Grocery  Com- 
pany, a wholesale  concern.  His  political  allegiance  is  given  to  the 
Democracy,  and  he  is  a member  of  the  board  of  stewards  of  the 
local  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  of  which  Mrs.  Thomas 
also  is  a devoted  member.  He  is  identified  with  the  Waynesboro 
Lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  which  he  is  a past  chancellor, 
and  enjoys  marked  popularity  in  his  native  county.  On  Feb.  11, 
1885,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Thomas  to  Miss  Emma 
Thomas  Marsh,  of  Savannah,  Georgia,  and  they  have  three  daugh- 
ters,— Natalie,  Georgia  Estelle,  and  Marian  M. 

Thomaston,  the  county  seat  of  Upson  county,  on  the  Macon  & 
Birmingham  railroad,  and  connected  with  Barnesville  by  a branch 
road  of  the  Central  of  Georgia,  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the 
legislature  in  1857,  but  was  the  county  seat  many  years  before  that 
time  and  had  a cotton  factory  doing  excellent  work.  It  was  also 
a point  of  distribution  of  the  products  of  three  other  factories  of 
Upson  county,  of  which  the  Franklin  factory  was  first  operated 
in  1833  and  the  Wayman  factory  in  1841.  All  of  these  were  in  pros- 
perous condition  until  ruined  by  the  war.  Thomaston  has  a court 
house,  money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  two  banks, 
telegraph  and  express  offices,  many  prosperous  stores,  a cotton 
mill  with  175  looms  and  6,000  spindles,  a successful  cotton  oil 
mill  and  many  smaller  enterprises.  The  streets,  stores  and  res- 
idences are  lighted  by  electricity.  Several  Christian  sects  have 
churches  and  there  is  an  excellent  system  of  public  schools.  The 
R.  E.  Lee  institute  enjoys  a fine  reputation  as  a school  for  boys  and 
girls.  It  has  a large  and  beautiful  auditorium  that  would  reflect 
credit  on  a much  larger  town.  According  to  the  census  of  1900 
the  population  was  1,714,  and  the  entire  district  contained  3,098 
people. 

Thomas’  Station,  in  Burke  county,  is  some  six  or  seven  miles 
south  of  Waynesboro  on  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway.  Here 
there  was  sharp  fighting  between  the  cavalry  forces  of  Wheeler 
and  Kilpatrick  on  Nov.  27,  and  Dec.  3,  1864,  Kilpatrick  being  sup- 
ported in  the  latter  engagement  by  Baird’s  division  of  infantry. 

Thomasville,  the  county  seat  and  largest  town  of  Thomas  coun- 
ty, was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1831.  Two  of  the 
main  branches  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  (Plant  System)  cross 
each  other  at  Thomasville  and  this  city  is  also  the  southern  termi- 
nus of  one  division  of  the  Atlantic  & Birmingham  railroad.  It 
has  a money  order  postoffice,  three  banks,  telegraph  and  express 
offices,  many  prosperous  mercantile  establishments  and  various 


438 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


important  manufacturing  enterprises,  among  which  are  the  rail- 
road shops  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line,  three  shops  for  repairing 
vehicles,  two  sash  and  blind  factories  and  a foundry.  Near  the 
city  are  turpentine  distilleries,  grist  mills  and  ginneries.  Thomas- 
ville  is  a shipping  point  for  cotton,  syrup  from  Georgia  cane,  lum- 
ber and  naval  stores.  It  has  good  hotels,  which  in  the  winter 
season  are  filled  with  tourists  from  the  North  seeking  health  or 
pleasure,  and  a number  of  winter  residences  of  prominent  men, 
among  whom  was  the  late  United  States  senator,  Marcus  A.  Hanna. 
The  city  has  waterworks  and  a good  system  of  sewers.  The  natural 
drainage  is  perfect,  the  water  running  off  in  every  direction.  The 
whole  city  is  lighted  by  electricity  and  has  every  convenience  for 
household  comfort  that  can  be  found  in  places  many  times  its  size. 
The  town  has  long  been  noted  for  its  excellent  schools.  The 
Young  female  college,  located  here,  has  been  absorbed  by  the 
public  school  system.  The  South  Georgia  military  and  agricul- 
tural college  was  opened  in  1879.  Methodists,  Baptists,  Episco- 
palians, Presbyterians/Bible  Christians  (or  Disciples)  and  Roman 
Catholics  all  have  churches  here.  The  population  in  1900  was 
5,322  and  the  whole  militia  district  contained  9,172. 

Thompson,  Robert  F.,  mayor  of  East  Point,  Fulton  county,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  the  real-estate  and  fire-insurance  business,  was 
born  at  Cave  Springs,  Floyd  county,  Ga.,  Jan.  1,  1857,  a son  of  Dr. 
James  D.  and  Mary  E.  A.  (Baskin)  Thompson,  the  former  born  in 
Jackson  county  and  the  latter  in  Carroll  county,  Ga.  Both  fam- 
ilies were  represented  in  the  Continental  line  during  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  and  were  early  founded  in  Virginia  and  the  Carolinas, 
while  both  also  found  representation  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Georgia.  Dr.  James  D.  Thompson  was  an  able  and  prominent 
physician  and  surgeon,  and  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  for  many  years,  his  death  occurring,  in  Fulton  county, 
in  1877.  He  was  graduated  in  Macon  medical  college  and  was 
successful  in  the  work  of  his  exacting  and  noble  profession.  His 
widow  still  survives  him  and  resides  in  East  Point.  Robert  F. 
Thompson  secured  his  educational  discipline  in  the  public  and 
private  schools  of  Fulton  county,  and  in  1878  engaged  in  the  gen- 
eral merchandise  business  at  East  Point,  being  identified  with  this 
enterprise  several  years.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  the 
newspaper  business,  becoming  editor  of  the  Plow  Boy,  which  he 
conducted  for  several  years,  after  which  he  was  for  a time  engaged 
with  the  AVhite  Hickory  Wagon  Company,  retaining  his  residence 
in  East  Point  consecutively.  In  1900  he  established  himself  in 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


439 


the  real-estate  and  fire-insurance  business,  in  which  he  is  still  con- 
tinues, and  has  built  up  a large  and  successful  business  in  both 
departments.  He  represents  four  of  the  leading  fire-insurance 
companies,  handles  real  estate,  both  improved  and  unimproved 
town  properties,  as  well  as  farming  and  timber  lands,  and  he  has 
at  all  times  most  desirable  investment  represented  on  his  books. 
He  is  one  of  the  progressive  and  public-spirited  citizens  of  East 
Point,  to  whose  advancement  and  civic  prosperity  he  has  contrib- 
uted in  large  measure,  through  private  enterprise  and  public  serv- 
ice. In  politics  he  maintains  an  independent  attitude.  In  1895 
he  was  elected  mayor  of  his  home  town,  and  is  now  serving  his 
seventh  term  as  chief  executive  of  the  municipal  government.  He 
and  his  Avife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  he  is  af- 
filiated with  the  Masonic  fraternity.  On  Oct.  4,  1893,  Mr.  Thomp- 
son was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Callie  Standish,  daughter  of 
Miles  Standish,  of  Omaha,  Neb.,  and  a lineal  descendant  of  the  New 
England  Puritan  of  the  same  name  as  her  father.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thompson  ha\re  two  children, — Robert  and  Ruth. 

Thompson,  Thomas  McIntosh,  who 
died  at  his  home,  in  Greene  county,  Ga., 
Dec.  6,  1882,  was  born  in  that  county, 
Aug.  2,  1818,  and  Avas  a member  of  one 
of  the  old  and  honored  families  of  that 
section  of  the  commonwealth.  He  was 
a son  of  Thomas  and  Lucy  Hester 
Thompson,  the  former  born  in  Halifax 
county,  Va.,  in  1779,  and  the  latter  in 
Clarke  county,  Ga.,  in  1800.  Harmon 
Thompson,  of  Halifax  county,  grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  memoir, 
ser\red  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and 
of  the  same  family  line  was  Hon.  Rich- 
ard W.  Thompson,  who  served  as  secretary  of  the  navy,  1877-81. 
The  maternal  grandmother  was  a daughter  of  Robert  Greenwood, 
a direct  descendant  from  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  England. 
Thomas  McIntosh  Thompson  secured  his  early  educational  dis- 
cipline at  Covington,  Ga.,  where  he  was  a pupil  of  Dr.  Alexander 
Means,  a prominent  local  educator  of  the  time.  At  the  time  of 
the  remoA'al  of  the  Cherokee  Indians  to  the  Avest  Mr.  Thompson 
enlisted  as  a member  of  Company  I,  commanded  by  Captain  Vin- 
cent, of  Clarke  county,  in  a Georgia  regiment  Avhich  assisted  in 
conducting  the  Indians  to  the  neAV  quarters,  and  Avas  ensign  of 


BURDELL  L.  THOMPSON. 


440 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


his  company,  being-  the  youngest  commissioned  officer  in  the  regi- 
ment. In  1863  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Confederate  ranks,  as 
a private  in  Cook’s  battalion,  and  taking  part  in  the  engagements 
around  Atlanta,  at  Jonesboro,  Griswoldville,  and  Savannah,  as  well 
as  others  of  minor  importance.  He  was  promoted  to  the  office  of 
sergeant  and  later  transferred  to  the  commissary  department,  in 
which  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  When  but  eighteen 
years  of  age  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  but  his  health 
became  impaired  and  he  finally  retired  to  his  farm,  in  Green 
county,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  long  and  useful  life, 
which  was  marked  by  the  most  inflexible  integrity  in  all  its  rela- 
tions. He  was  a stanch  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  but  preferred  private  life  and  thus  refused  to  become 
a candidate  for  office.  His  religious  faith  was  that  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  South.  On  Aug.  2,  1841,  Mr.  Thompson 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ann  R.  Hillsman,  daughter  of  Mica- 
jah  and  Nancy  Ann  (Barnett)  Hillsman,  of  Morgan  county,  Ga., 
and  she  died  July  22,  1875.  Following  is  a brief  record  concern- 
ing the  children  of  this  union:  Thomas  Waddy  is  a resident  of 

St.  Augustine,  Fla.;  Henry  C.  and  Walter  P.  reside  in  Atlanta; 
William  B.  died  in  1902,  at  Woodlawn,  Ala.;  Robert  M.  died  in 
Santiago  de  Cuba,  in  1895;  Guy  Percival  died  in  infancy;  Burdell 
L.  resides  in  Atlanta  and  Lucy  in  Griffin,  Ga. ; Anna  T.  died  in 
1876;  and  Emma  A.  and  Clara  B.  reside  in  Atlanta.  Micajah  Hills- 
man, father  of  Mrs.  Ann  R.  Thompson,  was  born  in  Hillsboro, 
N.  C.,  in  1779.  His  parents  were  massacred  by  the  Indians  when 
he  was  but  thirteen  years  of  age,  and  later,  in  company  with  his 
older  brother,  Bennett,  and  sister  Patsy,  he  came  to  Georgia,  set- 
tling at  White  Plains,  Green  county.  Patsy  married  a man  named 
Early,  and  a number  of  their  descendants  still  reside  in  that  county. 
Micajah  Hillsman  finally  settled  in  Morgan  county.  He  first 
married  a daughter  of  Capt.  Frank  Clark,  of  Clarke  county,  and 
after  her  death  he  wedded  Nancy  Ann  Barnett,  daughter  of  Leon- 
ard Barnett,  whose  possessions  included  a water-power  on  the 
Oconee  river,  the  locality  still  being  known  as  Barnett’s  Shoals. 
It  was  at  this  place  that  occurred  probably  the  last  Indian  out- 
break in  that  section  of  the  state,  one  of  Leonard  Barnett’s 
sons  and  a negro  being  killed,  and  a little  daughter  threatened,  but 
as  the  savage  drew  back  his  arm  to  strike  her  she  threw  up  her 
tiny  hand  and  said,  “If  you  hit  me  I will  kill  you.”  The  Indian, 
evidently  admiring  the  courage  of  the  little  maid,  allowed  her  to 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


441 


live.  Leonard  Barnett  was  an  uncle  of  Hon.  Nathan  Barnett,  who 
was  for  many  years  secretary  of  the  state  of  Georgia. 

Thompson,  Wiley,  was  a native  of  Amelia  county,  Va.,  but  upon 
reaching  manhood  removed  to  Elberton,  Ga.  Here  he  took  an  ac- 
tive interest  in  public  affairs,  filled  several  local  offices  with  abil- 
ity and  fidelity,  and  in  1820  was  elected  representative  in  Con- 
gress. He  was  reelected  at  each  succeeding  election  until  1830, 
serving  twelve  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  retired 
to  private  life. 

Thompson,  William  T.,  author,  was  a native  of  Ohio,  but  was 
one  of  Georgia’s  earliest  and  most  popular  literary  characters.  His 
most  noted  works  are  Major  Jones’  Courtship,  Major  Jones’ 
Travels,  The  Live  Indian,  and  The  Chronicles  of  Pineville.  It 
has  been  said  of  him  that  “As  a humorist  and  portrayer  of  rural 
life  and  manners  he  had  no  superior  in  his  generation.”  He  re- 
mained a prominent  figure  in  journalism  and  politics  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  at  Savannah  in  1882. 

Thomson,  the  county  seat  of  McDuffie  county,  is  located  on  the 
Georgia  railroad  and  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in 
1854.  The  population  of  the  town  in  1900  was  1,154  and  of  the 
district  3,843.  It  has  two  banks,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a 
money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  an  oil  and  fer- 
tilizer works,  a cotton  mill,  and  several  prosperous  mercantile  es- 
tablishments. 


Thomson,  Thomas  Freeman,  of  Sa- 
vannah, tax  collector  for  Chatham  county, 
was  born  in  Macon,  Bibb  county,  Ga., 
July  12,  1850,  a son  of  Dr.  Methven 
Smith  and  Mary  Ann  Elizabeth  (Free- 
man) Thomson,  the  former  born  in 
Perth,  Scotland,  Jan.  7,  1815,  and  the  lat- 
ter on  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  14, 
1824,  a daughter  of  Azel  Roe  Freeman, 
a veteran  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  who  re- 
moved to  Macon  in  1827.  Doctor  Thom- 
son removed  to  Georgia  in  the  40’s,  and 
became  one  of  the  leading  physicians  and 
influential  citizens  of  Macon,  of  which  city  he  was  mayor  for  three 
successive  terms, — in  1860-66.  After  due  preliminary  training 
Thomas  F.  Thomson  was  matriculated  in  the  University  of  Geor- 
gia, and  was  a student  in  this  institution  for  one  year  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  class  of  1870.  In  1870  he  became  bookkeeper  for  the 


442 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


firm  of  Champion  & Freeman,  of  Savannah,  and  held  this  position 
until  October,  of  the  following  year,  when  he  assumed  the  posi- 
tion of  bookkeeper  in  the  Southern  bank  of  the  State  of  Georgia, 
Savannah,  retaining  this  incumbency  until  October  1,  1877,  when 
he  took  a similar  position  in  the  Merchants’  National  bank,  of  the 
same  city,  tie  remained  with  this  institution  until  1885,  when  he 
became  first  cashier  of  the  National  bank  of  Savannah,  and  served 
as  such  until  1906.  In  March,  1901,  Mr.  Thomson  was  first  elected 
to  his  present  office,  that  of  tax  collector  of  Chatham  county,  this 
being  the  only  political  office  he  has  ever  held,  and  which  he  now 
holds,  though  he  has  been  a stanch  supporter  of  the  cause  of  the 
Democratic  party.  He  is  an  official  member  of  Trinity  Meth- 
odist church,  of  Savannah,  of  which  Mrs.  Thomson  also  is  a zeal- 
ous member.  He  is  a life  member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protec- 
tive Order  of  Elks,  a veteran  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  a member  of  the  following  Masonic  bodies : Zerrubbabel 

Lodge,  No.  15,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  Georgia  Chapter,  No. 
3,  Royal  Arch  Masons ; Georgia  Council,  No.  3,  Royal  & Select 
Masters,  Palestine  Commandery,  No.  7,  Knights  Templars,  Alpha 
Lodge  of  Perfection,  Temple  Chapter,  Gethsemane  Council,  and 
Benzabee  Consistory,  of  the  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite,  hav- 
ing attained  to  the  thirty-second  degree  of  this  branch  of  the  fra- 
ternity; and  Alee  Temple  of  the  Ancient  Arabic  Order,  Nobles  of 
the  Mystic  Shrine.  On  March  25,  1874,  Mr.  Thomson  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Margaret  Jane  Meldrim,  daughter  of  Ralph 
and  Jane  (Fawcett)  Meldrim,  of  Savannah,  both  of  whom  are  now 
deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomson  have  six  children — Ralph  Meth- 
ven,  Thomas  Flarris,  Robert  Corley,  Edward  Gaudry,  Margaret 
Meldrim,  and  Meldrim.  Dr.  Ralph  M.,  the  eldest  son,  is  a graduate 
of  Tulane  university,  New  Orleans,  and  is  a successful  physician 
and  surgeon.  He  married  Miss  Bessie  Howard,  of  Hazlehurst, 
Miss.,  on  June  28,  1898.  Rev.  Thomas  IT  Thomson,  the  second 
son,  is  a clergyman  of  the  Methodist  church.  On  Dec.  2,  1901, 
he  married  Miss  Nellie  Lachlison,  daughter  of  Captain  James  Lach- 
lison,  of  Darien,  Ga.  Robert  C.  was  married  Feb.  22,  1902,  to  Miss 
Parmelia  Evans  Patillo.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomson  have  three  grand- 
children— Thomas  F.,  Jr.,  and  Robert  P.,  sons  of  Robert  C.  and  Par- 
melia E.  Thomson ; and  Eunice,  daughter  of  Rev.  Thomas  IT  and 
Nellie  Thomson. 

Thrift,  a post-village  of  Jenkins  county,  with  a population  of  61 
in  1900,  is  on  the  Millen  & Southwestern  railroad,  ten  miles  from 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


443 


Millen.  It  has  some  mercantile  interests  and  does  considerable 
shipping. 

Thunder,  a post-village  of  Upson  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Macon  & Birmingham  railroad,  near  the  Flint  river.  It  has  some 
mercantile  interests,  an  express  office,  etc. 

Thunderbolt,  a post-town  of  Chatham  county,  is  about  five  miles 
southeast  of  the  city  of  Savannah,  on  one  of  the  numerous  inlets, 
along  which  are  several  oyster  fisheries.  The  population  in  1900 
was  300.  It  is  a favorite  suburban  resort  for  the  people  of  Savan- 
nah and  is  connected  with  that  city  by  an  electric  railway.  It  has 
a theatre  and  a number  of  popular  amusement  features.  The  place 
received  its  name  from  an  account  of  General  Oglethorpe,  to  the 
effect  that  a thunderbolt  fell  there  and  opened  a spring,  which  still 
has  a sulphurous  odor.  By  the  act  of  March  3,  1856,  the  name 
was  changed  to  AAffirsaw  and  under  that  name  the  place  was  in- 
corporated. But  custom  refused  to  sanction  the  change  and  the 
old  name  of  Thunderbolt  remains. 

Thyre,  a post-village  of  Screven  county,  with  a population  of  57, 
is  on  the  Little  Ogeechee  river,  six  miles  south  of  Sylvania,  which 
is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Tibet,  a post-hamlet  of  Liberty  county,  is  fifteen  miles  south  of 
Hinesville.  Johnston  Station,  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  railroad, 
is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Tickanetley,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Gilmer 
county,  is  in  the  valley  of  the  Cartecay  river,  near  the  western  base 
of  the  Blue  Ridge.  The  nearest  railroad  town  is  Ellijay. 

Ticknor,  a post-village  of  Colquitt  county,  is  on  the  Georgia 
Northern  railroad,  not  far  from  the  Worth  county  line. 

Tift  County,  organized  by  act  of  the  legislature  on  August  17, 
1905,  and  laid  off  from  Berrien,  Irwin  and  Worth  counties,  was 
named  in  honor  of  Hon.  Nelson  Tift,  a gentleman  prominent  in 
advancing  every  enterprise  calculated  to  promote  the  interest  of 
the  Southern  section  of  Georgia.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Turner  and  Irwin  counties,  east  by  Berrien  and  Irwin,  south  by 
Colquitt  and  Berrien  and  Avest  by  Worth.  It  is  watered  by  the 
Allapaha  and  Little  rivers  and  their  branches.  It  is  traversed  by 
the  Atlantic  & Birmingham,  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  and  the  Geor- 
gia, Southern  & Florida  railways,  all  of  which  pass  through  the 
toAvn  of  Tifton,  which  is  the  county  seat.  The  soil  in  some  parts 
is  gray  and  sandy,  in  others  it  is  rich,  loamy  and  dark,  with  a good 
clay  subsoil.  The  agricultural  products  are  corn,  cotton,  oats, 
Irish  and  sweet  potatoes,  field  peas,  ground  peas,  sugar-cane  and 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


444 

hay  from  native  grasses.  The  horticultural  products  are  vegetables 
of  all  varieties,  peaches,  grapes,  cherries,  plums,  peas,  figs  and 
watermelons.  The  forest  timbers  are  chiefly  the  long  leaf  pine 
and  cypress,  which  give  employment  to  saw  mills  and  turpentine 
distilleries.  The  minerals  are  brick  clay  and  marls.  Near  Tifton 
are  several  large  vineyards,  producing  grapes  unsurpassed  in 
flavor.  The  county  is  in  the  Second  congressional  district  and 
Southern  judicial  circuit. 

Tift,  Nelson,  founder  of  the  city  of  Al- 
bany and  for  many  years  prominent  in 
Georgia  affairs,  was  a son  of  Amos  and 
Hannah  Tift  and  was  born  at  Groton, 
Conn.,  July  23,  1810.  At  the  age  of  six- 
teen years  he  left  home  and  went  to 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  where  he  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits  until  1835,  when  he 
located  in  southwest  Georgia.  At  that 
time  he  was  but  twenty-five  years  old, 
but  with  a foresight  worthy  of  a man 
of  more  mature  years  he  saw  the  possi- 
bilities of  that  section  of  the  state  and 
became  the  founder  of  Albany,  to  the  advancement  and  prosperity 
of  which  city  he  devoted  the  energy  and  enthusiasm  of  youth, 
combined  with  the  wisdom  and  judgment  of  age.  Soon  after  set- 
tling at  Albany  he  married  Miss  Annie  Maria  Mercer,  a niece  of 
the  noted  Baptist  minister,  Jesse  Mercer,  whose  name  is  now 
borne  by  Mercer  university,  one  of  the  leading  educational  institu- 
tions of  the  state.  To  this  union  were  born  two  sons  and  five 
daughters,  viz.:  Nelson  F.,  James  M.,  Annie  Tift  Rawson,  Fannie 
Tift  Nelson,  Isabel  Tift  Mitchell,  Clara  Tift  Woolfolk  and  Irene 
Tift  Mann.  All  lived  to  maturity,  married  and  their  descendants 
still  live  to  perpetuate  the  name  and  memory  of  Albany’s  origin- 
ater  and  architect.  About  1844  Mr.  Tift  established  the  Patriot,  a 
weekly  newspaper,  which  attained  much  prominence  and  wielded  a 
large  influence  in  public  and  industrial  affairs.  This  paper  was  the 
progenitor  of  the  present  Albany  Daily  Herald.  During  the  50’s 
he  held  successively  the  offices  of  justice  of  the  peace,  judge  of  the 
inferior  court,  and  was  appointed  colonel  of  militia  for  the  district. 
When  the  Civil  war  broke  out  Mr.  Tift  virtually  gave  up  his  priv- 
ate business  interests  and  devoted  his  energies  to  furthering  the 
cause  of  the  Confederacy.  About  this  time  he  was  joined  by  his 
brother,  Asa  F.  Tift,  who  came  to  Albany  as  a refugee  from  his 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


445 


home  at  Key  West,  Fla.,  and  together  they  established  a large  beef 
and  pork  packing  house  at  Albany,  from  which  large  quantities  of 
provisions  were  issued  for  the  use  of  the  Confederate  States  navy. 
Subsequently  they  erected  a large  cracker  or  “hard  tack”  factory, 
a grist  mill  and  a barrel  factory,  the  products  of  which  were  turned 
over  to  the  Confederate  government  for  the  use  of  the  soldiers  and 
sailors  who  were  fighting  the  battles  of  the  South.  In  1863  the 
two  brothers,  under  the  approval  and  by  the  direction  of  the  secre- 
tary of  the  Confederate  States  navy,  S.  R.  Mallory,  began  the  con- 
struction of  the  ram  “Mississippi”  at  New  Orleans.  The  vessel 
was  built  on  novel  lines,  entirely  the  conception  of  Mr.  Tift,  and 
was  pronounced  by  the  best  experts  of  the  navy  department  to  be 
the  most  formidable  gunboat  in  the  navy  of  either  government, 
while  many  did  not  hesitate  to  assert  that  it  alone  would  have  been 
sufficient  to  successfully  defend  the  city  of  New  Orleans.  Un- 
fortunately the  vessel  was  never  given  an  opportunity  to  test  its 
efficiency,  for  when  it  was  almost  completed  Admiral  Farragut 
ran  past  the  forts  and  captured  the  city.  The  “Mississippi”  was 
burned  by  its  builders  to  prevent  its  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
Federal  fleet.  They  then  went  to  Savannah,  where,  at  the  request 
of  Secretary  Mallory,  they  transformed  a merchant  vessel  into  a 
gunboat  called  the  “Atlanta.”  The  vessel  was  run  aground  on 
its  first  trip  and  destroyed  to  keep  it  from  falling  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy.  All  the  work  of  the  two  brothers  for  the  Confeder- 
ate cause  was  done  without  compensation,  an  indisputable  evi- 
dence of  their  loyalty.  After  the  war  Neslon  Tift  entered  with 
characteristic  zeal  and  energy  into  the  work  of  ridding  his  state 
of  “carpet-bag”  rule.  He  was  one  of  the  first  Southern  Democrats 
to  be  elected  to  Congress,  where  his  untiring  and  persistent  efforts 
in  behalf  of  his  constituents  did  much  toward  alleviating  the  op- 
pression of  the  reconstruction  era.  He  was  again  elected  to  Con- 
gress in  1870,  but  his  seat  was  contested  by  R.  H.  Whitely,  who 
was  finally  given  the  seat,  though  it  was  evident  that  Mr.  Tift 
was  the  rightful  choice  of  the  people  of  his  district.  He  then 
turned  his  attention  to  the  construction  of  railroads,  projecting 
and  carrying  to  completion  no  less  than  four  distinct  lines.  His 
interest  in  the  city  of  Albany  was  proverbial.  Full  of  confidence 
in  its  future  he  never  hesitated  to  spend  his  money  in  advancing 
its  interests,  and  today  the  city  owes  much  to  his  patriotic  and 
well  timed  efforts.  His  last  public  service  of  any  consequence  was 
as  a delegate  to  the  constitutional  convention  of  1877,  in  which  his 
sound  judgment  and  wide  experience  wielded  a potent  influence 


446 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


in  the  formation  of  Georgia’s  organic  law.  His  characteristics 
were  an  indomitable  will  that  was  seldom  frustrated ; an  untiring- 
energy  that  overcame  all  obstacles;  a foresight  that  was  almost 
phenomenal ; a temper  that  was  always  well  controlled ; a courage 
that  nothing  could  daunt;  an  integrity  that  was  unimpeachable;  a 
kind,  sympathetic  nature,  and  a smile  which  the  immortal  Henry 
Grady  said  was  irresistible.  His  death  occurred  in  Albany  on  Nov. 
21,  1891,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  Tift  county,  created  in 
August,  1905,  was  named  in  his  honor. 

Tifton,  the  county  seat  of  Tift  county,  is  located  at  the  junction 
of  the  Georgia  Southern  & Florida,  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  and 
the  Atlantic  & Birmingham  railways.  It  was  incorporated  by  act 
of  the  legislature  in  1891,  in  1900  the  population  of  the  town  was 
1,384  and  of  the  district  in  which  it  is  situated  3,145.  It  has  saw- 
mills, a foundry,  a canning  establishment,  cotton  mills,  machine 
works,  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  express 
and  telegraph  service,  three  banks  and  good  school  and  church 
privileges.  Near  the  town  are  large  orchards  and  vineyards  and 
great  quantities  of  fruits  are  annually  shipped  from  this  point. 

Tiger,  a town  in  Rabun  county,  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the 
legislature  on  August  13,  1904.  Its  population  in  1900  was  but 
36.  It  is  located  on  the  Tallulah  Falls  railroad,  about  four  miles 
southwest  of  Clayton,  has  a money  order  postoffice,  some  mercan- 
tile concerns,  and  since  the  completion  of  the  railroad  to  Clayton 
is  growing  in  importance. 

Tignall,  a village  of  Wilkes  county,  with  a population  of  67,  is 
about  twelve  miles  due  north  of  Washington,  which  is  the  nearest 
railroad  station.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  several  free 
delivery  routes  radiating  from  it,  and  is  the  chief  trading  center 
for  that  section  of  the  county. 

Tilda,  a post-hamlet  of  Milton  county,  is  three  miles  southeast 
of  Alpharetta,  on  a tributary  of  the  Chattahoochee  river.  The  rail- 
road towns  of  Roswell  and  Duluth  are  about  equally  distant. 

Tilton,  a town  in  the  southern  part  of  Whitfield  county,  is  a sta- 
tion on  the  Western  & Atlantic  railroad.  It  has  express  and  tele- 
graph offices,  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery, 
several  stores  and  good  school  and  church  privileges.  The  popu- 
lation in  1900  was  194.  On  May  13,  1864,  while  the  military  opera- 
tions around  Dalton  were  in  progress  there  was  a skirmish  near 
this  point  between  Wheeler’s  cavalry  and  a detachment  of  Fed- 
eral troops,  in  which  the  former  scored  a victory.  During  the  war 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


447 


there  was  an  armory  at  Tilton  that  turned  out  a large  number  of 
swords  and  sabers  for  the  Confederate  service. 

Tinkle,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Tattnall  county, 
is  about  three  miles  west  of  Coe,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  sta- 
tion. 

Tison,  a post-hamlet  of  Tattnall  county,  is  located  about  seven 
miles  west  of  Glennville,  and  is  a trading  center  for  that  part  of 
the  county. 

Titus,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Towns  county, 
is  near  the  source  of  the  Hiawassee  river.  The  nearest  railroad 
station  is  Clayton. 

Tivola,  a post-hamlet  of  Houston  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Georgia  Southern  & Florida  railroad,  at  the  point  where  it  crosses 
Mossy  creek.  It  has  a small  local  trade  and  does  some  shipping. 

Tobacco  was,  up  to  the  invention  of  the  cotton  gin,  the  chief 
agricultural  product  raised  for  market,  but  by  the  invention  of  this 
machine  the  cultivation  of  cotton  was  made  so  much  more  profit- 
able that  the  planting  of  tobacco  was  practically  abandoned.  At 
this  time  it  is  grown  only  in  small  quantities  for  domestic  use  in 
the  upper  counties  of  the  state,  and  in  Decatur  county,  where  an 
excellent  quality  of  cigar  tobacco,  almost  equal  to  the  Cuban  va- 
riety, is  largely  cultivated. 

Tobesofkee,  a post-village  of  Bibb  county,  with  a population  of 
56,  is  a station  on  the  Georgia  Southern  & Florida  railroad,  ten 
miles  south  of  Macon. 

Tobesofkee  Creek,  a little  stream  which  rises  in  the  central  part 
of  Monroe  county,  flows  southeast  and  empties  into  the  Ocmulgee 
river  a few  miles  below  Macon.  On  April  20,  1865,  as  Wilson’s 
cavalry  was  making  a demonstration  against  Macon,  they  encoun- 
tered a small  body  of  Confederates  on  this  creek  and  a sharp  skir- 
mish followed,  the  Confederates  gradually  falling  back  toward  the 
city. 

Tobler,  a post-hamlet  in  the  eastern  part  of  Upson  county,  is  not 
far  from  the  Monroe  county  line.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is 
Yatesville,  two  miles  east. 

Toccoa,  the  county  seat  of  the  new  county  of  Stephens,  was  in- 
corporated by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1875  and  has  had  a steady 
and  rapid  growth.  It  is  on  the  main  line  of  the  Southern  railway 
running  northeast  from  Atlanta  and  is  the  northern  terminus  of  a 
branch  road  of  the  same  system,  which  connects  Toccoa  with  El- 
berton,  and  through  a short  railroad  with  Hartwell.  Although 
built  since  the  Civil  war,  it  had  by  the  census  of  1900  a population 


448 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


of  2,176,  while  the  entire  Toccoa  district  contained  3,419  people. 
It  has  an  international  money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  de- 
livery, many  successful  business  houses,  a leather  manufacturing 
company,  a sash  and  blind  factory,  furniture  works,  saw-mills,  a 
cotton  seed  oil  mill,  fertilizer  works,  two  banks  and  a cot- 
ton mill  of  5,000  spindles.  Toccoa  was  chartered  as  a city  by 
act  of  the  legislature  in  1897  and  will  soon  build  a court  house 
worthy  of  her  new  dignity  as  the  capital  of  Stephens  county.  The 
inhabitants  enjoy  the  very  best  school  and  church  privileges. 

Toledo,  a post-village  of  Charlton  county,  is  on  the  St.  Mary’s 
river,  about  twelve  miles  above  Trader’s  Hill.  The  nearest  rail- 
road town  is  Cutler,  seven  miles  south  on  the  Georgia  Southern  & 
Florida. 

Tom,  a post-hamlet  of  Johnson  county,  is  a station  on  the  Wad- 
ley  & Mount  Vernon  railroad,  and  is  not  far  from  the  Emanuel 
county  line. 

Tomochichi. — This  chief,  or  mico,  of  the  Yanracraw  Indians 
was  the  chief  factor  on  the  part  of  the  red  men  in  the  negotiation 
of  the  treaty  of  May  21,  1733,  Mary  Musgrove  acting  as  inter- 
preter. In  April,  1834,  Tomochichi,  accompanied  by  his  wife,  his 
nephew,  and  several  of  his  tribesmen,  visited  England  with  Ogle- 
thorpe and  spent  four  months  in  that  country.  While  there  he 
urged  the  trustees  to  settle  by  established  rules  the  prices,  weights 
and  measures  of  goods  designed  for  the  Indian  trade,  and  to  allow 
none  but  licensed  traders  to  deal  with  his  people.  He  remained 
the  stanch  friend  of  Oglethorpe  as  long  as  he  lived.  His  death 
occurred  in  1739,  when  he  was  supposed  to  be  about  ninety-seven 
years  of  age.  At  his  request  his  body  was  buried  in  the  court- 
house square,  in  the  city  of  Savannah.  The  place  is  now  marked 
by  a huge,  irregular-shaped  block  of  granite,  upon  one  side  of 
which  is  a bronze  tablet,  bearing  the  inscription  : 

“In  memory  of  Tomochichi,  the  Mico  of  the  Yamacraws,  the 
Companion  of  Oglethorpe,  and  the  Friend  and  Ally  of  the  Colony 
of  Georgia,  this  Stone  Has  Been  Here  Placed  by  the  Georgia  So- 
ciety of  the  Colonial  Dames  of  America.  1739-1899.” 

Tompkins,  a post-hamlet  of  Camden  county,  is  six  miles  west 
of  Colesburg,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Tondee’s  Tavern. — Among  the  early  settlers  of  Savannah  was 
one  Peter  Tondee,  who  built  a tavern  on  what  is  now  the  north- 
west corner  of  Whitaker  and  Broughton  streets.  Tondee  was  a 
Catholic,  an  earnest  advocate  of  liberty,  and  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Union  Society.  In  the  tavern  was  one  apartment,  known 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


449 


as  the  long  room,  where  the  Council  of  Safety,  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, and  patriotic  meetings  generally  were  wont  to  assembly.  In 
August,  1774,  a meeting  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty  gathered  there,  in 
the  face  of  the  governor’s  proclamation  that  “they  must  do  so  at 
their  peril,”  and  it  is  related  that  Tondee  himself  stood  in  the  door- 
way with  a list  of  names  of  the  “Sons”  and  refused  admittance  to 
all  whose  names  did  not  there  appear. 

Toombs  County,  organized  by  act  of  the  legislature  on  August 
17,  1905,  was  laid  off  from  Tattnall,  Montgomery  and  Emanuel 
counties,  and  was  named  in  honor  of  Robert  Toombs.  It  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Montgomery  and  Emanuel  counties,  on 
the  east  by  Tattnall,  on  the  south  by  Appling,  and  on  the  west  by 
Montgomery.  Tributaries  of  the  Altamaha  and  Ohoopee  rivers 
water  the  county.  The  agricultural  products  are  cotton,  corn, 
Irish  and  sweet  potatoes,  field  peas,  ground  peas,  oats,  rice,  sugar- 
cane and  hay  from  pea  vines  and  native  grasses.  The  horticultural 
products  are  all  kinds  of  vegetables,  peaches,  peas,  figs,  berries  and 
melons.  The  forest  timbers  are  oaks  and  a few  other  hard  woods, 
cypress  and  long-leaf  or  yellow  pine.  Marls  are  the  only  mineral 
products.  Lyons,  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railway,  is  the  county 
seat.  The  county  is  in  the  First  congressional  district  and  Middle 
judicial  circuit. 

Toombs,  Robert,  soldier  and  statesman,  was  born  at  Washing- 
ton, Wilkes  county,  July  10,  1810.  After  attending  the  University 
of  Georgia  and  the  Union  college  of  New  York  he  graduated  in  law 
at  the  University  of  Virginia,  in  1828.  Being  still  under  age  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  by  special  act  of  the  legislature.  He  served 
as  captain  in  the  campaign  against  the  Creek  Indians ; was  elected 
to  the  legislature  in  1838 ; reelected  each  succeeding  term  until 
1844,  when  he  entered  Congress  as  a representative.  In  1854  he 
was  elected  United  States  senator  by  the  Constitutional  Union 
party.  As  an  advocate  of  the  doctrine  of  state  rights  and  later  of 
secession,  he  made  many  eloquent  speeches.  When  Lincoln  was 
elected  president  Mr.  Toombs  at  once  informally  quitted  the  sen- 
ate and  returned  to  Georgia,  where  he  threw  himself,  heart  and 
soul,  into  the  work  of  urging  forward  the  secession  movement. 
He  was  a member  of  the  secession  convention  of  1861,  and  was 
appointed  on  the  committee  to  draft  the  ordinance  that  severed 
Georgia’s  connection  with  the  Union.  At  the  Montgomery  con- 
vention he  was  favorably  mentioned  for  the  presidency  of  the 
Confederate  States,  but  declined  the  nomination.  For  a time  he 
served  as  secretary  of  state  under  the  Davis  administration,  but 


29 — III 


450 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


resigned  this  position  to  take  a more  active  part  in  the  conflict. 
He  was  commissioned  brigadier-general  July  21,  1861;  partici- 
pated in  the  operations  of  the  army  in  Maryland  and  Virginia,  and 
won  special  fame  at  Sharpsburg  by  his  defense  of  the  bridge.  He 
resigned  his  commission  and  in  1864  was  made  adjutant  and  in- 
spector-general of  the  Georgia  state  troops.  After  the  surrender 
an  order  was  issued  for  his  arrest  and  he  spent  two  years  in  Cuba, 
France,  and  England,  returning  to  Georgia  in  1867.  He  died  at 
Washington,  where  he  was  born  Dec.  15,  1885. 

Toomsboro,  a town  in  Wilkinson  county,  reported  a population 
of  50  in  1900.  It  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  on  Au- 
gust 15,  1904.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  from  which  several 
rural  free  delivery  routes  emanate,  express  and  telegraph  offices, 
important  mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  and  is  one  of  the 
growing  towns  in  that  part  of  the  state.  It  is  located  on  the  main 
line  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway  system,  about  half-way  be- 
tween Irwinton  and  the  Oconee  river. 

Toonigh,  a post-village  of  Cherokee  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Atlanta,  Knoxville  & Northern  railway,  about  half-way  between 
Canton  and  the  Cobb  county  line.  The  population  in  1900  was 
69.  It  has  an  express  office,  some  mercantile  concerns,  school, 
churches,  etc. 

Top,  a post-hamlet  of  Jenkins  county,  is  five  miles  northeast  of 
Millen,  which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Towaliga,  a village  of  Butts  county,  is  on  the  river  of  the  same 
name,  about  seven  miles  west  of  Jackson.  The  population  in  1900 
was  50.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  some  stores,  etc.  Jack- 
son  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Towaliga  Bridge,  on  the  Towaliga  river  in  Monroe  county,  was 
the  scene  of  a skirmish  on  Nov.  17,  1864,  as  Sherman  was  begin- 
ning his  march  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea. 

Towaliga  Falls. — (See  Monroe  County). 

Town  Court. — (See  Courts). 

Town  Creek,  a post-village  of  Gilmer  county,  with  a population 
of  75  in  1900,  is  about  three  miles  southwest  of  Talona,  which  is 
the  nearest  railroad  station,  and  is  a trading  center  for  the  neigh- 
borhood in  which  it  is  located. 

Towns,  a village  of  Telfair  county,  is  a station  on  the  Macon  & 
Brunswick  division  of  the  Southern  railway  system,  ten  miles 
southeast  of  McRae.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural 
free  delivery,  telegraph  and  express  offices,  mercantile  and  ship- 
ping interests,  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  141. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


451 


Towns  County  was  formed  from  Union  and  Rabun  in  1856  and 
was  named  in  honor  of  George  W.  Towns,  governor  of  the  state 
from  1847  to  1849.  The  county  lies  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
state  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
on  the  east  and  southeast  by  Rabun  and  Habersham  counties,  on 
the  south  by  White  and  on  the  west  and  southwest  by  Union. 
There  are  several  streams  flowing  through  the  county  and  the  land 
along  their  courses  is  very  fertile.  The  surface  is  mountainous 
and  in  some  parts  still  bears  the  original  forests  of  oak,  hickory, 
poplar,  walnut,  chestnut,  cherry,  maple  and  ash,  and  the  great 
need  of  the  ‘county  is  factories  to  utilize  this  wealth  of  hardwood 
timber.  The  streams  are  full  of  mountain  trout  and  the  woods 
abound  in  game,  such  as  bear,  deer,  and  turkeys.  The  farm  prod- 
ucts are  principally  sweet  and  Irish  potatoes,  field  and  ground 
peas  and  the  cereals.  All  the  fruits  do  well,  but  owing  to  the  re- 
moteness from  the  railroad  none  but  apples  are  shipped.  The 
county  has  an  abundant  supply  of  granite  and  serpentine  gneiss 
suitable  for  building  purposes.  Iron,  magnetite,  manganese,  as- 
bestos, talc,  ochre,  yellow  and  red  plumbago,  buhrstone  and  cor- 
undum. are  also  found,  and  some  gold  is  mined.  Hiawassee  is  the 
county  seat.  Mountain  Scene  and  Young  Harris  are  the  only  other 
towns  of  importance.  There  are  no  railroads  in  the  county,  the 
nearest  station  being  Murphy,  N.  C.,  or  Clayton,  and  most  of  the 
produce  shipped  from  the  county  is  marketed  at  these  places.  The 
population  in  1900  was  4,748,  an  increase  of  684  since  1890.  There 
are  in  the  county  two  fine  schools,  one  at  Young  Harris  and  one  at 
Hiawasee,the  latter  being  under  the  patronage  of  the  Baptist  church. 

Towns,  George  W.,  governor  and  Congressman,  was  born  in 
Wilkes  county,  May  4,  1802.  After  reaching  maturity  he  studied 
law  in  Alabama  and  began  practice  in  that  state,  where  he  also 
edited  a political  paper.  On  his  return  to  Georgia  in  1826  he  lo- 
cated in  Talbot  county  and  soon  built  up  a successful  practice. 
He  served  in  both  branches  of  the  state  legislature ; was  elected 
to  the  lower  branch  of  Congress  in  1834  and  1836;  in  1846  he  was 
again  elected  representative  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Wash- 
ington Poe,  resigned,  and  in  1847  was  chosen  governor.  His  ad- 
ministration was  marked  by  wisdom  and  a thorough  knowledge 
of  public  matters,  and  in  1849  he  was  reelected.  His  death  oc- 
curred at  Macon,  July  15,  1854. 

Townsend,  a village  of  McIntosh  county,  is  about  fifteen  miles 
northwest  of  Darien,  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railway,  and  in 
1900  had  a population  of  65.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  ex- 


452 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


press  and  telegraph  service,  some  mercantile  and  shipping  inter- 

Townsend,  Wesley  J.,  local  fre  ight 
agent  for  the  Southern  Railway  and  also 
the  Augusta  Southern  railroad,  at  Au- 
gusta, was  born  in  the  town  of  Melk- 
sham,  on  the  Avon  river,  Wiltshire, 
England,  June  15,  1863,  a son  of  Mark 
and  Mary  A.  (Davis)  Townsend,  both 
of  whom  were  likewise  born  in  England. 
They  came  to  America  in  1873  and  first 
located  in  Ridgeway,  N.  C.,  where  they 
remained  until  1890,  when  they  removed 
to  Oxford,  Pa.,  where  they  now  maintain 
their  home,  the  father  being  a contrac- 
tor and  builder  by  vocation,  though  now  practically  retired  from 
business.  Of  the  children,  aside  from  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
it  may  be  said  that  Mary  J.  is  the  wife  of  John  H.  Morrison;  Eliza- 
beth A.  remains  with  her  parents;  and  Frederick  W.  and  Albert  E. 
also  reside  in  Oxford,  Pa.,  which  is  thus  the  home  of  all  members 
of  the  immediate  family  except  Wesley  J.  Mr.  Townsend  attended 
the  schools  of  his  native  town  until  he  was  ten  years  of  age,  when 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  the  United  States,  being  reared  to 
maturity  in  Ridgeway,  where  he  continued  to  attend  school  until 
he  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  then  became  a clerk  in  a coun- 
try store  near  that  place,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  he  gave  incep- 
tion to  his  career  in  connection  with  railway  operations  by  secur- 
ing a clerkship  in  the  office  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  at  Middle- 
bury,  N.  C.  A few  months  later  he  was  made  agent  of  the  West- 
ern North  Carolina  railroad  at  Black  Mountain,  N.  C.,  and  he 
has  been  in  the  employ  of  this  railroad  company  or  its  successors, 
the  Richmond  & Danville  and  the  Southern  Railway  Companies, 
ever  since,  with  the  exception  of  one  year,  during  which  he  held 
the  joint  agency  of  the  Florida  Central  & Peninsula  and  the  Port 
Royal  & Augusta  railroads  at  Fairfax,  S.  C.  He  was  nine  years 
stationed  at  Marion,  N.  C.,  as  agent  of  the  Western  North  Caro- 
lina; for  a short  time  was  agent  for  the  Richmond  & Danville  at 
Asheville,  N.  C. ; from  1893  to  1894  was  a clerk  in  the  office  of  the 
general  superintendent  of  the  Richmond  & Danville  at  Columbia, 
S.  C. ; from  1895  to  1897  was  stock-claim  agent  of  the  Southern 
railway,  at  Columbia;  and  since  February,  1897,  has  held  his  pres- 
ent office,  noted  in  the  opening  lines  of  this  article.  He  is  one  of 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


453 


the  best  known  and  most  popular  railway  men  of  Augusta ; is  a 
member  of  the  American  local  freight  agents’  association,  and  is 
secretary  of  the  Augusta  branch  of  the  same.  He  gives  his  sup- 
port to  the  Democratic  party  and  he  and  his  wife  are  communicants 
of  St.  Paul’s  Protestant  Episcopal  church  in  Augusta.  On  June 
15,  1899,  Mr.  Townsend  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Emily 
Mae  Morris,  who  died  on  May  12,  following,  leaving  an  infant  son, 
Emile  Morris  Townsend,  -who  is  still  living.  On  Oct.  19,  1904,  Mr. 
Townsend  was  married  to  Mrs.  Anna  (Clayton)  Burwell,  of  Au- 
gusta. 

Trackrock,  a post-hamlet  of  Union  county,  is  six  miles  north- 
east of  Blairsville  in  a gap  of  the  Enchanted  mountain.  The  near- 
est railroad  station  is  Culberson,  N.  C. 

Traders  Hill,  a town  in  Charlton  county,  was  formerly  the 
county  seat.  It  is  located  on  the  St.  Mary’s  river,  four  miles  south 
of  Folkston,  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  115.  It  has  some  mer- 
cantile establishments  and  does  a large  shipping  business,  espe- 
cially in  lumber  and  naval  stores. 

Train,  Hugh  Fred,  is  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  highly 
honored  citizens  of  Sayannah,  where  he  has  served  as  principal  of 
the  high  school  for  the  exceptionally  extended  period  of  thirty- 
eight  years,  so  that  it  is  not  strange  that  there  are  few  house- 
holds in  the  city  in  which  his  name  is  not  familiar.  Mr.  Train  is 
a native  of  the  sturdy  land  of  hills  and  heather,  having  been  born 
in  Muirkirk,  Ayrshire,  Scotland,  Tune  27,  1831.  He  was  reared 
and  educated  in  his  native  land,  where  he  did  efficient  work  as  a 
university  student  and  later  completed  a two  years’  course  in  a 
normal  training  school  in  the  city  of  Glasgow.  For  five  years 
thereafter  he  was  a successful  and  popular  teacher  in  the  parish 
school  of  Perth.  About  this  time  alarming  symptoms  began  to 
manifest  themselves  in  the  way  of  incipient  disease  of  the  lungs, 
and  as  his  brother  had  died  of  tuberculosis  Mr.  Train  was  admon- 
ished by  his  medical  adviser  to  seek  a less  vigorous  climate,  in 
order  that  his  life  might  be  prolonged  and  the  disease  possibly 
averted.  Under  the  care  of  a friend  and  former  schoolmate  he  was 
induced  to  come  to  America  and  settle  in  the  South.  In  January, 
1857,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Bluffton,  Beaufort  district,  S.  C., 
where  he  remained  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  being  there 
engaged  in  teaching.  In  1861,  loyal  to  the  cause  of  the  Confed- 
eracy, he  became  a private  in  the  Third  regiment  of  South  Caro- 
lina state  troops.  His  right  arm  being  practically  useless,  as  the 
result  of  an  accident  encountered  when  he  was  a boy,  he  was  not 


4.54 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


able  to  take  part  in  the  tactical  drill  and  maneuvers  and  conse- 
quently, after  two  months  of  irregular  service,  he  was  appointed, 
by  Col.  Charles  J.  Colcock,  commanding  officer,  to  the  position 
of  commissary  and  acting  quartermaster  for  the  squadron,  consist- 
ing of  three  companies,  being  first  in  camp  at  Bluffton  and  later 
at  Camp  Hartstein,  and  he  was  honorably  discharged  when  the 
state  troops  were  formally  mustered  into  the  Confederate  service. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Train  found  his  home  burned  to 
the  ground,  his  school  room  plundered  of  everything  movable  and 
the  whole  country  steeped  in  poverty.  He  remained  in  Bluffton 
one  year,  not  earning  enough  to  provide  for  ordinary  necessities 
within  the  period,  and  then  removed  to  Savannah,  where,  through 
the  influence  of  Mr.  Mallon,  then  superintendent  of  schools,  he 
was  appointed  principal  of  the  boys’  grammar  school.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year  the  board  of  education  conferred  upon  him  the  ap- 
pointment of  principal  of  the  Savannah  high  school,  to  succeed 
William  H.  Baker,  who  had  been  made  superintendent.  That  he 
has  remained  incumbent  of  this  position  during  the  long  inter- 
vening years  is  the  unequivocal  voucher  for  the  successful  work 
which  he  has  accomplished,  the  strong  hold  he  has  maintained  upon 
the  regard  of  pupils  and  patrons,  and  the  unqualified  confidence 
reposed  in  him  by  the  successive  boards  of  education  under  whose 
regimes  he  has  served.  Mr.  Train  is  regarded  as  a grand  man, 
physically,  mentally  and  morally.  In  an  assembly  he  would  be 
marked  by  his  massive  head,  commanding  appearance  and  noble 
presence.  There  is  in  him  a certain  robustness  of  character,  im- 
pressive and  suggestive,  a sincerity  of  speech  and  motive,  and  a 
rounded  benevolence  which  attract  respect,  admiration  and  affec- 
tion. Within  the  mortal  tenement  of  this  schoolmaster  throbs  a 
big,  manly  heart  which  makes  each  student  feel  himself  the  es- 
pecial object  of  its  solicitude  and  care.  By  his  associate  teachers 
he  has  always  been  beloved.  When  school  relations  come  to  be 
disrupted  his  boys  wake  to  find  that  Mr.  Train  is  idolized:  each 
year,  at  parting,  they  say  goodbye  with  swelling  throats,  swim- 
ming eyes  and  hearts  too  full  for  utterance.  Coming  from  the 
University  of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  Mr.  Train  brought  with  him  a 
scholarship  broad,  accurate  and  full,  united  with  the  innate  talents 
of  a teacher.  He  was  quickly  honored  in  Savannah,  and  the  home 
of  his  adoption  having  tried  him,  he  was  thenceforth  grappled 
with  “hoops  of  steel.”  His  mind  is  characterized  by  that  clear- 
ness, directness  and  candor  which  are  distinctive  of  the  Scotch 
intellect.  As  an  educator  he  has  been  gifted  in  an  eminent  de- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


455 


gree  with  that  personal  magnetism,  invaluable  to  the  teacher, 
which  rouses  and  stimulates  the  student  to  ambitious  effort  in 
pursuit  of  learning.  He  has  been  successful  because  his  heart  is 
in  his  work.  He  has  loved  it ; it  has  been  his  life  work ; it  has 
been  rounded  with  honor  and  fruitful  in  results.  As  principal  of  the 
Savannah  high  school  for  thirty-six  years,  Mr.  Train  has  been  to 
it  what  Arnold  was  to  Rugby.  He  has  had  under  him  thousands 
of  students.  They  are  to  be  found  not  merely  in  Savannah  but  all 
over  the  south.  He  has  made  his  impress  on  more  than  one  gen- 
eration, having  lived  to  graduate  children  whose  parents,  years 
ago,  were  elevated  and  enthused  by  his  lofty  character  and  learn- 
ing. His  name  is  a household  word  in  thousands  of  homes.  He 
is,  perhaps,  more  uniformally  loved  and  respected  in  Savannah 
than  any  one  of  its  most  illustrious  upbuilders,  and  his  good  work 
will  continue  to  blossom  and  bear  fruitage  in  this  community  as 
long  as  education  is  prized  and  knowledge  is  rewarded.  In  politics 
he  is  a stanch  Democrat,  and  his  religious  faith  is  that  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  He  has  been  a member  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian church  of  Savannah  for  thirty-three  years  and  Mrs.  Train 
also  is  a devoted  member  of  the  same.  He  is  identified  with  the 
St.  Andrew’s  Society  and  the  Georgia  Hussars  of  his  home  city. 
On  Dec.  29,  1869,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Train  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Frew,  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  Frew,  of  Sa- 
vannah, and  they  became  the  parents  of  six  children,  of  whom  four 
rest  .in  the  beautiful  Bonaventure  cemetery.  The  two  surviving 
are  William  Frew  Train,  who  is  engaged  in  the  insurance  busi- 
ness in  Savannah,  and  Dr.  John  Kirk  Train,  a successful  physician 
and  surs’eon  of  that  citv. 

Trammell,  Leander  Newton,  who  died 
at  his  home,  in  Marietta,  Ga.,  June  29, 
1900,  was  one  of  the  distinguished  and 
honored  citizens  of  Georgia,  which  he  in 
turn  honored  and  dignified  by  his  life 
and  services,  having  been  called  to  po- 
sition of  high  public  trust  and  respon- 
sibility. He  was  born  in  Habersham 
county,  Ga.,  June  5,  1830,  a son  of  Jehu 
and  Elizabeth  (Fain)  Trammell.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  William  Trammell, 
of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  was  born  in 
South  Carolina,  whence  he  went  forth 
to  serve  as  a soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  remaining  with 


456 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


the  Continental  forces  three  years  and  participating  in  the  siege 
of  Savannah,  the  battle  of  King’s  mountain,  where  he  lost  an  arm, 
and  in  the  memorable  battle  of  Cowpens,  as  well  as  other  engage- 
ments. He  died  in  Macon  county,  S.  C.,  in  1843,  and  his  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Lynch,  also  died  in  that  state.  Jehu 
Trammell  was  born  in  Union  district,  S.  C.,  and  in  1818  he  came 
to  Georgia,  settled  in  Habersham  county,  where  he  became  one 
of  the  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of  that  section  of  the  state, 
being  twice  elected  to  represent  his  district  in  the  state  senate. 
Ebenezer  Fain,  material  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  memoir, 
was  of  French  extraction,  having  been  a nephew  of  Baron  Fain, 
a member  of  Napoleon’s  staff.  Representatives  of  the  family  set- 
tled in  Pennsylvania  in  the  colonial  epoch  and  in  that  state  Eben- 
ezer Fain  was  born,  Aug.  27,  1762.  He  served  with  marked 
distinction  as  a soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  having  been 
but  fourteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  original  enlistment. 
He  settled  in  Habersham  county  in  1818,  and  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life  in  this  state,  as  did  also  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Mary  Black.  Col.  Leander  N.  Trammell  was  reared  on  the 
homestead  farm,  and  attended  the  local  schools  at  such  times  as 
his  services  were  not  in  requisition  in  connection  with  the  work 
of  the  homestead.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he  entered  a 
boarding  school  in  Monroe  county,  Tenn.,  where  he  was  a student 
fifteen  months.  Thereafter  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  school  for 
an  interval,  then  took  up  the  study  of  law  under  the  direction  of 
Simpson  Reid,  of  Blairsville,  Ga.,  and  in  1856  attended  the  law 
school  at  Lebanon,  Tenn.  After  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  lo- 
cated in  Ringgold,  Catoosa  county,  Ga.,  and  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession,  as  junior  member  of  the  firm  of  McConnell  & 
Trammell.  In  1861  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  county  in  the 
state  legislature  and  was  reelected  in  1863,  without  opposition.  In 
March,  1862,  he  entered  the  Confederate  service,  as  quartermas- 
ter, with  the  rank  of  captain,  and  discharged  the  duties  of  his 
office  with  the  loyalty  and  fidelity  which  characterized  him  in  all 
the  relations  of  life.  In  1866  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  in 
Calhoun,  Gordon  county.  He  was  elected  a delegate  to  the  con- 
stitutional convention  of  1867-8,  in  which  he  did  most  valuable 
work  for  the  state.  Of  his  efforts  in  the  connection  the  following 
has  been  written : “He  was  the  recognized  leader  of  the  little 

band  of  fourteen  dauntless  patriots  in  that  convention  known  as 
the  ‘Hancock  Democracy,’  whose  unflagging  courage  and  unrelax- 
ing labor  saved  and  secured  to  Georgia  the  supremacy  of  the  white 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


457 


race, — a service  which  endeared  him  to  the  people  and  which  will 
never  be  forgotten.”  At  the  election  next  succeeding  he  was  unani- 
mously tendered  the  nomination  to  the  state  senate,  but  declined 
the  honor.  In  1870,  however,  he  was  elected  to  represent  his  dis- 
trict in  the  state  senate,  and  was  elected  president  of  the  body. 
In  this  position  “he  was  distinguished  for  his  fairness,  impartial- 
ity and  parliamentary  ability,  and  in  1873  was  reelected  without 
opposition,  closing  his  four  years’  incumbency  without  having  an 
appeal  taken  from  any  decision  he  had  made.”  He  was  a Tilden 
elector  in  1876,  was  a member  of  the  state  constitutional  conven- 
tion of  1877,  and  served  on  its  committee  on  revision.  He  was 
president  of  the  Democratic  state  convention  of  1881,  and  chairman 
of  the  Democratic  executive  committee  in  1882  and  1883.  Prior  to 
his  chairmanship  of  the  executive  committee  in  1883  the  two- 
thirds  rule  governed  the  gubernatorial  nominating  conventions. 
Through  his  wholesome  influence  this  rule  was  changed,  and  since 
that  time  nominations  have  been  made  by  a majority  vote.  In 
October,  1881,  he  was  appointed  a member  of  the  state  railway 
commission,  and  through  successive  reappointments  held  this  of- 
fice until  the  time  of  his  death,  having  been  chairman  of  the  com- 
mission from  1890  until  the  time  when  he  closed  his  earthly  labors. 
Of  him  it  has  well  been  said:  “Endowed  with  unusual  mental 

capacity,  keen  and  strong;  a courage  of  conviction  unappalled  by 
the  most  powerful  antagonism ; an  integrity  of  character  and  sin- 
cerity of  purpose  absolutely  unassailable ; a deep  insight  into  mo- 
tives ; and  common  sense  and  executive  ability  of  a high  order,  he 
naturally  became  an  almost  unerring  judge  of  public  sentiment 
and  a wise  and  successful  leader  of  men,  exercising  a strong  and 
salutary  influence  on  the  legislation  of  Georgia.”  Mr.  Trammell 
was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South  and  was 
an  appreciative  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  His  life  was 
one  of  signal  purity  and  usefulness  and  his  name  is  held  in  lasting 
honor  in  the  state  which  he  served  so  faithfully  and  well.  In  1856 
Mr.  Trammell  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Zenobia  J.  Barclay, 
daughter  of  Hon.  Elihu  S.  Barclay,  who  was  for  several  terms  a 
representative  of  Union  county  in  the  state  legislature.  Mrs. 
Trammell  survives  her  honored  husband,  as  do  also  their  eigfht 
children,  viz.:  Mary  M.,  wife  of  Samuel  B.  Scott,  of  Atlanta;  Paul 
B.,  a resident  of  Dalton  and  the  subject  of  an  individual  sketch 
in  this  compilation ; Elizabeth  V.,  wife  of  George  L.  Morris,  of 
Birmingham,  Ala. ; William  J.,  a resident  of  Marietta,  Ga. ; Alice 
N.,  wife  of  Walter  L.  Sessions,  of  Marietta;  Fleta,  wife  of  Frank 


458 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


M.  Boston,  of  Atlanta;  Margaret  Z.,  wife  of  William  Pomeroy, 
of  Cairo,  111.;  and  Leander  N.,  Jr.,  of  Marietta. 

Trammell,  Paul  B.,  president  of  the  First  National  bank  of  Dal- 
ton and  an  ex-member  of  the  state  senate,  is  a son  of  the  late 
Leander  N.  Trammell,  to  whom  a special  memoir  is  accorded  in 
this  publication.  Paul  B.  Trammell  was  born  in  Catoosa  county, 
Ga.,  April  3,  1859.  When  the  Civil  war  was  inaugurated  the  fam- 
ily removed  to  White  county,  where  they  remained  until  the  close 
of  the  great  struggle  between  the  states.  Then  they  removed  to 
Gordon  county,  and  two  years  later  located  in  Whitfield  county, 
where  Paul  attended  school  and  prepared  for  college.  He  then 
entered  the  University  of  Georgia,  in  which  he  was  graduated  as 
a member  of  the  class  of  1878,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts. 
Thereafter  he  resided  in  Atlanta  four  years,  during  three  of  which 
he  was  in  the  employ  of  S.  M.  Inman  & Co,,  extensive  cotton 
dealers.  He  then  returned  to  Whitfield  county,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming  and  also  in  the  buying  of  cotton,  becoming  interested 
in  a cotton-compress  plant  in  Dalton,  with  which  concern  he  is 
still  identified.  In  1888  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  forty-third 
district  in  the  state  senate,  in  which  he  served  on  the  committee 
on  finance,  railroads  and  corporations.  In  1890  he  was  elected  to 
represent  Whitfield  county  in  the  lower  house  of  the  legislature ; 
was  chosen  as  his  own  successor  in  the  election  of  1892,  and  in  the 
sessions  of  1890-91  he  served  as  speaker  pro  tern.  In  1893  Presi- 
dent Cleveland  appointed  him  collector  of  internal  revenue  for 
Georgia,  and  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Atlanta,  where  he  re- 
mained as  the  incumbent  of  this  office  until  1897,  when  he  returned 
to  Dalton,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home,  becoming  identified 
with  the  First  National  bank  in  that  year  and  elected  to  the  presi- 
dency of  the  same  in  1900.  He  is  stanch  in  his  allegiance  to  the 
Democratic  party,  is  a Royal  Arch  Mason,  a member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  South.  On  Dec.  12,  1883,  Mr.  Trammell  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Fannie  McAfee,  daughter  of  Dr.  J.  R.  and 
Mary  (Tarver)  McAfee,  of  Dalton.  They  became  the  parents 
of  four  children,  of  whom  three  are  living,  Ruth  having  died  at 
the  age  of  three  years.  The  others  are  Paul  B.,  Jr.,  McAfee,  and 
Leander  Newton. 

Transportation. — The  State  of  Georgia  is  well  provided  with 
both  natural  and  artificial  means  of  transportation.  According  to 
the  report  of  the  railroad  commission  for  the  year  ending  Oct.  15, 
1904,  there  were  then  6,230  miles  of  railroad  in  the  state,  only  ten 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


459 


of  the  145  counties  being  without  railroad  accommodation.  Most 
of  these  counties  are  in  the  mountainous  districts  of  the  northern 
portion,  where  the  construction  of  railroads  is  attended  by  a vast 
amount  of  labor  and  expense.  Nevertheless,  lines  are  now  under 
contemplation  that  will,  when  completed,  open  some  of  them  to 
railroad  travel.  Atlanta,  Macon,  Savannah,  Columbus  and  Al- 
bany are  prominent  railroad  centers,  while  Cordele,  Thomasville, 
Valdosta,  Stillmore,  Americus,  Tifton  and  Waycross  are  centers 
of  lesser  importance.  (See  articles  on  Railroads  and  Canals). 

In  addition  to  the  opportunities  for  trade  and  travel  provided  by 
the  railroads,  the  inlets  along  the  coast  and  the  navigable  rivers 
furnish  means  for  water  transportation,  thus  giving  to  many  towns 
the  advantage  of  cheap  freight  rates  through  competition.  The 
Savannah  is  navigable  for  boats  of  considerable  size  as  far  as  Au- 
gusta, and  smaller  steamers  can  ascend  to  the  junction  of  the  Tuga- 
loo  and  Kiowee  rivers,  about  one  hundred  miles  farther.  The 
Chattahoochee  is  navigable  for  modeate  sized  steamboats  as  far 
as  Columbus  and  the  Flint  to  Albany.  Large  steamers  ply  the 
entire  length  of  the  Altamaha;  good  sized  boats  can  ascend  the 
Ocmulgee  to  Macon,  except  at  times  of  very  low  water,  and  the 
Oconee  is  navigable  for  small  boats  to  Milledgeville.  The  Ogee- 
chee  and  Satilla  are  each  navigable  for  some  distance,  and  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  the  state  Rome  enjoys  a fine  river  trade  in 
iron,  lumber,  grain,  cotton,  etc.,  through  the  Coosa  and  Oostanaula 
rivers.  Ocean  steamers  can  pass  through  St.  Simon’s  sound  and 
the  Turtle  river  to  Brunswick,  which  place  is  next  to  Savannah  in 
importance  as  a Georgia  seaport,  and  the  largest  vessels  can  ascend 
the  St.  Mary’s  river  to  the  town  of  that  name,  while  small  boats 
can  pass  up  that  stream  as  far  as  Trader’s  Hill,  or  even  farther  in 
a good  stage  of  water.  Along  the  coast  are  numerous  sounds, 
nearly  all  of  rvhich  are  capable  of  navigation  by  large  steamboats. 
The  principal  sounds  are  YVassaw,  Ossabaw,  St.  Catherine,  Sapelo, 
Doboy,  Altamaha,  St.  Simon’s,  St.  Andrew’s  and  Cumberland.  The 
inlets  formed  by  the  Newport  and  Medway  rivers,  which  flow 
into  St.  Catherine’s  sound,  are  navigable  for  some  distance  at  high 
tide.  The  same  is  true  of  the  Sapelo  river,  which  flows  into  the 
sound  of  that  name,  and  the  Little  Satilla  river,  which  flows  into 
St.  Andrew’s  sound. 

A new  feature  in  the  transportation  problem  is  the  introduc- 
tion of  electrical  roads.  The  longest  electric  line  in  the  state  at 
the  present  time  is  probably  the  one  running  from  Atlanta  to 
Marietta.  Several  suburban  towns  are  connected  with  the  capital 


460 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


city  by  electric  roads.  Augusta,  Macon  and  Savannah  each  have 
lines  extending  beyond  their  corporate  limits,  and  the  prospects 
are  that  Georgia  will  occupy  a place  in  the  front  rank  of  those 
states  that  are  turning  to  electricity  as  a cheap,  convenient  and 
reliable  motive  power  for  short  distance  traffic. 

Travis,  Robert  Jesse,  senior  member 
of  the  prominent  law  firm  of  Travis  & 
Travis,  with  offices  in  suite  16-18,  Provi- 
dent building,  in  the  city  of  Savannah, 
was  born  in  Conyers,  Rockdale  county, 
Ga.,  Jan.  13,  1877.  He  is  a son  of  A.  C. 
W.  Travis,  M.  D.,  born  in  Henry  county, 
Ga.,  Dec.  18,  1835,  and  Allie  (Living- 
ston) Travis,  born  in  Covington,  New- 
ton county,  Ga.,  June  17,  1845.  Among 
the  ancestors  of  Mr.  Travis  who  were 
prominent  in  colonial  affairs  may  be 
mentioned  Amos  Travis,  Richmond  Ter- 
rell, of  Virginia,  who  distinguished  himself  in  the  battle  of  King’s 
Mountain,  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution ; John  Nicholson,  who 
served  in  the  Revolution,  from  Mecklenburg,  N.  C. ; and  Ebenezer 
Smith,  a representative  of  Georgia  in  the  same  great  struggle  for 
independence.  Robert  Bass  Livingston,  maternal  grandfather  of 
Mr.  Travis,  was  of  distinguished  ancestry,  having  been  a grandson 
of  William  Livingston,  of  colonial  fame,  and  a direct  descendant  of 
Robert  Livingston,  who,  in  1686,  obtained  the  patent  for  the  manor 
of  Livingston,  Columbia  county,  N.  Y.,  an  account  of  whose  life 
is  given  in  Lossing’s  “Lives  of  the  Signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence.”  Among  other  prominent  ancestors  of  Mr.  Travis 
were  John  Lewis,  who  settled  in  Hanover  county,  Va.,  in  1640, 
and  his  son  David  Lewis,  Sr.,  of  Albemarle  county,  Va.,  who  was 
born  in  1685.  Robert  J.  Travis  was  graduated  in  Emory  college, 
Oxford,  Ga.,  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1897,  receiving  first 
honors  and  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  together  with  every 
scholarship  medal  offered  in  any  department.  In  1899  he  was 
graduated  in  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Georgia,  with 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws,  simultaneously  prosecuting  a post- 
graduate course  in  the  literary  department  of  the  same  institution. 
In  1897-8  he  was  principal  of  the  high  school  at  Madison,  Ga.,  and 
after  graduating  in  the  law  school  he  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  the  city  of  Savannah,  forming  a partnership  with 
Chas.  G.  Edwards,  under  the  title  of  Travis  & Edwards.  Later  he 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


461 


entered  into  partnership  with  his  brother,  John  Livingston  Travis, 
under  the  present  firm  name  of  Travis  & Travis.  They  have  an 
excellent  professional  business  both  as  attorneys  and  counselors, 
and  both  are  popular  and  appreciative  members  of  the  Savannah 
bar  association.  In  his  political  allegiance  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  a stanch  Democrat,  and  while  he  has  been  an  effective 
worker  in  the  party  cause  he  has  never  desired  or  been  a candidate 
for  public  office.  He  is  known  as  one  of  the  best  revolver  and 
rifle  shots  in  the  state  and  has  been  a member  of  every  Georgia 
team  since  1902,  holding  since  that  time  the  state  and  inter-state 
(southern)  individual  championship  medals.  He  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  Georgia  state  troops  since  Aug.  25,  1899,  when  he 
enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  E,  First  regiment  of  infantry, 
and  in  Company  C,  Savannah  Volunteer  Guards,  he  rose  through 
the  various  grades  of  promotion — corporal,  first  lieutenant,  and 
captain.  In  1903  he  was  appointed  lieutenant-colonel  and  assist- 
ant judge  advocate  in  the  Georgia  state  troops.  He  is  also  a mem- 
ber of  the  Savannah  Volunteer  Guards  club  and  the  United  Sons 
of  Confederate  Veterans.  His  father  was  one  of  the  best  known 
physicians  and  surgeons  of  middle  Georgia  and  was  prominent 
as  a surgeon  in  the  Confederate  service  during  the  war  between 
the  states.  He  died  in  1890  and  his  widow  now  resides  in  Cov- 
ington, Ga.,  being  a woman  of  rare  gifts  and  gracious  refinement. 
Frequent  sketches  from  her  pen  find  their  way  into  print.  Mr. 
Travis  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  University  club, 
the  Savannah  Yacht  club,  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  and  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  being  one  of  the  board  of 
stewards  of  the  Wesleyan  Memorial  church  in  his  home  city.  On 
Nov.  27,  1902,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Rena  Falligant, 
daughter  of  Louis  A.  and  Rosa  O.  (Brown)  Falligant,  of  Savan- 
nah, and  they  have  one  son,  Robert  Falligant  Travis,  born  Dec. 
26,  1904. 

Travisville,  a post-village  of  Clinch  county,  is  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast  Line  railway,  about  half-way  between  Homerville  and  Ar- 
gyle,  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  96.  It  has  some  mercantile 
and  shipping  interests,  school,  church  advantages,  etc. 

Treasury  Notes.— The  scarcity  of  money  in  the  early  years  of 
the  Confederate  war  led  the  general  assembly  to  pass  an  act  on 
Dec.  12,  1863,  providing  for  an  issue  of  treasury  notes.  These 
notes  were  to  be  redeemable  in  Confederate  notes  after  Dec.  25, 
1864,  the  said  Confederate  notes  to  have  been  issued  subsequently 
to  April  1,  1864,  and  to  be  deposited  by  the  governor  in  the 


462 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


banks  for  the  redemption  of  the  treasury  notes.  In  November, 
1864,  it  became  necessary  to  remove  the  state  treasury  to  a place 
of  greater  security,  and  on  the  18th  of  that  month  the  legislature 
passed  a resolution  authorizing  the  treasurer  to  burn  a large 
amount  of  these  notes  in  the  presence  of  three  or  more  respon- 
sible persons,  whose  certificates  should  be  vouchers  for  the  amount 
of  notes  and  change  bills  so  destroyed. 

Treatise. — (See  Indian  Treaties). 

Tree,  a post-hamlet  in  the  extreme  northeast  corner  of  Towns 
county,  is  about  twelve  miles  northwest  of  Clayton,  which  is  the 
most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Trenton,  the  county  seat  of  Dade  county,  was  incorporated  by 
act  of  the  legislature  in  1854.  It  is  located  near  the  center  of  the 
county  on  the  Alabama  Great  Southern  railway  which  runs  south- 
ward from  Chattanooga  through  the  great  coal  and  iron  regions 
of  Georgia  and  Alabama.  Being  situated  in  Town  creek  valley, 
between  Lookout  and  Raccoon  mountains,  it  has  a fine  climate, 
delightful  and  healthy  in  summer,  though  somewhat  cold  in  win- 
ter. The  population  of  Trenton  by  the  census  of  1900  was  349 
and  its  entire  district  had  689  inhabitants.  It  has  a money  or- 
der postoffice,  telegraph  -and  express  offices,  several  stores,  small 
industries,  schools  and  churches,  etc.  There  was  a skirmish  here 
on  Nov.  18,  1863,  while  the  Confederate  army  under  General 
Bragg  was  holding  the  Federal  forces  in  a state  of  siege  in  Chat- 
tanooga. 

Treutlen,  John  Adam,  was  the  first  governor  of  Georgia  under 
the  constitution  of  1777.  The  date  and  place  of  his  birth  are  not 
known.  He  was  a member  of  the  first  Provincial  Congress,  which 
met  at  Savannah  on  July  4th,  1775,  and  was  active  in  the  cause 
of  independence.  He  became  governor  on  May  8,  1777,  being 
elected  by  a large  majority  over  Button  Gwinnett,  one  of  the 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  His  term  ended  on 
Jan.  8,  1778. 

Tribble,  Joseph  M.,  M.  D.,  a successful  physician  and  surgeon  of 
Lithonia,  Dekalb  county,  was  born  near  Monroe,  Walton  county, 
Ga.,  April  2,  I860.  He  is  a son  of  Rev.  A.  K.  and  Elizabeth  (Smith) 
Tribble,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  South  Carolina  and  the 
latter  in  North  Carolina.  The  father  served  in  the  quartermaster's 
department  of  the  Confederate  States  at  the  time  of  the  Civil 

war  and  later  as  chaplain  in  the  field  ranks.  He  died  in 

1886,  at  Decatur,  Ga.,  his  wife  having  passed  away  in  the 

preceding  vear.  Doctor  Tribble  attended  the  academy  in 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


463 


Decatur,  Dekalb  county,  and  in  1895  was  graduated  in  the 
Georgia  college  of  Eclectic  medicine  and  surgery  in  Atlanta,  duly 
receiving  his  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  He  initiated  the  ac- 
tive work  of  his  profession  by  locating  at  Lithonia  in  April,  1895, 
and  within  the  decade  that  has  intervened  he  has  proven  himself 
worthy  of  the  high  confidence  placed  in  him  as  a practitioner  and 
as  a man  among  men.  He  has  a large  and  substantial  profes- 
sional business  and  is  one  of  the  representative  citizens  of  his 
community.  Though  stanch  in  his  support  of  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party,  he  has  never  sought  public  office,  but  he  is 
now  rendering  effective  service  as  a member  of  the  board  of  edu- 
cation of  Lithonia.  He  is  a member  of  the  Georgia  medical  asso- 
ciation; is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men.  On  Dec.  17,  1890,  Doctor 
Tribble  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Minnie  Wing,  daughter 
of  Hiram  L.'  and  Marian  (Berry)  Wing,  of  Virginia,  and  the 
three  children  of  this  union  are:  Marian,  Hiram  L.  and  Ora  M. 

Tribble,  Samuel  J.,  of  Athens,  is  one  of 
Georgia’s  representative  lawyers  and  is 
the  present  incumbent  of  the  office  of 
solicitor-general  of  the  western  circuit. 
He  was  born  in  Carnesville,  Franklin 
county,  Ga.,  Nov.  15,  1869,  a son  of  Lem- 
uel N.  and  Jane  Tribble,  the  former  born 
in  Abbeville,  S.  C.,  and  the  latter  in  An- 
derson, that  state,  where  the  respective 
families  were  founded  in  an  early  day. 
Lemuel  N.  Tribble  served  sixteen  years 
as  ordinary  of  Franklin  county,  and  for 
many  years  was  one  of  the  wealthiest 
and  most  prominent  citizens  of  the  northeastern  part  of  the  state. 
He  was  a leal  and  loyal  soldier  of  the  Confederacy  in  the  Civil  war, 
serving  for  four  years.  At  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  when  ex- 
Governor  Candler,  of  Georgia,  was  wounded,  it  was  Mr.  Tribble 
who  rushed  into  the  relentless  rain  of  shot  and  shell,  courting 
almost  certain  death,  took  Colonel  Candler  in  his  arms  and  bore 
him  to  a place  of  safety.  Mr.  Tribble  died  in  1902  his  wife  having 
passed  away  in  1876.  Samuel  J.  Tribble,  after  due  preparatory 
discipline,  was  matriculated  in  the  University  of  Georgia,  and  with 
the  class  of  1891  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Laws.  While  in  the  university  he  won  the  Sophomore  medal, 
considered  by  many  students  the  highest  honor  of  the  sort 


464 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


conferred  by  the  university.  In  1891  an  oratorical  contest 
between  the  southern  universities  was  held  at  the  University 
of  Virginia,  and  judges  were  selected  to  name  the  best  ora- 
tor of  the  student  body  of  the  University  of  Georgia,  as  rep- 
resentative in  said  contest.  The  local  competition  was  held 
before  Hon.  Pope  Barrow,  Hon.  E.  T.  Brown  and  Hon.  A.  G. 
McCurry,  as  judges,  Mr.  Tribble  was  selected  to  represent 
his  university,  and  he  ran  a close  second  in  the  final  contest  at  the 
University  of  Virginia.  In  1891  Mr.  Tribble  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in  Athens.  That  he  has 
attained  success  and  distinction  along  the  line  of  his  chosen  pro- 
fession is  indicated  in  his  tenure  of  his  present  responsible  and 
exacting  office.  He  served  five  years  as  solicitor  of  the  city 
court  of  Athens.  Within  his  second  term,  in  1904,  he  was  elected 
solicitor-general  of  the  western  circuit,  in  which  capacity  he  is 
now  serving  with  marked  ability  and  objective  favor.  The  contest 
made  by  him  in  the  race  for  this  office  is  one  which  will  remain 
memorable  in  the  politics  of  the  state.  He  entered  the  race  at  a 
late  hour  and  unexpectedly  to  his  friends,  but  his  campaign  was 
aggressive  and  thorough,  the  voters  becoming  very  much  wrought 
up  over  the  fight  between  him  and  his  opponents,  and  he  won  by  a 
very  large  majority.  He  was  one  of  the  prime  factors  in  securing 
the  removal  of  the  negro  postmaster  of  Athens  in  1900,  and  his 
action  in  the  matter  gained  to  him  the  unqualified  endorsement 
of  the  white  citizens,  who  zealously  seconded  his  efforts.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Tribble  is  a stanch  supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  being  an  active  worker  in  its  ranks.  He  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Sons  of  Confederate  Veterans,  in  which  he  has  served 
as  judge  advocate,  and  has  also  held  the  position  of  commandant 
of  Troup  Artillery  Camp.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, the  Phi  Delta  Theta  college  fraternity,  and  is  a valued 
member  of  the  Baptist  church.  On  Dec.  10,  1891,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Minnie  McEntire,  daughter  of  Dr.  William  C. 
and  Eliza  (Jones)  McEntire,  of  Carnesville,  and  they  have  two 
children — Ruth  and  Lamar. 

Trinity,  a post-village  of  Liberty  county,  is  about  eight  miles 
northwest  of  Fleming,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station.  The 
population  in  1900  was  44.  It  is  a trading  point  for  the  neighbor- 
hood in  which  it  is  located. 

Trion  Factory,  as  its  name  indicates,  is  an  important  manufac- 
turing town,  being  the  largest  place  in  the  county  of  Chattooga. 
It  had  its  origin  in  1847  when  Judge  A.  P.  Allgood  of  Walker 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


465 


county  and  Judge  Spencer  Marsh  of  LaFayette,  united  with  Col.  W. 
K.  Briers  to  build  a cotton  mill  with  a capital  of  $25,000.  This  mill 
was  called  Trion  after  the  trio  who  were  its  founders.  It  escaped 
destruction  during  the  war,  although  in  the  track  of  Sherman’s 
army,  but  in  1875  it  was  destroyed  by  an  accidental  fire.  The  fol- 
lowing year  the  first  mill  of  the  new  plant  was  built  and  by  1900 
there  were  three  mills  with  property  valued  at  $600,000,  having 
1,422  looms,  over  50,000  spindles  and  consuming  daily  20  tons 
of  coal  and  60  bales  of  cotton.  Around  these  mills  has  been  built 
the  town  of  Trion  Factory,  which  was  first  incorporated  by  act 
of  the  legislature  in  1863.  After  all  the  vicissitudes  of  war  and  re- 
construction, it  had  grown  by  1900  into  a town  of  1,926  in  its  cor- 
porate limits,  while  its  entire  district  contained  3,020  people.  It 
has  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  telegraph 
and  express  offices,  prosperous  commercial  establishments  and  ex- 
cellent schools  and  churches.  It  is  located  on  a branch  of  the 
Central  of  Georgia  railway  which  runs  southward  from  Chatta- 
nooga through  the  flourishing  city  of  Rome,  via  Griffin  and  Macon 
to  Savannah. 

Triplett,  a post-hamlet  of  Wilkes  county,  is  on  a tributary  of 
the  Broad  river,  about  twelve  miles  west  of  Washington,  which  is 
the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Tripp,  Town  of. — (See  Grayson). 

Trippe,  Robert  P.,  was  a native  of  Georgia.  He  graduated  at 
Franklin  college,  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  practice  at 
Forsyth.  He  was  elected  representative  in  Congress  in  1854  and 
reelected  in  1856.  In  1873  he  was  elected  to  succeed  Judge  W.  W. 
Montgomery  on  the  supreme  bench,  where  he  served  until  1875, 
when  he  resigned.  He  died  in  1900. 

Troup  County  was  created  in  1826  from  lands  acquired  from  the 
Indians  by  the  treaty  of  Indian  Springs.  A part  was  set  off  to 
Harris  in  1827  and  a part  to  Heard  in  1830.  It  was  named  for 
Gov.  George  M.  Troup.  The  county  lies  in  the  western  part  of  the 
state  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Heard  and  Coweta  counties, 
on  the  east  by  Meriwether,  on  the  south  by  Harris,  and  on  the 
west  by  the  State  of  Alabama.  The  Chattahoochee  river  flows 
through  the  western  part  of  the  county.  The  land  is  rolling  and 
well  watered,  and  the  soil  is  fertile.  Cotton,  sweet  and  Irish  pota- 
toes and  all  the  cereals  are  raised.  Both  soil  and  climate  are 
adapted  to  the  production  of  vegetables,  and  such  fruits  as  peaches, 
plums,  cherries  and  grapes.  The  forests  yield  yellow  pine,  oak, 
maple,  hickory,  sweet-gum  and  poplar,  suitable  for  manufacturing 


30— III 


466 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


purposes.  This  timber  supply  and  the  advantages  offered  by  fine 
water-power  has  led  to  the  establishment  of  a number  of  factories, 
but  good  sites  are  still  abundant.  The  Atlanta  & West  Point  rail- 
road traverses  the  county  from  northeast  to  southwest  and  the 
Macon  & Birmingham  from  west  to  east,  providing  good  facilities 
for  shipping.  La  Grange,  the  county  seat,  is  the  manufacturing 
center  of  the  county.  West  Point,  Hogansville  and  Mountville 
are  important  towns.  There  are  two  colleges  at  La  Grange,  which 
with  the  Park  high  school  offer  exceptional  educational  advantages. 
The  population  of  Troup  county  in  1900  was  24,002,  an  increase 
of  3,279  in  ten  years. 

Troup  Factory,  a town  of  Troup  county,  is  located  ten  miles 
southeast  of  La  Grange.  As  its  name  indicates  it  is  a manufactur- 
ing town,  the  first  cotton  factory  there  being  built  about  1841. 
It  afterward  changed  owners  and  was  removed  to  La  Grange. 
Although  Troup  Factory  had  a population  of  400  in  1900  it  has  no 
postoffice,  being  dependent  upon  the  rural  free  delivery  from  the 
county  seat  for  its  mail.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Chipley, 
seven  miles  distant  in  Harris  county. 

Troup,  George  Michael,  lawyer,  legislator  and  governor,  was 
born  on  Sept.  8,  1780,  at  McIntosh’s  Bluff,  then  in  the  State  of 
Georgia,  but  now  in  Alabama.  His  early  education  was  received 
under  a private  tutor.  In  1797  he  graduated  at  Princeton  and  in 
1800  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  following  year  he  was  elected  to 
the  legislature ; was  reelected  in  1802  and  again  in  1803 ; served  as  a 
representative  in  Congress  from  1806  to  1814;  was  elected  United 
States  senator  in  1816,  but  resigned  after  serving  about  two  years; 
was  elected  governor  in  1823  and  again  in  1825.  During  his  admin- 
istration as  governor  he  successfully  maintained  the  rights  of 
Georgia  in  a controversy  with  the  United  States  government  with 
regard  to  the  Indian  lands.  In  1828  he  was  again  elected  to  the 
United  States  senate,  without  opposition,  but  he  resigned  his  seat 
in  that  body  in  1833  and  retired  to  private  life.  During  the  war  of 
1812  he  was  chairman  of  the  house  committee  on  military  affairs 
in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  A ward  and  square  in  the 
city  of  Savannah  bear  his  name,  and  a life  size  portrait,  painted 
by  order  of  the  general  assembly,  hangs  in  the  capitol  at  Atlanta. 
He  died  in  Montgomery  county  on  April  26,  1856. 

Trust  Companies. — Charters  to  trust  companies  issue  from  the 
office  of  secretary  of  state.  Before  a charter  can  be  obtained 
notice  of  intention  to  organize  must  be  published  and  a capital 
stock  of  at  least  $25,000  paid  in.  Companies  of  this  character  have 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


467 


power  to  sue  and  be  sued ; to  buy,  sell  or  lease  real  estate ; to  re- 
ceive deposits  of  trust  money ; to  loan  money  on  real  estate  or  per- 
sonal property ; to  act  as  trustee  for  bonds  or  as  fiscal  agents ; to 
accept  and  execute  trusts  for  married  women ; and  when  appointed 
by  the  court  to  serve  as  guardian,  trustee  or  receiver,  or  to  execute 
such  other  duties  as  may  be  assigned  to  them  by  order  of  the 
court. 

Trustees. — (For  list  see  Charter). 

Trustees,  Seal  of. — (See  Seal). 

Tube,  a post-hamlet  of  Lumpkin  county,  is  about  four  miles 
north  of  Dahionega.  Lula  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Tuckahoe,  a post-hamlet  of  Screven  county,  is  ten  miles  north- 
east of  Sylvania  and  about  three  miles  from  the  Savannah  river. 
Sylvania  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Tucker,  a village  of  Dekalb  county,  is  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line 
railway,  seven  miles  northeast  of  Decatur,  and  in  1900  had  a popu- 
lation of  57.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  telegraph  and  ex- 
press accommodations,  some  mercantile  interests  and  does  con- 
siderable shipping. 

Tucker,  Henry  Holcombe,  educator  and  clergyman,  was  born  in 
Warren  county,  not  far  from  where  the  town  of  Camak  now  stands, 
May  10,  1819.  His  mother  being  left  a widow  soon  after  his  birth, 
removed  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  received  his  education.  In 
his  senior  year  he  left  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and  went 
to  Washington,  D.  C.,  where  he  graduated  in  the  Columbian  col- 
lege in  1838.  After  engaging  in  mercantile  pursuits  for  about 
three  years  he  studied  law  and  began  practice  at  Forsyth,  Ga., 
in  1846.  In  1851  he  was  ordained  to  the  Baptist  ministry  at  La- 
grange, where  he  had  been  engaged  as  an  instructor  in  the  female 
college.  In  1856  he  was  elected  professor  of  belles-letters  and 
metaphysics  in  Mercer  university,  which  position  he  held  until  the 
commencement  of  the  Civil  war.  In  1866,  after  serving  for  a short 
time  as  editor  of  the  Christian  Index,  he  was  elected  to  the  presi- 
dency of  Mercer  university,  but  resigned  in  1871  and  with  his  fam- 
ily visited  Europe.  Dr.  Tucker  was  elected  chancellor  of  the 
University  of  Georgia  in  1874  and  held  the  position  until  1878, 
when  he  again  became  editor  of  the  Index  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Atlanta,  where  he  died  on  April  14,  1877. 

Tucker,  John  J.,  one  of  the  sterling  citizens  and  successful 
farmers  of  Meriwether  county,  where  he  died  Jan.  13,  1896,  was 
an  officer  in  the  Confederate  service  in  the  Civil  war,  and  his  loyalty 
in  all  other  relations  of  life  was  equally  inviolable.  Captain  Tucker 


468 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


was  born  in  Elbert  county,  Ga.,  Oct.  31,  1826,  a son  of  Humphrey 
David  and  Eda  (Grant)  Tucker,  the  former  born  in  North  Caro- 
lina and  the  iatter  in  Virginia.  The  original  ancestors  of  the 

Tucker  family  as  represented  in  the 
Georgia  line  came  from  Ireland,  before 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  there  having 
been  five  brothers  of  the  one  immediate 
family  connection  and  three  brothers  who 
were  cousins  of  the  other  five  of  the 
name.  The  parents  of  the  subject  of  this 
memoir  passed  the  closing  years  of  their 
lives  in  Meriwether  county,  having  been 
representatives  of  honored  pioneer  fami- 
lies of  this  section  of  the  state.  Humphrey 
D.  Tucker  was  a soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  lie  was  a son  of  Ethrcl  Tucker, 
who  was  born  in  North  Carolina  and  whose  wife,  Rebecca, 
was  a native  of  Virginia.  Ethrel  Tucker  removed  from  North 
Carolina  to  Georgia  in  1833  and  settled  in  Elbert  county, 
where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  The  maternal  grand- 
father of  John  J.  Tucker  was  Daniel  Grant,  who  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia and  came  to  Georgia  in  early  life,  here  residing  until  his 
death.  Mr.  Tucker  acquired  a good  common-school  education  and 
throughout  life  remained  a great  reader,  being  an  excellent  math- 
ematician and  a man  of  superior  intellectuality.  He  was  identified 
with  agricultural  pursuits  from  his  boyhood  until  his  death,  and  the 
greater  portion  of  his  life  was  passed  in  Meriwether  county,  where 
his  name  is  held  in  lasting  honor.  At  the  inception  of  the  war 
between  the  states  he  tendered  his  services  in  defense  of  the 
cause  of  the  Confederacy.  In  1861  he  enlisted  as  a private  in  Com- 
pany B,  Sixtieth  Georgia  infantry,  in  which  he  was  finally  pro- 
moted to  captain  and  with  which  he  saw  arduous  service,  partici- 
pating in  a number  of  important  battles.  At  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg he  gave  a wounded  comrade  his  horse  in  order  that  the  un- 
fortunate man  might  escape  and  he  himself  was  captured,  taken  to 
Johnson’s  island,  in  Lake  Erie,  where  he  was  held  as  a prisoner 
of  war  for  twenty-two  months,  at  the  expiration  of  which  his 
exchange  was  effected,  and  that  by  a very  narrow  margin,  as  an 
arrangement  had  been  made  for  the  exchange  of  500  men  and  he 
was  the  next  to  the  last  to  be  chosen.  He  was  with  Gen.  Lee’s 
forces  during  the  latter  days  of  the  war  and  after  the  surrender 
was  paroled.  Captain  Tucker  was  a stanch  Democrat,  a devout 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


469 


member  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  church,  and  a Royal  Arch 
Mason.  In  1853  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Louisa  Kil- 
patrick, daughter  of  Richard  and  Elizabeth  (Rawls)  Kilpatrick, 
of  Meriwether  county,  and  she  was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal 
on  Dec.  3,  1873.  In  May,  1874,  he  married  Miss  Ollie  C.  Crawford, 
daughter  of  P.  Crawford,  of  Talbot  county,  and  she  still  survives 
him.  Five  children  were  born  of  the  first  union.  Concerning  them 
the  following  brief  data  are  given : Sarah  F.  is  the  wife  of  R.  R. 

Mabley,  of  Chipley,  Harris  county;  Oscar  D.  and  Dr.  William 
B.  are  likewise  residents  of  Chipley;  John  T.  resides  in  the  city  of 
Atlanta;  and  Dr.  James  R.,  who  was  an  able  physician  and  sur- 
geon, died  in  Chipley. 

Tucker,  O.  Walter,  a popular  young  business  man  of  Chipley, 
Harris  county,  where  he  is  associated  in  the  drug  business  with 
his  father,  under  the  firm  title  of  W.  B.  & O.  W.  Tucker,  was 
born  in  the  town  which  is  now  his  home,  Feb.  25,  1880.  A sketch 
of  the  life  of  his  father,  Dr.  William  B.  Tucker,  is  to  be  found  in 
a later  paragraph  in  this  publication.  After  a due  amount  of  pre- 
paratory study  in  the  public  schools  of  Chipley  Mr.  Tucker  en- 
tered Gordon  institute,  at  Barnesville,  Ga.,  where  he  pursued 
higher  academic  work.  He  then  took  a course  in  the  Atlanta 
school  of  pharmacy,  thoroughly  fortifying  himself  in  thq  knowledge 
of  his  profession  and  was  granted  a state  license  as  a registered 
pharmacist  upon  examination  before  the  state  board  of  pharmacy. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  was  admitted  by  his  father  to 
partnership  in  the  latter’s  drug  business,  in  which  they  have  since 
been  associated,  under  the  title  already  designated,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  an  interim  of  three  years.  They  have  a modern  and 
well  equipped  establishment  and  control  an  excellent  business. 
In  politics  Mr.  Tucker  is  aligned  with  the  Democratic  party; 
is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  and  is 
affiliated  with  the  local  blue  lodge  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

Tucker,  William  B.,  M.  D.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  at  Chipley,  Harris  county,  where  he  also  conducts 
a well  appointed  drug  store,  in  which  latter  enterprise  his 
second  son  is  associated  with  him,  was  born  in  Harris 
county,  Ga.,  Aug.  11,  1857,  a son  of  Capt.  John  J.  and  Louisa 
(Kirkpatrick)  Tucker,  both  now  deceased.  As  a memoir  of  Cap- 
tain Tucker  appears  in  this  work  further  reference  to  the  family 
history  is  not  demanded  at  this  point.  After  a due  preliminary 
discipline  in  the  common  schools  Doctor  Tucker  was  matriculated 
in  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Georgia,  at  Augusta, 


470 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


in  which  he  completed  the  prescribed  course  and  was  graduated  in 
March,  1883,  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  Shortly  after- 
ward he  established  himself  in  practice  at  Warm  Springs,  Meri- 
wether county,  where  he  remained  until 
1891,  when  he  removed  to  Chipley,  where 
he  has  continued  in  the  work  of  his  pro- 
fession with  most  gratifying  success. 
His  drug  business  is  conducted  under 
the  firm  name  of  W.  B.  & O.  W.  Tucker. 
In  1905  he  retired  to  a large  extent  from 
the  work  of  his  profession,  in  order  to 
devote  his  attention  to  his  drug  business 


and  farming  interests, 


the  latter  being 


1 A.. 


quite  extensive  in  scope.  As  a planter 
he  utilizes  the  most  approved  modern 
methods,  and  his  enterprise  as  a busi- 
ness man  is  shown  in  the  fine  new  building  which  he  has 
erected  for  his  drug  store.  He  is  a member  of  the  Medical  Asso- 
ciation of  Georgia  and  also  of  the  Georgia  pharmaceutical  asso- 
ciation. He  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  Royal  Arcanum,  and  his  religious  faith  is  indicated 
by  his  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South.  He 
is  a stalwart  adherent  of  the,Democratic  party;  has  been  a member 
of  the  municipal  council  of  Chipley  for  several  years ; has  served 
as  mayor  pro  tempore,  and  is  now  a member  of  the  board  of  edu- 
cation. On  Oct.  11,  1887,  Doctor  Tucker  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  E.  Williams,  daughter  of  Dr.  Daniel  and  Martha  (Gore) 
Williams,  of  Chattooga  county,  and  her  death  occurred  on  Nov. 
6,  1898.  She  is  survived  by  two  sons,  Dr.  Otis  B.,  who  is  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Pitts,  Wilcox  county,  and  O.  Walter, 
individually  mentioned  in  this  work.  On  March  20,  1899,  Doctor 
Tucker  wedded  Miss  Susie  Key,  daughter  of  Crawford  Key,  of 
Chipley,  and  they  have  one  son,  James  Robert. 

Tugaloo,  a post-village  in  the  eastern  part  of  Stephens  county, 
is  a station  on  the  Southern  railway,  and  is  not  far  from  the  Tug- 
aloo river.  It  is  a trading  point  for  the  neighborhood  in  which  it 
is  situated  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  46. 

Tulip,  (railroad  name  Sprite  Station)  a post-hamlet  of  Chattooga 
county,  is  on  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway,  not  far  from  the  Floyd 
county  line. 

Tumuli,  Ancient. — (See  Antiquities). 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


471 


Tunnelhill,  so  named  from  the  great  tunnel  on  the  Western  & 
Atlantic  railroad,  is  a town  in  the  northern  part  of  Whitfield  coun- 
ty, and  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1856.  It 
has  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a money  order  postoffice  with 
rural  free  delivery,  and  several  stores.  The  people  have  also  the 
advantage  of  good  schools  and  churches.  On  Sept.  11,  1863  during 
the  Chickamauga  campaign  there  was  some  skirmishing  here. 
Again  on  Feb.  23-24,  1864,  Wheeler’s  cavalry  was  engaged  in 
skirmishing  with  the  Federal  outposts  and  foraging  parties,  and  on 
March  3,  1865,  there  was  also  some  fighting  in  this  vicinity. 

Tupper,  William  Marsh,  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  influential  business 
men  of  Brunswick,  Glynn  county,  is  a 
citizen  of  sterling  character  and  has  large 
and  important  interests  in  his  city  and 
state.  He  claims  the  old  Pine  Tree 
State  as  the  place  of  his  nativity,  having 
been  born  in  the  city  of  Bangor,  Me., 
Jan.  1,  1849,  a son  of  Rev.  Thomas  B. 
and  Lucy  R.  (Peck)  Tupper,  the  former 
born  in  Nova  Scotia  and  the  latter  in 
New  Brunswick,  Dominion  of  Canada. 
The  father  was  a clergyman  of  the 
Methodist  church  and  both  he  and  his  wife  passed  the  closing  years 
of  their  lives  in  Maine.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the 
common  schools  until  he  had  attained  to  the  age  of  thirteen  years, 
when  he  entered  the  East  Maine  Conference  seminary,  at  Bucks- 
port,  where  he  remained  a student  two  years.  He  then  took  up  a 
seafaring  life,  sailing  before  the  mast,  and  he  has  ever  since  been 
identified  with  some  order  of  maritime  or  navigation  interests. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  he  was  master  of  a sailing  vessel, 
in  the  employ  of  R.  P.  Buck,  of  New  York,  and  remained  in  the 
employ  of  this  firm,  as  first  officer  and  master  of  different  vessels, 
for  a period  of  twenty  years.  He  then  came  to  Georgia  and  took 
up  his  residence  in  Brunswick,  where  he  has  since  maintained  his 
home.  He  here  established  a line  of  tow  boats  and  lighters,  and  in 
this  line  he  has  built  up  a large  and  important  business.  He  is 
also  agent  for  the  Mallory  and  Clyde  steamship  lines ; is  president 
of  the  company  operating  the  Cumberland  Line,  between  Bruns- 
wick and  Fernandina,  Fla.;  and  represents  the  leading  marine-in- 
surance companies  of  Europe  and  America ; is  vice-president  of 
the  Brunswick  Banking  and  Trust  Company,  vice-president  of  St. 


472 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Simon’s  Transit  Company  and  president  of  the  Seaman’s  Friends’ 
society  of  the  port  of  Brunswick.  He  is  also  a member  of  the 
directorate  of  the  Brunswick  sash,  door  and  blind  factory  and  the 
South  Atlantic  Towing  Company.  In  national  affairs  he  gives  his 
support  to  the  Republican  party,  but  in  local  politics  he  is  aligned 
stanchly  with  the  Democracy.  He  is  a member  of  the  board  of 
aldermen  of  Brunswick  and  is  held  in  unqualified  esteem  in  both 
business  and  social  circles.  He  and  his  wife  attend  and  support  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  he  is  a member  of  the  Ocean  Lodge, 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  In  February,  1871,  Mr.  Tupper  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Alveretta  Devereaux,  daughter  of  Ralph 
and  Mary  (Harriman)  Deveraux,  of  Searsport,  Me.,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Ralph  B.,  who  is  associated  with  his  father  in  business, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Tupper  & Co.  Ralph  B.  Tupper  married 
a daughter  of  Dr.  J.  M.  Madden,  a prominent  physician  of  Bruns- 
wick, and  they  have  two  children, — William  M.  and  Alveretta, 
named  in  honor  of  their  paternal  grandparents. 

Turin,  an  incorporated  town  of  Coweta  county,  is  on  the  Central 
of  Georgia  railroad,  ten  miles  east  of  Newnan.  It  has  important 
mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  some  manufacturing  enterprises, 
telegraph  and  express  offices,  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural 
free  delivery,  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  196. 

Turner  County  was  organized  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  August, 
1905,  and  was  laid  off  from  Irwin,  Wilcox,  Dooly  and  Worth 
counties.  It  was  named  in  honor  of  Henry  G.  Turner,  who  at 
one  time  served  in  the  Georgia  legislature,  was  a member  of  the 
State  constitutional  convention  of  1877,  and  represented  Georgia 
in  the  United  States  house  of  representatives.  Turner  county  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Crisp  and  Wilcox,  on  the  east  by  Irwin 
and  Wilcox,  on  the  south  by  Worth  and  Tift  and  on  the  west  by 
Worth  county.  Tributaries  of  the  Allapaha  and  Little  rivers  water 
the  surface  and  the  Georgia  Southern  & Florida  railway  traverses 
the  county.  The  soil  is  a light,  sandy  loam  with  clay  subsoil,  but 
on  the  creek  bottoms  it  is  alluvial  and  very  productive.  The 
agricultural  products  are  corn,  cotton,  wheat,  oats,  rye,  upland 
rice,  sorghum,  sugar-cane,  Irish  and  sweet  potatoes,  field  peas, 
ground  peas,  chufas  and  hay  from  crab  grass  and  pea-vines.  The 
horticultural  products  are  apples,  peaches,  plums,  cherries,  grapes, 
figs,  melons,  berries  and  all  the  usual  vegetables.  Mineral  products 
are  clay,  limestone  and  sandstone.  Ashburn,  on  the  Georgia  South- 
ern & Florida  railway,  is  the  county  seat.  Turner  county  belongs 
to  the  Second  Congressional  district  and  Albany  judicial  circuit. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


473 


Turner,  Henry  G.,  lawyer  and  member  of  Congress,  was  born 
in  Franklin  county,  N.  C.,  March  20,  1839.  After  the  usual  prepara- 
tory training  he  entered  the  University  of  Virginia,  but  the  death 
of  his  father  in  1857  made  it  necessary  for  him  to  leave  the  insti- 
tution before  completing  his  course.  The  following  year  he  came 
to  Georgia,  where  he  taught  school  until  the  commencement  of 
the  war,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service.  He  served 
through  the  entire  war,  being  mustered  out  as  captain,  and  in  1865 
was  admittd  to  the  bar.  In  1872  he  was  one  of  the  presidential  elec- 
tors on  the  Democratic  ticket.  Later  he  served  three  terms  in  the 
legislature ; was  elected  to  represent  his  district  in  the  lower  branch 
of  Congress  in  1880,  and  reelected  at  each  succeeding  election  until 
1894.  Upon  retiring  from  Congress  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law 
at  Quitman;  was  appointed  one  of  the  justices  of  the  supreme  court, 
but  after  a short  service  he  resigned,  and  died  at  Quitman  in  1905. 

Turner,  William  Joseph,  M.  D.,  who  is 
established  in  the  successful  practice  of 
his  profession  in  Ashburn,  Worth  coun- 
ty, and  known  as  an  able  physician  and 
surgeon,  was  born  in  Cusseta,  Chatta- 
hoochee county,  Ga.,  Dec.  20,  1868,  a son 
of  Olynthus  W.  and  Emma  H.  (Shipp) 
Turner,  the  former  born  near  Cuthbert, 
Randolph  county,  Ga.,  July  22,  1845,  and 
the  latter  in  Cusseta,  Chattahoochee 
county,  Feb.  13,  1847.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  Doctor  Turner  was  a 
clergyman  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  was  a soldier  in  the  Confederate  service  during  the  war 
between  the  states.  Olynthus  W.  Turner,  in  the  year  1863,  also 
tendered  his  aid  in  upholding  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy,  en- 
listing as  a private  in  Company  E,  Thirty-first  Georgia  infantry, 
with  which  he  participated  in  a number  of  important  engagements, 
including  the  battles  of  Morton’s  Ford,  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania, 
Gettysburg,  Cedar  Creek,  Hatcher’s  Run,  Petersburg,  and  a spir- 
ited engagement  near  Appomattox,  besides  numerous  skirmishes 
and  other  minor  engagements.  He  was  captured  the  day  prior 
to  Lee’s  surrender  and  was  taken  to  Newport  News,  Va.,  where  he 
was  paroled  in  June,  1865.  Doctor  Turner  secured  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  his  native  place,  and  completed  his  tech- 
nical training  in  Atlanta,  Ga.,  where  he  was  graduated  as  a member 
of  the  class  of  1893,  receiving  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine 


474 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


and  coming  forth  well  fortified  for  the  work  of  his  chosen  pro- 
fession. He  is  one  of  the  representative  members  of  the  medical 
fraternity  in  Turner  county,  having  been  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Ashburn  since  1895,  and  is  held  in  high  esteem 
in  the  community.  He  is  a member  of  the  Medical  Association 
of  Georgia,  is  a Democrat  in  his  political  proclivities,  is  affiliated 
with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  his  religious  faith  is  that  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South.  Mrs.  Turner  is  a zealous 
member  of  the  Baptist  church.  On  Feb.  13,  1894,  was  solemnized 
the  marriage  of  Doctor  Turner  to  Miss  Julia  H.,  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin F.  and  Leannah  V.  (Holomon)  Cawley,  of  Macon,  Ga., 
and  the  two  children  of  this  union  are  Hazel  and  Olynthus  C. 

Turner,  William  R.,  cashier  of  the 
Citizens’  bank,  Millen,  Jenkins  county, 
was  born  on  the  plantation  of  his  father, 
near  Barnesville,  Pike  county,  Ga.,  Feb. 
14,  1883.  He  is  a son  of  Capt.  Benja- 
min M.  and  Mary  Ella  (Banks)  Turner, 
the  former  born  in  Barnesville,  April  1, 
1839,  and  the  latter  was  born  in  Han- 
cock county,  in  1849.  Captain  Turner 
was  a lawyer  by  profession  and  was  dis- 
tinctively a man  of  affairs,  having  been 
identified  extensively  with  planting  in- 
terests and  also  been  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  for  a number  of  years  prior  to  his  death,  which 
occurred  on  April  3,  1900.  He  commanded  a company  in  a bat- 
talion of  sharpshooters,  in  the  Confederate  service,  during  the  war 
between  the  states,  and  was  one  of  the  prominent  and  influential 
citizens  of  Pike  county,  where  he  held  the  uniform  esteem  of  all 
who  knew  him.  His  widow  still  resides  in  Barnesville.  William 
R.  Turner  secured  his  preparatory  educational  discipline  in  Gordon 
institute,  at  Barnesville,  and  then  entered  the  University  of  Geor- 
gia, in  which  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1903, 
receiving  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  He  also  studied  law 
at  the  university,  but  has  never  taken  up  the  work  of  the  pro- 
fession. After  his  graduation  he  became  bookkeeper  in  the  Citi- 
zens’ bank  of  Barnesville,  where  he  remained  two  years,  gaining 
a thorough  knowledge  of  the  executive  details  of  the  banking  bus- 
iness. Upon  the  organization  of  the  Citizens’  bank  of  Mjllen  he 
was  chosen  its  cashier,  and  has  since  served  in  that  capacity,  his 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


475 


able  efforts  having  done  much  to  further  the  upbuilding  of  this 
popular  new  financial  institution.  He  is  one  of  the  stockholders 
of  the  bank  and  is  a member  of  its  directorate,  while  he  is  known 
as  one  of  the  progressive  young  business  men  of  Millen.  He  is 
a Democrat  in  his  political  proclivities ; a member  of  the  Baptist 
church ; is  identified  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Phi 
Delta  Theta  college  fraternity.  During  the  last  term  of  adminis- 
tration of  Governor  Candler  Mr.  Turner  served  on  his  military 
staff,  the  governor  having  been  a college  roommate  of  his  father. 

Turner’s  and  Howell’s  Ferries. — During  Hood’s  northward 
march  in  the  fall  of  1864  there  was  skirmishing  at  these  points 
on  the  Chattahoochee  river,  nearly  due  west  of  Atlanta,  on  Octo- 
ber 19th. 

Turnerville,  one  of  the  important  towns  of  Habersham  county, 
is  on  the  Tallulah  Falls  railroad,  about  ten  miles  northeast  of 
Clarkesville.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  telegraph  and  ex- 
press services,  several  stores,  and  is  a shipping  point  for  the 
products  of  the  surrounding  country. 

Turpentine. — (See  Naval  Stores). 

Tusculum,  (railroad  name  Brewer’s  Station)  a post-village  of 
Effingham  county,  is  on  the  main  line  of  the  Central  of  Georgia 
railroad,  about  eight  miles  northwest  of  Springfield.  It  has  some 
mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  a money  order  postoffice,  and  in 
1900  had  a population  of  50. 

Tussey,  J.  E.,  supervisor  of  bridges 
and  buildings  of  the  Central  of  Georgia 
railway  in  the  city  of  Savannah,  has 
been  in  railroad  service  since  he  was 
fifteen  years  old  and  has  won  successive 
promotions  through  efficient  and  dis- 
criminating effort.  He  was  born  in 
Lexington,  Davidson  county,  N.  C., 
March  13,  1870,  a son  of  Z.  B.  and  B. 
E.  Tussey,  both  born  in  Lexington,  the 
former  in  1844  and  the  latter  in  1848. 
The  father  was  a soldier  of  the  Confed- 
eracy during  the  Civil  Avar,  having  en- 
listed in  March,  1862,  as  a member  of  Company  B,  Forty-eighth 
North  Carolina  volunteer  infantry,  which  was  assigned  to  Cook’s 
brigade,  Heath’s  division,  Hill’s  corps.  He  served  eighteen  months 
as  brigade  scout  and  at  the  time  of  the  final  surrender  had  just 
been  promoted  first  sergeant  of  his  company.  J.  E.  Tussey  secured 


476 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Lexington  and,  as  be- 
fore stated,  entered  railroad  service  when  but  fifteen  years  of  age. 
He  has  ever  since  been  identified  with  the  same.  He  began  as 
commissary  clerk,  later  became  assistant  to  the  railroad  civil  engi- 
neers in  construction  work,  has  been  at  different  intervals  the  in- 
cumbent of  positions  as  section  foreman,  foreman  and  conductor 
of  work  trains,  flagman  and  yard  foreman,  conductor  in  connection 
with  steam-shovel  work,  assistant  track  supervisor  and  finally 
track  supervisor,  in  which  last  mentioned  capacity  he  served  the 
Central  of  Georgia  six  and  one-half  years.  At  the  expiration  of 
that  time,  on  May  1,  1904,  he  was  promoted  general  yard  master 
which  he  held  until  March  15th,  1906,  when  he  was  promoted  to 
supervisor  of  bridges  and  buildings  which  place  he  now  holds. 
He  came  from  Virginia  to  Georgia,  May  26,  1891,  and  has  found 
this  fair  old  commonwealth  so  attractive  that  he  has  never  since 
had  any  desire  to  depart  therefrom.  In  politics  he  is  independent 
in  his  attitude;  fraternally  he  is  identified  with  Landrum  Lodge, 
No.  48,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  Georgia  Chapter,  No.  2,  Royal 
Arch  Masons;  is  also  a Knight  Templar  and  a member  of  Alee 
Temple,  Ancient  Arabic  Order,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
South.  On  Nov.  28,  1895,  Mr.  Tussey  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Amanda  M.  Millikan,  daughter  of  Azel  and  Annie  E.  (Spen- 
cer) Millikan,  of  Randleman,  N.  C.,  and  their  only  living  child 
is  Helen  Alberta,  born  Jan.  28,  1904. 

Tuten,  James  Greene,  M.  D.,  is  one  of 
the  able  and  popular  representatives  of 
the  medical  profession  in  Wayne  county, 
being  established  in  an  excellent  repre- 
sentative practice  at  Jesup.  He  was  born 
near  Staffords,  Hampton  county,  S.  C., 
Feb.  15,  1870,  and  in  the  same  locality 
his  father,  John  Asa  Tuten,  was  born, 
Feb.  22,  1846.  His  mother,  whose  maid- 
en name  was  Susan  Catherine  Dowling, 
was  born  near  Blackville,  Barnwell  coun- 
ty, S.  C.,  Jan.  31,  1845.  John  A.  Tuten 
was  a valiant  and  loyal  soldier  of  the 
Confederacy  in  the  war  between  the  states,  having  enlisted,  in 
1862,  as  a member  of  Kanta  Paux  artillery,  a fine  South  Carolina 
command  with  which  he  was  in  active  service  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  taking  part  in  a number  of  important  engagements  incidental 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


477 


to  the  campaigns  in  the  Carolinas,  including  the  battles  of  Honey 
Hill,  Orangeburg  and  Buford’s  Bridge,  S.  C,  and  Columbia,  Aver- 
asboro  and  Bentonville,  N.  C.  He  was  paroled,  at  Salisbury,  N. 
C.  in  April,  1865.  The  father  died  in  1891  and  the  mother  in  1899. 
Dr.  Tuten  secured  his  preliminary  educational  training  in  the 
schools  of  Hampton  county,  S.  C.,  and  his  technical  discipline, 
preparing  him  for  the  work  of  his  exacting  profession,  was  gained 
in  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Georgia,  in  which 
he  was  graduated  March  3,  1890.  He  has  been  unswerving  in  his 
devotion  to  his  profession  and  has  gained  marked  prestige  as  a phy- 
sician and  surgeon,  while  he  is  one  of  the  popular  citizens  of  Jesup, 
commanding  the  uniform  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  community. 
He  is  a member  of  the  American  medical  association,  the  Interna- 
tional association  of  railway  surgeons  and  the  Medical  Association 
of  Georgia.  He  has  twice  had  yellow  fever  and  is  thus  immune, 
while  it  has  been  his  privilege  to  render  most  valuable  service  in 
epidemics  of  this  dreaded  scourge  of  the  south.  He  was  acting 
assistant  surgeon  in  the  United  States  marine-hospital  service, 
at  Jesup,  during  the  epidemic  of  1893  ; was  similarly  engaged  at 
Scranton,  Miss.,  in  1897;  and  at  the  soldiers’  home  in  Hampton, 
Va.,  in  1899.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  is  a stanch  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  church.  On  Dec.  10,  1891,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Minnie  Lee  Walters,  daughter  of  Charles  W.  and  Augusta 
Walters,  of  Montezuma,  Ga.,  and  the  children  of  this  union  are: 
Mamie  Louise,  born  Oct.  21,  1894,  and  James  Greene,  Jr.,  born 
Dec.  20,  1897. 

Twiggs,  Albert  J.,  of  Augusta,  is  one  of  the  leading  civil  engi- 
neers and  railroad  and  government  contractors  of  the  State  of 
Georgia.  He  was  one  of  the  youngest  soldiers  in  the  Confederate 
service  during  the  Civil  war  and  for  about  thirty  years  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Richmond  Hussars,  of  which  he  was  captain  a number 
of  years.  He  was  born  on  the  home  plantation,  in  Edgefield  coun- 
ty, S.  C.,  April  25,  1849,  a son  of  Col.  John  D.  and  Eugenia  (Rambo) 
Twiggs,  the  former  born  in  Richmond  county,  Ga.,  and  the  latter 
in  Edgefield  county,  S.  C.  John  D.  Twiggs  was  born  on  the  old 
Twiggs  homestead,  near  Allen’s  station,  Richmond  county,  Ga., 
April  6,  1826.  He  was  a grandson  of  Maj.-Gen.  John  Twiggs, 
a distinguished  officer  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  a nephew 
of  Maj.-Gen.  David  E.  Twiggs,  a hero  of  the  Mexican  war.  When 
the  State  of  South  Carolina  seceded  he  was  first  lieutenant  of  the 


478 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Edgefield  Rangers,  a cavalry  company  of  Hamburg,  that  state, 
A.  J.  Hammond  being  captain.  The  company  went  into  camp  at 
Horse  creek  bridge  in  the  spring  of  1861,  and  when  Captain  Ham- 
mond tendered  his  resignation  Lieutenant  Twiggs  was  unanimous- 
ly elected  to  succeed  him.  The  following  extracts  are  from  an  ap- 
preciative memorial  contributed  by  two  of  Colonel  Twiggs’  com- 
rades : “The  company  was  ordered  to  Charleston,  where  it  became 
a part  of  the  First  South  Carolina  regiment  of  cavalry,  John  L. 
Black,  of  Edgefield,  being  made  colonel  and  John  D.  Twiggs,  of 
Hamburg,  lieutenant-colonel.  They  went  into  active  service  on  the 
coast  and  the  islands  near  Charleston,  and  were  engaged  in  several 
severe  fights  and  heavy  skirmishes,  and  doing  much  picket  duty.  Af- 
ter about  six  months  they  were  sent  to  Virginia,  leaving  Summerville, 
Oct.  1,  1861,  and  were  then  attached  to  Hampton’s  famous  brigade, 
in  the  corps  of  the  distinguished  Gen.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart.  In  Vir- 
ginia they  saw  much  hard  service  and  were  engaged  in  all  the  great 
battles  that  were  fought  around  Richmond.  In  the  great  cavalry 
battle  at  Brandy  Station  Colonel  Black  was  early  wounded  and 
compelled  to  retire  and  the  command  devolved  upon  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Twiggs,  who  led  the  regiment  during  the  battle.  His  horse 
was  killed  and  fell  on  him,  pinning  him  to  the  ground,  but  he  sus- 
tained no  serious  injuries.  He  was  pulled  from  under  his  fallen 
horse  and,  securing  a remount  from  one  of  his  men,  contiued  to 
command  his  regiment  with  such  skill  and  bravery  as  to  elicit  the 
praise  of  the  commanding  general.  He  continued  in  command  of 
the  regiment  until  after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  in  which  he  was 
distinguished  by  his  gallantry  and  bravery,  on  several  occasions 
leading  his  men  in  the  very  hottest  places  in  the  terrible  contest. 
In  December,  1863,  the  First  and  Second  South  Carolina  regiments 
were  ordered  to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  and  went  into  camp  on  James 
island,  where  they  saw  more  hard  fighting  and  much  heavy  picket 
duty.  It  was  day  and  night  service,  driving  back  the  negro  troops. 
It  is  needless  to  say  that  his-  regiment  was  much  grieved  when  its 
members  learned  of  the  death  of  Colonel  Twiggs,  as  they  were 
devotedly  attached  to  him.  They  loved  him  and  admired  him.  He 
was  always  kind  and  considerate.  We  feel  justified  in  saying  that 
no  braver,  more  patriotic  or  purer  man  has  ever  lived  than  Col. 
John  D.  Twiggs.  He  lives,  and  will  ever  live,  in  the  hearts  of  his 
Confederate  companions  in  arms — those  who  followed  him  on 
many  a bloody  battle  field.  His  son,  Albert  J.  Twiggs,  went  with 
him  to  the  war  when  only  about  thirteen  years  of  age,  acting  as 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


479 


his  courier  and  remaining  with  him  to  the  bitter  end.  Colonel 
Twiggs  died  in  September,  1864.”  Touching  the  service  of  Capt. 
Albert  J.  Twiggs,  it  may  be  noted  that  in  December,  1863,  when 
but  fourteen  years  of  age,  he  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  K, 
First  South  Carolina  cavalry,  being  one  of  the  youngest  members 
in  the  regular  service  of  the  Confederacy,  remained  in  the  ranks 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  with  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston’s 
army  at  the  time  of  the  final  surrender.  He  refused  to  surrender, 
however,  and  with  others  of  his  comrades  set  forth  to  join  the  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Kirby  Smith,  in  the  Trans-Mississippi  department, 
and  was  finally  paroled  in  Augusta,  Ga.,  May  25,  1865.  Captain 
Twiggs  was  educated  in  the  Virginia  military  institute,  where  he 
took  a thorough  course  in  civil  engineering.  Throughout  his  bus- 
iness career,  covering  a period  of  thirty-five  years  forward  from 
1871,  he  has  followed  his  profession  successfully  and  has  handled 
many  important  railroad  and  government  contracts.  In  the  former 
department  of  his  work  he  has  been  concerned  in  railroad  con- 
struction in  Georgia,  North  and  South  Carolina,  Kentucky,  Ten- 
nessee, Louisiana  and  Florida.  He  has  also  executed  some  very 
noteworthy  work  for  the  government,  in  connection  with  the  im- 
provement of  the  Savannah  river  below  Augusta.  He  is  a stock- 
holder in  the  Hardwood  Lumber  Company,  of  Augusta,  being 
general  manager  of  the  business,  in  which  he  is  associated  with 
Frank  E.  Fleming.  He  is  a stanch  Democrat ; is  a member  of  the 
United  Confederate  Veterans;  since  1900  he  has  served  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  school  trustees  of  Richmond  county ; is 
a member  of  the  Commercial  club,  of  Augusta,  and  both  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  First  Baptist  church.  On  Nov.  30, 
1871,  Captain  Twiggs  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Emma  W. 
Jordan,  of  Augusta,  and  they  have  two  sons — Captain  John  D., 
and  William  J.,  both  of  whom  are  graduates  of  the  Virginia  mili- 
tary institute  and  both  civil  engineers  by  profession.  The  elder 
son  well  upheld  the  military  prestige  of  the  name  at  the  time  of 
the  late  Spanish-American  war,  as  captain  of  Company  H,  Third 
United  States  volunteer  infantry,  having  taken  part  in  the  battle 
of  Santiago. 

Twiggs  County  was  laid  out  from  Wilkinson  in  1809  and  a part 
was  set  off  to  Bibb  in  1833.  The  county  was  named  for  Col.  John 
Twiggs,  who,  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  won  distinction  in 
many  battles  with  the  British  and  their  Indian  allies.  The  first 
superior  court  was  held  in  the  county  in  November,  1811,  at  Marion, 


480 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


then  the  county  seat,  Judge  Peter  Early  presiding.  The  county  is 
situated  in  the  central  part  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  by  Bibb  and 
Jones  on  the  north  and  northwest,  Wilkinson  on  the  east,  Pulaski  on 
the  south  and  Houston  and  Bibb  on  the  west.  The  Ocmulgee  river 
forms  the  western  boundary  and  drains  the  land.  Along  its  banks 
and  those  of  its  tributaries  the  soil  is-  exceedingly  fertile.  The  prin- 
cipal productions  are  Irish  and  sweet  potatoes,  cotton,  all  varie- 
ties of  peas  and  the  cereals.  All  kinds  of  vegetables  and  fruits 
do  well.  Thousands  of  acres  of  timber  still  stand  and  lumber  is 
one  of  the  important  articles  of  export.  Bluestone  and  potter’s 
clay  are  found  and  the  latter  is  worked  to  some  extent.  The 
Ocmulgee  furnishes  abundant  water-power  and  there  are  several 
mills  along  its  course.  The  county  is  well  supplied  with  railroad 
facilities,  the  Southern  traversing  the  western  part,  and  the  Macon, 
Dublin  & Savannah  the  eastern.  Jeffersonville  is  the  county  seat. 
Other  towns  are  Danville,  Westlake,  and  Willis.  The  population 
in  1900  was  8,717,  an  increase  of  521  in  ten  years.  Twiggs  county 
was  the  home  of  Col.  John  Lawson,  John  Shine,  Henry  Sapp  and 
Arthur  Fort,  all  Revolutionary  heroes  who  lived  to  advanced 
age. 

Twiggs,  David  Emanuel,  soldier,  was  born  in  Richmond  county 
in  1790,  and  was  a son  of  John  Twiggs,  of  Revolutionary  fame, 
who  was  known  as  the  “Savior  of  Georgia.”  At  the  beginning  of 
the  war  of  1812  he  entered  the  army  as  captain  of  the  Eighth  in- 
fantry, but  soon  won  promotion  to  the  rank  of  major.  He  took 
a prominent  part  in  the  Black  Hawk  war  and  during  the  trouble 
between  South  Carolina  and  the  national  government  in  1832  he 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  United  States  arsenal  at  Au- 
gusta. As  colonel  of  the  Second  dragoons  he  served  in  the  Mexican 
war.  For  gallant  conduct  at  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  La  Palma 
he  was  brevetted  brigadier-general  and  at  the  close  of  the  war 
was  presented  with  three  magnificent  swords, — one  by  Congress, 
one  by  the  legislature  of  Georgia,  and  one  by  the  city  of  Augusta. 
He  was  placed  in  command  of  the  department  of  the  west  and  at 
the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war  was  next  in  rank  to  General  Scott. 
When  Georgia  withdrew  from  the  Union  he  at  once  resigned  his 
commission  and  was  made  major-general  in  the  Confederate  army. 
For  a time  he  served  at  New  Orleans,  but  owing  to  his  great  age 
found  the  position  too  ardous  and  retired  from  active  service.  He 
died  at  Augusta,  Sept.  15,  1862. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


481 


Twiggs,  Hansford  D.  Duncan,  an  emi- 
nent lawyer  and  jurist  of  Georgia,  and 
a representative  of  one  of  the  distin- 
guished families  of  the  state,  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  the  city  of  Savannah.  He  is  a great- 
grandson  of  Maj.-Gen.  John  Twiggs,  a 
Revolutionary  soldier  who  has  been  des- 
ignated as  the  “Savior  of  Georgia,”  and 
a nephew  of  Maj.-Gen.  David  E.  Twiggs, 
(q.  v.)  Hansford  D.  D.  Twiggs  was 
born  in  Barnwell,  S.  C.,  March  25,  1839, 
during  a visit  of  his  mother  at  her  par- 
ental home.  He  is  a son  of  George  W.  L.  and  Harriet  E.  (Duncan) 
Twiggs,  the  former  born  in  Richmond  county,  Ga.,  Feb.  22,  1813, 
and  the  latter  at  Sandy  Run,  Lexington  county,  S.  C.,  about  1815. 
Colonel  Twiggs  passed  his  boyhood  on  the  homestead  plantation 
of  his  father,  in  Richmond  county.  He  was  graduated  in  the 
Georgia  military  institute  at  Marietta,  in  1858,  then  entered  upon 
the  study  of  law  in  Philadelphia,  attending  lectures  one  year  in 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1860  was  graduated  in  what 
is  now  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Georgia.  He  had 
but  initiated  the  practice  of  his  profession  when  the  secession  is- 
sue became  paramount.  The  convention  which  decided  upon  the 
secession  of  Georgia  authorized  the  formation  of  two  regiments, 
and  of  the  First  Georgia  regiment  Colonel  Twiggs  was  commis- 
sioned first  lieutenant,  by  Governor  Brown.  A little  later  the  two 
regiments  were  consolidated  in  the  First  Georgia  regulars,  under 
Col.  Charles  J.  Williams,  and  mustered  into  the  Confederate  ser- 
vice. The  young  lawyer,  Twiggs,  became  first  lieutenant  of  Com- 
pany G,  and  in  the  following  year  he  was  promoted  captain.  With 
the  regiment  he  went  on  duty  in  northeastern  Virginia  in  the 
summer  of  1861,  participating  in  the  battle  of  Lewinsville,  where 
he  acted  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  commanding  the 
outposts,  and  upon  the  withdrawal  of  Johnston’s  army  was  in  an 
engagement  at  Fredericksburg.  He  was  with  General  Toombs 
at  YorktoWn,  participated  in  the  battle  of  Dam  No.  1,  and  went 
through  the  Seven  Days’  battles  before  Richmond.  In  the  closing 
fight,  at  Malvern  Hill,  he  received  a wound  that  kept  him  in  hos- 
pital for  thirty  days.  At  his  next  battle,  that  of  Sharpsburg,  Md., 
he  was  wounded  and  captured.  After  lying  in  the  Federal  field 
hospital  about  ten  days  he  was  paroled  and  sent  into  the  Confed- 


31— III 


482 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


erate  lines,  in  charge  of  about  400  other  prisoners  of  war,  with 
whom  he  reported  to  General  Lee  near  Sheppardstown,  and  was 
ordered  on  to  Staunton.  While  upon  leave  of  absence  he  visited 
his  home.  LIpon  his  recovery  and  exchange  he  reported  to  Gen- 
eral Beauregard,  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  for  staff  duty,  by  order  of  the 
war  department,  and  was  assigned  to  the  staff  of  Gen.  W.  T.  Tal- 
iaferro, at  Savannah.  On  July  13,  1863,  General  Taliaferro  was 
ordered  to  take  charge  of  Battery  Wagner,  on  Morris  island,  S. 
C.  Captain  Twiggs  accompanied  him  as  inspector-general  and 
served  in  Battery  Wagner  during  the -terrific  and  desperate  assault 
by  the  Federal  troops.  On  the  day  of  the  assault,  July  18,  he  was 
severely  wounded,  and  the  next  day  was  sent  to  Charleston  and' 
thence  to  his  home  in  Georgia.  In  August,  1863,  he  rejoined  his 
regiment,  the  First  Georgia,  then  on  duty  in  the  southern  coast 
department,  and  remained  with  it  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Olustee,  Fla.,  Feb.  20,  1864,  fought  against 
Sherman  before  Savannah  and  finally  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Averasboro,  North  Carolina,  where  he  was  made  lieutenant-colonel 
of  the  regiment.  In  this  rank  he  surrendered  with  Johnston’s  army, 
at  Greensboro,  April  26,  1865.  After  the  close  of  the  war  Colonel 
Twiggs  remained  on  the  home  plantation  until  January,  1868, 
when  he  located  in  Augusta,  where  he  formed  a law  partnership 
with  Alfred  P.  Aldrich.  In  1870  he  removed  to  Sandersville  and  in 
the  same  year  was  made  judge  of  the  superior  courts  of  the  mid- 
dle judicial  district  of  the  state,  retaining  this  office  until  the  sum- 
mer of  1873.  Thereafter  he  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Augusta  until  1892,  when  he  removed  to  Swains- 
boro  and  remained  a member  of  the  Emanuel  county  bar  until’ 
1897,  when  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Savannah,  where  he  has 
since  been  actively  engaged  in  the  work  of  his  profession.  He  is 
.a  brilliant  lawyer  and  forcible  orator  and  has  attained  specially 
high  prestige  throughout  the  state  for  his  ability  in  criminal  prac- 
tice. In  1880-81  he  represented  Richmond  county  in  the  state 
legislature  and  served  as  speaker  pro  tem.  of  the  house.  Colonel 
Twiggs  has  given  an  unfaltering  allegiance  to  the  Democratic 
party,  is  a member  of  the  United  Confederate  Veterans,  is  affiliated 
with  the  Phi  Kappa  Sigma,  in  Philadelphia,  and  with  the  lodge  of 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  in  Savannah.  On  May 
21,  1861,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lucie  E.  Wilkins, 
•daughter  of  Joseph  C.  and  Elizabeth  (Grant)  Wilkins,  of  Liberty 
county,  Ga.,  and  they  have  two  children — David  E.  and  Miss 
Sallie  B. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


483 


Twilight,  a post-hamlet  of  Miller  county,  is  located  on  Spring 
creek,  seven  miles  south  of  Colquitt.  The  nearest  railroad  station 
is  Boykin. 

Twitty,  Frank  Elmore,  senior  member 
of  the  law  firm  of  Twitty  & Reese,  of 
Brunswick,  and  recognized  as  one  of  the 
representative  members  of  the  bar  of 
Glynn  county,  was  born  in  Smithville, 
Lee  county,  Ga.,  Dec.  13,  1867,  a son 
of  Charles  Russell  and  Ellen  (Paul) 
Twitty,  the  former  born  in  Lancaster, 
S.  C.,  in  1816,  and  the  latter  in  Wades- 
boro,  N.  C.,  Nov.  8,  1836.  Charles  R. 
Twitty  was  a successful  educator  and  a 
man  of  high  scholarship.  For  several 
years,  just  prior  to  the  Civil  war,  he  was 
professor  of  languages  in  the  Carolina  female  college,  at  Anson- 
ville,  N.  C.  Later  he  held  a professorship  in  the  Greenville  female 
seminary,  of  South  Carolina,  retaining  this  incumbency  several 
years  and  then  removing  to  Lee  county,  Ga.,  about  1865.  He  taught 
in  that  county  several  years,  and  was  similarly  engaged  about 
four  years  in  Mitchell  county,  from  which  he  removed  to  Gordon 
county,  where  he  continued  in  pedagogic  work  several  years.  He 
passed  the  closing  years  of  his  life  on  his  farm  near  Reeves  Station, 
Gordon  county,  where  he  died  March  10,  1878.  His  widow  sur- 
vived him  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Rev.  W.  L.  Curry,  of  Pelham, 
Ga.  The  late  Francis  M.  Paul,  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  was  an  uncle 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mr.  Paul  was  the  editor  and  pub- 
lisher of  the  Chattanooga  Rebel,  which  he  issued  during  the  Civil 
war  and  which  was  one  of  the  best  known  of  all  papers  published 
in  the  interests  of  the  Confederate  cause.  He  was  born  in  Wades- 
boro,  N.  C.,  about  the  year  1834,  and  died  at  his  home,  in  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  in  1899.  Frank  E.  Twitty  was  a member  of  the  class  of 
1888  in  the  literary  department  of  the  University  of  Georgia,  com- 
pleting a portion  of  the  work  of  the  junior  year,  and  then  with- 
drawing to  devote  his  attention  to  the  study  of  law,  entering  the 
law  department  of  the  same  institution  and  being  graduated  as 
a member  of  the  class  of  1887,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Laws.  He  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Camilla,  Mitchell 
county,  and  has  been  established  in  practice  in  the  city  of  Bruns- 
wick since  1890,  having  gained  precedence  through  his  devotion 
to  his  profession  and  through  his  distinctive  ability  in  the  same. 


484 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Since  1904  he  has  been  associated  with  Millard  Reese,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Twitty  & Reese.  He  is  a stanch  and  effective  advo- 
cate of  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  for  the  past 
nine  years  he  has  been  chairman  of  the  Democratic  executive 
committee  of  Glynn  county.  He  has  served  for  several  years  as 
attorney  for  the  city  of  Brunswick,  and  is  now  attorney  for  the 
county  of  Glynn.  He  is  a member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist 
church,  a member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks  and  also  of  the  Chi  Phi  fraternity,  Eta  Chapter,  University 
of  Georgia. 

Tworun,  a post-hamlet  of  Lumpkin  county,  is  the  trading  center 
of  a fertile  region,  seven  miles  northwest  of  Dahlonega.  Ellijay 
is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Tybee,  a town  on  the  island  of  the  same  name,  was  incorporated 
as  “Ocean  City,  by  act  of  the  legislature  on  Oct.  15,  1887,  but  the 
name  was  changed  by  a supplementary  act  of  incorporation  on 
Dec.  2G,  1888.  It  is  the  most  eastern  town  in  the  state,  being 
located  on  the  north  end  of  the  island,  eighteen  miles  from  Savan- 
nah, with  which  it  is  connected  by  both  water  and  railway.  The 
population  in  1900  was  381.  It  is  every  year  becoming  more 
popular  as  a bathing  resort,  as  it  has  four  miles  of  smooth,  gently 
shelving  beach,  equal  to  any  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  The  hotel 
will  accommodate  several  hundred  guests,  there  are  several  at- 
tractive cottages  and  club  houses,  while  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
are  excellent  boating  and  fishing  grounds.  (See  Tybee  Island). 

Tybee  Island,  lying  just  south  of  the  mouth  of  the  Savannah 
river,  is  probably  the  most  noted  of  the  islands  along  the  Georgia 
coast.  It  is  claimed  by  some  writers  that  a settlement  was  made 
on  this  island  by  people  from  South  Carolina,  before  the  coming 
of  Oglethorpe.  On  the  north  end  stands  a peculiar  structure  known 
as  the  Martello  Tower.  Its  origin  has  been  attributed  to  the  Span- 
iards about  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  but  Estill, 
in  his  “Tales  of  Tybee,”  says  it  was  built  by  the  United  States, 
probably  immediately  after  the  second  war  with  England,  and 
names  Isaiah  Davenport,  of  Savannah,  as  the  builder.  It  is  con- 
structed of  tabby,  a concrete  of  lime  and  oyster  shells,  and  al- 
though it  has  the  appearance  of  great  age  it  is  still  in  an  excellent 
state  of  preservation.  One  of  General  Oglethorpe’s  first  acts  was 
to  order  the  erection  of  a lighthouse  on  the  island  for  the  guid- 
ance of  vessels  seeking  to  enter  the  river.  It  was  ninety  feet  high 
and  stood  near  where  the  present  light  is  located.  John  Wesley’s 
first  prayer  in  America  was  made  on  this  island. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


485 


Tybee  has  been  the  scene  of  important  military  operations,  both 
in  the  Revolution  and  the  Civil  war.  When  Governor  Wright 
made  his  escape  in  January,  1776,  he  took  refuge  on  one  of  the 
British  ships  then  lying  in  Tybee  Roads.  There  were  at  that 
time  a number  of  houses  on  the  island,  and  the  British  officers, 
in  their  frequent  visits  ashore,  made  use  of  them  for  shelter  and 
enjoyment.  The  Council  of  Safety  determined  to  burn  these  houses 
and  accordingly,  on  March  25th,  Archibald  Bulloch,  with  a com- 
pany of  100  riflemen,  light  infantry  and  Creek  Indians,  made  a de- 
scent upon  the  island,  destroyed  all  the  buildings  and  killed  two 
marines  and  one  Tory  without  the  loss  of  a man,  although  the 
Cherokee,  British  man-of-war,  kept  up  an  incessant  fire  upon  the 
Americans.  In  the  early  spring  of  1862  the  Federal  batteries  were 
planted  upon  Tybee  island  for  the  reduction  of  Fort  Pulaski,  (q. 

v.) 

In  the  early  years  of  the  nineteenth  century  the  island  abounded 
in  game.  Deer  hunted  on  the  mainland  swam  to  Tybee  for  refuge. 
But  the  hunters  soon  discovered  their  retreat  and  many  a deer 
met  his  death  in  an  effort  to  save  his  life  in  this  way.  The  creeks 
still  afford  fine  sport  for  the  angler.  The  surf  bathing  at  Tybee 
.is  as  fine  as  anywhere  along  the  Atlantic  coast.  The  beach  is  an 
ideal  one  and  is  becoming  more  popular  every  season. 

Tyty,  an  incorporated  town  of  Worth  county,  is  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast  Line  railroad,  a short  distance  west  of  the  Little  river.  It 
has  important  mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  a money  order 
postoffice,  telegraph  and  express  offices,  and  in  1900  reported  a 
population  of  175. 

Tyus,  a post-hamlet  of  Carroll  county,  is  ten  miles  southwest 
of  Carrollton,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

u 

Unadilla,  a town  in  the  northern  part  of  Dooly  county,  is  on 
the  Georgia  Southern  & Florida  railway.  It  was  incorporated  by 
act  of  the  legislature  in  1891  and  in  1900  its  population  was  given 
as  524.  It  has  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a money  order  post- 
office  with  rural  free  delivery,  a bank,  several  presperous  stores, 
saw  and  planing  mills,  a large  trade  in  lumber,  rosin  and  turpen- 
tine, and  good  school  and  church  privileges. 

Underwood,  John  W.  H„  was  born  in  Elbert  county  in  1816. 
After  completing  his  preliminary  education  he  studied  law  and 
began  practice  at  Rome  in  1834.  He  was  a member  of  the  legisla- 
ture and  speaker  of  the  house  in  1857 ; elected  representative  in 


486 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Congress  in  1858  and  retired  with  the  other  Georgia  Congress- 
men in  January,  1861.  During  the  war  he  served  in  the  Confeder- 
ate army  and  resumed  his  practice  at  Rome  after  the  surrender. 
From  1867  to  1869  he  was  judge  of  the  superior  court  in  the  Talla- 
poosa circuit ; occupied  the  bench  in  the  Rome  circuit  from  1873  to 
1882,  when  he  was  appointed  a member  of  the  tariff  commission 
by  President  Arthur.  He  died  at  Rome  in  1S88. 

Underwood,  William  H.,  lawyer,  was  born  in  Culpeper  county, 
Va.,  Sept.  13,  1779.  While  still  in  his  childhood  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Georgia  and  settled  in  Elbert  county.  His  opportuni- 
ties to  acquire  an  education  were  extremely  limited,  but  he  made  the 
most  of  them,  and  for  some  time  engaged  in  teaching.  In  1810  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  was  just  beginning  to  make  a reputa- 
tion when  the  War  of  1812  was  declared.  As  captain  of  a company 
he  served  through  the  war,  after  which  he  resumed  his  practice. 
In  1825  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  Western  circuit,  and  was  the 
leading  counsel  for  the  Cherokee  Indians  in  the  controversy  over 
the  cession  of  their  lands.  He  died  at  Marietta  on  August  4,  1859. 

Undine,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Tattnall 
county,  is  a short  distance  west  of  a station  of  the  same  name  on 
the  Glennville  & Register  railroad. 

Union,  a village  of  Stewart  county,  is  a station  on  the  Seaboard 
Air  Line  railway,  about  half-way  between  Louvale  and  the  Chatta- 
hoochee river.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  telegraph  and 
express  offices,  mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  and  in  1900  had 
a population  of  72. 

Union  County  was  created  from  Cherokee  in  1832.  At  the  time 
of  its  organization  there  was  a‘ great  deal  of  agitation  in  Georgia 
over  the  question  of  state  rights.  John  Thomas,  who  had  been 
elected  to  represent  the  new  county  in  the  general  assembly,  when 
asked  what  the  name  should  be,  at  once  replied  “Union,  for  none 
but  union  men  live  in  the  county.”  The  legislature  accepted  his 
suggestion  and  in  this  w'ay  the  county  was  named.  It  lies  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the  n|orth  by  the 
State  of  North  Carolina,  on  the  northeast  by  Towns  county,  on 
the  southeast  by  White,  on  the  south  by  Lumpkin  and  on  the 
west  by  Fannin.  It  is  in  a mountainous  district,  the  southern 
part  of  the  county  being  traversed  by  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  there 
are  several  isolated  peaks.  The  most  noted  of  the  mountains  are 
Ivy  Log,  Cooper’s,  Track  Rock,  Round  Top,  Etna  and  Frozen 
Knob.  Notely  creek  and  the  Toccoa  river  are  the  principal 
streams.  The  land  in  the  valleys  is  fertile  and  good  crops  are 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


487 


raised.  The  agricultural  products  are  corn,  wheat,  oats,  potatoes, 
apples,  peaches  and  an  unusually  fine  quality  of  cabbages.  The 
natural  grasses  afford  good  pasturage  and  stock  raising  is  carried 
on  to  some  extent.  Alum,  iron,  sulphate  of  iron,  granite  quartz 
and  buhrstone  are  found  in  various  places  in  the  county.  Gold  is 
found  on  Coosa  creek  and  in  the  same  locality  are  fine  deposits 
of  variegated  marble.  Poplar  and  several  varieties  of  hard-wood 
exist  in  considerable  quantities,  but  little  lumber  is  manufactured, 
owing  , chiefly  to  lack  of  transportation  facilities.  There  are  no 
railroads  in  the  county,  the  nearest  line  being  the  Murphy  division 
of  the  Atlanta,  Knoxville  & Northern.  Blairsville  is  the  county 
seat  and  only  town  of  importance.  The  little  village  of  Track- 
rock,  about  seven  miles  northeast  of  Blairsville,  occupies  a gap 
in  the  Enchanted  Mountain,  (q.  v.)  The  population  in  1900  was 
■8,841,  an  increase  of  732  during  the  decade. 

Union  League. — During  the  reconstruction  era  this  organization 
came  into  existence  as  a means  of  acquiring  and  maintaining 
political  power.  Avery,  in  his  History  of  Georgia,  says : “It 

united  its  members  in  a compact  oath-bound  organization  of  won- 
derful cohesiveness  and  discipline.  Its  hidden  partisan  efficiency 
was  remarkable,  and  it  ruled  consummately  its  unlettered  legion- 
aries from  Africa.  Perhaps  the  most  pernicious  damage  done  by 
this  order  was  the  utter  loathsome  disrepute  into  which  it  brought 
the  sacred  idea  of  loyalty  to  government.  All  dissent  from  the 
sanctity  of  oppression  and  the  virtue  of  tyranny  was  ‘disloyal 
all  abject  approval  of  every  hideous  abortion  of  relentless  despot- 
ism was  ‘loyal.’  The  line  of  loyalty  was  ignominious  subservience 
to  power.” 

Union  Point,  a town  of  Greene  county,  is  located  at  the  junction 
■of  two  lines  of  the  Georgia  railway  system,  one  running  from 
Augusta  to  Atlanta,  and  the  other  from  White  Plains  to  Athens. 
It  was  long  known  merely  as  the  station  where  the  branch  road 
left  the  main  line.  Now  it  is  quite  a thriving  town  with  money 
order  postoffice  and  rural  free  delivery  routes,  two  banks,  several 
stores  enjoying  a good  trade,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  an 
electric  light  plant,  several  manufactories,  including  a planing 
mill,  a knitting  mill  and  a cotton  seed  oil  mill.  There  is  also  an 
iron  and  copper  mine,  not  at  this  time  operated.  There  are  good 
school  anl  church  buildings,  both  in  the  town  and  neighboring 
country.  The  population  by  the  census  of  1900  was  700,  but  recent 
estimates  place  it  at  1,000. 


488 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Unionville,  a post-village  of  Monroe  county,  is  about  twelve 
miles  northwest  of  Forsyth,  between  the  forks  of  the  Towaliga 
river,  in  a fertile  farming  district.  The  population  in  1900  was 
60,  and  it  is  the  trading  center  of  that  section.  The  nearest  rail- 
road station  is  Goggansville,  about  six  miles  south. 

United  Confederate  Veterans. — For  several  years  after  the  close 
of  the  great  war  between  the  States,  the  veterans  of  the  Confed- 
erate army  were  too  much  occupied  in  rebuilding  their  ruined 
homes  to  give  much  time  to  the  formation  of  associations  like  that 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  which  consisted  of  Union 
veterans.  But  with  the  same  return  of  prosperity  they  began  the 
formation  of  what  they  styled  Confederate  Survivors’  Associa- 
tions. In  1889  at  New  Orleans,  in  response  to  a call  from 
veterans  of  that  city,  delegates  from  these  associations,  and  other 
ex-soldiers  of  the  South,  organized  the  first  meeting  of  the  United 
Confederate  Veterans’  Association.  Gen.  John  B.  Gordon  was 
elected  commander  and  held  that  post  of  honor  until  his  death  in 
January,  1904.  Gen.  Clement  A.  Evans  was  at  the  same  meeting 
elected  adjutant-general.  Ever  since  then  there  have  been  grand 
annual  reunions  of  Confederate  Veteran  camps  from  not  only 
every  state  of  the  South,  but  also  from  the  far  North,  the  distant 
West,  the  District  of  Columbia  and  wherever  ex-Confederates  have 
made  their  homes.  At  the  second  meeting  of  the  United  Confeder- 
ate Veterans,  held  at  Chattanooga  in  1890,  several  state  divisions 
elected  commander  of  the  Georgia  division,  and  George  W.  Moor- 
were  represented  and  the  convention  adopted  the  first  constitution 
of  the  general  body.  Gen.  Clement  A.  Evans  was  afterward 
man  succeeded  him  as  the  adjutant-general.  At  that  time  there 
w(ere  forty  camps  in  the  Georgia  division  which  have  since  in- 
creased to  140.  The  state  divisions  for  several  years  held  their 
annual  reunions  at  the  time  of  the  general  reunions,  but  during 
the  reunion  in  Atlanta  in  1898  the  Georgia  division  was  arranged 
in  four  brigades  to  be  known  as  the  Northern,  Southern,  Eastern 
and  Western  brigades.  This  plan  was  adopted  at  the  Charleston 
U.  C.  V.  division  reunion  in  the  spring  of  1899,  and  it  was  resolved 
to  hold  thereafter  annual  division  reunions  in  the  state.  The  first 
Georgia  state  reunion  was  held  in  Savannah  in  November,  1899, 
and  a constitution  for  the  division,  drafted  by  General  Evans,  was 
adopted.  The  commanders  of  the  Georgia  brigades  were  at  first: 
Gen.  Peter  A.  S.  McGlashan,  of  the  Southern;  J.  S.  Boynton,  of  the 
Western;  C.  M.  Wiley,  of  the  Eastern;  and  A.  J.  West,  of  the 
Northern.  Reunions  of  the  Georgia  division  have  been  held  at 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


489 


Savannah,  Augusta,  Macon,  Columbus  and  Rome,  Augusta  and 
Macon  having  each  had  two  reunions.  At  the  generad  reunion 
at  Nashville  in  1904,  Gen.  Stephen  D.  Lee  was  elected  commander 
of  the  general  organization ; General  Evans  was  elected  com- 
mander of  the  Department  of  the  Army  of  Tennessee;  General 
McGlashan  was  then  elected  commander  of  the  Georgia  division, 
and  Joel  L.  Sweat  was  elected  commander  of  the  South  Georgia 
brigade.  At  the  reunion  in  Macon  in  November,  1905,  General 
McGlashan,  on  account  of  failing  health,  resigned  his  position  as 
commander  of  the  Georgia  division,  and  Charles  M.  Wiley  was 
elected  his  successor.  John  W.  Clark  was  chosen  to  succeed  Gem 
eral  Wiley  as  the  commander  of  the  Eeastern  Georgia  brigade. 
The  Western  Georgia  brigade  has  had  three  commanders,  viz.: 
Gen.  J.  S.  Boynton,  Gen.  C.  W.  Wheatley  and  Gen.  John  A.  Cobb. 
Gen.  A.  J.  West  has  by  successive  elections  been  retained  as  com- 
mander of  the  North  Georgia  brigade.  One  of  the  best  signs  of 
the  times  is  the  friendly  relations  that  exist  between  these  camps 
of  the  United  Confederate  Veterans  and  the  Grand  Army  posts 
of  Union  veterans  which  are  likewise  formed  in  every  section  of 
the  Union. 

University  of  Georgia. — In  July,  1783,  Gov.  Lyman  Hall  recom- 
mended a state  university,  or  some  kind  of  an  institution  where 
young  men  could  acquire  a more  thorough  education.  In  February, 
1784,  the  legislature  passed  an  act  creating  the  counties  of  Wash- 
ington and  Franklin,  and  provided  in  that  act  for  a grant  of  40,000 
acres  of  land,  to  be  used  as  an  endowment  “for  a college  or  sem- 
inary of  learning.”  The  governor,  John  Houstoun,  James  Haber- 
sham, William  Houstoun,  Joseph  Clay,  Nathan  Brownson,  Will- 
iam Few  and  Abraham  Baldwin  were  named  as  trustees,  but  no 
actual  provisions  were  made  for  the  erection  of  the  buildings,  etc. 
By  the  act  of  Jan.  27,  1785,  the  trustees  were  granted  a charter 
and  the  institution  was  designated  as  the  “University  of  Georgia.” 
The  act  also  provided  that  power  for  the  general  regulation  of  the 
university  should  be  vested  in  two  bodies ; one  consisting  of  the 
governor,  and  council,  the  speaker  of  the  house  of  the  assembly, 
and  the  chief  justice,  who  were  denominated  a board  of  visitors, 
and  the  other  consisting  of  thirteen  persons,  to  be  known  as  the 
board  of  trustees,  the  two  to  constitute  the  “Senatus  Academicus 
of  the  University  of  Georgia.”  The  first  meeting  of  the  boards 
was  held  at  Louisville  in  November,  1799,  at  which  the  location 
of  the  university  was  discussed.  A majority  rather  favored  Louis- 
ville as  the  site,  though  Greensboro  was  also  considered,  as  a por- 


490 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


tion  of  the  university  lands  lay  in  that  county,  and  efforts  were 
made  to  have  the  institution  located  in  Columbia,  Hancock  or 
Wilkes  county.  Before  a conclusion  was  reached  John  Milledge, 
in  1801,  donated  G30  acres  of  land,  where  the  city  of  Athens  now 
stands,  on  condition  that  the  university  be  located  there.  His 
proposition  was  accepted  and  the  same  year  Josiah  Meigs,  LL.  D., 
was  called  to  the  presidency  of  “Franklin  college,”  which  was  the 
actual  beginning  of  the  university.  For  want  of  college  buildings 
Doctor  Meigs  heard  his  first  classes  under  the  shade  of  a large 
oak  tree,  and  the  first  graduates,  ten  in  number,  received  their 
degrees  in  1804  in  “an  arbor  formed  of  branches  of  trees.”  In 
1811  the  exercises  of  the  college  were  suspended  for  want  of  funds, 
but  the  following  year  John  Brown,  D.  D.,  was  elected  president 
and  the  work  was  resumed.  In  1S02  the  state  advanced  $5,000  to 
the  university,  another  loan  of  $10,000  was  made  in  1816  and  a 
similar  amount  was  loaned  to  the  trustees  in  1830.  In  that  year 
one  of  the  main  buildings  was  destroyed  by  fire  and  to  aid  in  re- 
building it,  and  also  to  provide  for  the  current  expenses,  the  legis- 
lature made  an  annual  appropriation  of  $6,000,  which  was  con- 
tinued until  1841.  From  that  time  until  1875  little,  if  any,  aid  was 
given  by  the  state,  but  since  1875  the  appropriations  have  been 
more  regular,  as  well  as  more  liberal.  Several  private  donations 
have  been  received  at  different  times  from  public  spirited  citizens 
and  the  city  of  Athens  in  1873  gave  $25,000  for  the  erection  of 
what  is  known  as  Moore  college.  In  1889,  by  an  act  of  the  legis- 
lature, the  old  board  of  trustees  was  done  away  with  and  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  university  vested  in  a board  consisting  of  four 
members  from  the  state  at  large  and  one  member  from  each  Con- 
gressional district,  the  governor,  the  chairman  of  the  board  of 
directors  of  the  school  of  technology,  the  state  normal  and  indus- 
trial college,  and  the  Colored  industrial  college,  being  ex-officio 
members  of  the  board. 

The  branches  of  the  University  of  Georgia,  with  the  date  of  their 
establishment,  are  the  Lampkin  law  school,  now  the  law  depart- 
ment, established  in  1859,  became  part  of  the  university  in  1867 ; the 
college  of  agriculture  and  mechanic  Arts,  1872 ; the  North  Georgia 
agricultural  college,  at  Dahlonega,  1873  ; the  Georgia  medical  college, 
at  Augusta,  1873;  the  South  Georgia  college  of  agriculture  and 
mechanic  Arts,  at  Thomasville,  1879 ; the  Southwest  Georgia  agri- 
cultural college,  at  Cuthbert,  1879 ; the  Middle  Georgia  military 
and  agricultural  college,  at  Milledgeville,  1880;  the  school  of  tech- 
nology, at  Atlanta,  1885 ; the  normal  and  industrial  school  for  girls, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


491 


at  Milledgeville,  1889;  the  industrial  college  for  colored  youths, 
near  Savannah,  1890 ; the  state  normal,  near  Athens,  1895,  and  the 
school  of  pharmacy,  1903.  These  institutions  have  all  been  con- 
solidated under  one  management  because  the  constitution  of  1877 
limits  the  appropriation  of  public  funds  to  education,  other  than 
“the  elementary  branches  of  an  English  education,”  to  the  state 
university,  and  by  incorporating  the  several  schools  into  the  uni- 
versity they  can  be  the  beneficiaries  of  state  aid.  The  appropria- 
tions for  the  year  1904,  for  all  the  departments,  amounted  to  nearly 
$140,000. 

Upatoie,  a post-village  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Muscogee 
county,  is  a station  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway,  and  in  1900 
had  a population  of  51.  It  has  express  and  telegraph  offices, 
some  mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  educational  and  religious 
advantages,  etc. 

Upson  County  was  laid  out  from  Crawford  and  Pike  in  1824 
and  a part  of  it  was  returned  to  Pike  in  1825.  It  was  named  in 
honor  of  Stephen  Upson,  a prominent  citizen  of  Oglethorpe  county, 
and  is  situated  in  the  western  part  of  the  state,  being  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Pike  county,  on  the  east  by  Monroe  and  Crawford, 
on  the  south  and  southwest  by  Taylor  and  Talbot,  and  on  the  west 
by  Meriwether.  The  Flint  river  outlines  the  western  and  southern 
borders  and  with  its  tributaries  furnish  to  the  county  immense 
water-powers.  The  Big  Potato  Creek,  especially,  is  estimated  to 
have  over  2,000  hore  power,  of  which  less  than  100  is  utilized. 
Along-  the  eastern  side  of  the  Flint  run  the  Pine  mountains,  which 
in  some  places  rise  800  feet  above  the  river.  From  these  hills  many 
fine  springs  issue,  and  the  highest  point  is  crowned  by  an  Indian 
burying  ground.  The  soil  is  red,  interspersed  with  gray  gravel, 
both  having  a red  clay  foundation.  Cotton,  corn,  wheat,  oats, 
barley,  sugar-cane  sorghum,  vegetables  and  fruits  are  the  staple 
productions.  The  land  still  bears  much  of  the  original  swamp  and 
hardwood  growths,  of  which  little  use  is  made.  Thomaston,  the 
county  seat,  is  a manufacturing  center.  Waymanville,  Swifton 
and  The  Rock  are  important  towns.  The 'Macon  & Birmingham 
railroad  crosses  the  county  from  west  to  east,  the  Southern  crosses 
the  northeastern  corner,  and  the  Central  of  Georgia  connects  with 
the  Macon  & Birmingham  at  Thomaston.  The  population  of  the 
county  in  1900  was  13,670,  an  increase  of  1,480  since  1890. 

Upson,  Stephen,  jurist,  was  born  at  Waterbury,  Conn.,  in  1785. 
He  was  educated  at  Yale  college  and  in  1806  came  to  Georgia, 
where  he  studied  law  with  William  H.  Crawford  and  was  ad- 


492 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


mitted  to  the  bar  at  Sparta  in  1808.  He  was  always  interested  in 
public  affairs  and  served  several  years  in  the  legislature.  His  death 
occurred  on  Aug.  3,  1824.  Upson  county  was  named  for  him. 

Urbana,  a post-hamlet  of  Tift  county,  is  a station  on  the  Fitz- 
gerald & Thomasville  division  of  the  Atlantic  & Birmingham  rail- 
road, and  is  about  ten  miles  southwest  of  Tifton. 

Urena,  a post-hamlet  of  Banks  county,  is  ten  miles  north  of 
Homer,  and  not  far  from  the  Franklin  county  line.  Cornelia  is 
the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Usury. — See  Interest. 

Utica,  a post-hamlet  of  Worth  county,  is  about  twelve  miles 
northwest  of  Isabella  and  not  far  from  the  Flint  river.  Oakfield  is 
the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Utoy  Creek. — See  Atlanta. 


V 

Vada,  a post-village  of  Mitchell  county,  is  about  five  miles  east 
of  the  Flint  river  and  not  far  from  the  Grady  county  line.  The 
population  in  1900  was  45.  Bainbridge  is  the  most  convenient 
railroad  station. 

Valambrosa,  (railroad  name  Moore’s  Station)  a post-village  of 
Laurens  county,  is  on  the  Macon,  Dublin  & Savannah  railroad, 
four  miles  west  of  Dublin.  The  population  in  1900  was  69. 

Valdosta,  the  county  seat  of  Lowndes  county,  was  incorporated 
by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1860,  at  which  time  it  was  already! 
coming  into  prominence  as  one  of  the  thriving  towns  of  South 
Georgia.  It  is  at  the  junction  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line,  the 
Georgia  Southern  & Florida  and  the  Valdosta  Southern  railways. 
Through  these  roads  it  has  easy  communication  with  Savannah, 
Macon  and  other  Georgia  towns  and  with  Madison  and  Jackson- 
ville, Fla.  It  had  by  the  census  of  1900  a population  of  5,613  in 
the  corporate  limits  and  in  the  entire  district  there  were  at  the 
same  time  8,532  inhabitants.  It  has  a court  house,  a money  order 
postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  three  banks,  large  and  prosper- 
ous commercial  houses,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  an  electric 
light  plant,  an  ice  factory,  an  iron  foundry,  sash  and  blind  factory, 
buggy  and  carriage  factory,  industrial  variety  works,  a cooperage 
company,  fertilizer  and  oil  company,  telegraph  connections,  a cot- 
ton factory  with  10,000  spindles,  churches  of  all  the  leading  denom- 
inations, an  excellent  public  school  system,  handles  7,000  bales  of 
cotton  annually,  and  is  the  shipping  point  for  a great  part  of  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


493 


pine  products  of  Lowndes  county,  such  as  lumber,  rosin  and  tur- 
pentine. 

Valley  Store,  a post-village  and  trading  center  in  the  northwest- 
ern part  of  Chattooga  county,  reported  a population  of  44  in  1900. 
The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Harrisburg,  on  the  Chattanooga 
Southern. 

Valona,  a post-hamlet  of  McIntosh  county,  is  on  the  Sapelo 
sound,  ten  miles  northeast  of  Darien.  Crescent,  on  the  Darien  & 
Western  railroad,  is  the  nearest  station. 

Vance,  a post-village  of  Tattnall  county,  with  a population  of  55 
in  1900,  is  six  miles  southeast  of  Reidsville,  which  the  most  con- 
venient railroad  station. 

Van  Hoose,  A.  W.,  associate  president  of  Brenau  college,  at 
Gainesville,  one  of  the  state’s  leading  boarding  schools  for  girls, 
is  an  able  and  popular  educator  and  executive  and  has  brought  the 
institution  with  which  he  is  now  connected  up  to  a high  standard 
of  efficiency  and  popularity.  He  was  born  in  Griffin,  Spalding 
county,  Ga.,  Oct.  31,  1860,  a son  of  Rev.  A.  and  Missouri  F. 
(Daniel)  Van  Hoose,  the  former  born  in  Giles  county,  Tenn.,  in 
1818,  and  the  latter  in  Eufaula,  Ala.,  in  1833.  The  father  was  a 
clergyman  of  the  Baptist  church  and  followed  the  work  of  his 
high  mission  for  half  a century.  His  wife  was  a teacher  of  music 
for  thirty  years  and  Sunday-school  teacher  and  organist  for  fully 
sixty  years.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  had  excellent  educational 
advantages  in  a preliminary  way,  also  having  the  gracious  influ- 
ences of  a home  of  marked  culture  and  refinement.  He  finally 
entered  the  University  of  Georgia,  in  which  he  was  graduated  as 
a member  of  the  class  of  1882,  receiving  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Arts.  Since  his  graduation  he  has  been  continuously  identified 
with  educational  work,  in  which  he  has  attained  to  high  reputa- 
tion and  significant  success.  His  first  pedagogic  labors  were  per- 
formed in  the  country  schools  of  Hall  county,  Ga.,  and  thereafter 
he  became  a professor  in  South  Georgia  agricultural  college,  at 
Thomasville,  later  being  a member  of  the  faculty  of  Howard  col- 
lege, at  Marion,  Ala.,  after  which  he  served  for  a time  as  an  adjunct 
professor  of  mathematics  in  his  alma  mater,  the  University  of 
Georgia.  For  the  past  twenty  years  he  has  been  identified  with 
Brenau  college,  and  when  he  assumed  charge  of  the  institution, 
which  was  then  a seminary  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Baptist  church,  but  which  is  now  an  undenominational  school,  its 
enrollment  of  students  numbered  only  twenty.  The  work  which 
he  has  accomplished  in  the  interim  may  be  partly  understood 


494 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


when  it  is  stated  that  the  number  of  students  in  the  college  at  the 
present  time  is  about  350.  The  college  is  most  eligibly  located 
and  is  well  equipped  in  every  department,  its  patronage  being  of 
representative  order.  In  politics  Professor  Van  Hoose  gives  his 
support  to  the  Democracy  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  zealous 
members  of  the  Baptist  church.  He  is  identified  with  the  Masonic 
order,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Sigma 
Alpha  Epsilon  college  fraternity.  On  Aug.  11,  1887,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Lucy  E.  Rucker,  daughter  of  Fielding  S.  and 
Mary  E.  (Wynn)  Rucker,  of  Thomaston,  Ga.,  who  has  been  a 
strong  help  to  him  in  his  work  at  Brenau. 

Vanna,  a post-hamlet  of  Hart  county,  is  a station  on  the  Elber- 
ton  & Tuccoa  division  of  the  Southern  railway  system,  and  is  not 
far  from  the  Elbert  county  line 

Vanoy,  a post-hamlet  of  Crawford  county,  is  about  seven  miles 
southeast  of  Knoxville,  which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad 
station. 

Van’s  Valley. — See  Floyd  County. 

Van  Wert,  formerly  the  county  seat  of  Paulding  county,  was 
named  for  a companion  of  John  Paulding  who  shared  with  him  and 
David  Williams  the  honor  of  capturing  Major  Andre,  thereby 
exposing  the  treason  of  Benedict  Arnold.  After  the  removal  of 
the  county  seat  to  Dallas  the  town  of  Van  Wert  gradually  disap- 
peared until  to-day  its  location  is  uncertain.  On  Oct.  9-10,  1864, 
there  was  some  slight  skirmishing  here  as  Hood  was  marching 
northward  into  Tennessee  after  the  fall  of  Atlanta. 

Vamell’s  Station,  in  the  northern  part  of  Whitfield  county,  is 
on  the  Western  & Atlantic  railroad.  It  has  express  and  telegraph 
offices,  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  a few 
stores,  school  and  church  privileges,  and  in  1900  reported  a pop- 
ulation of  99.  In  the  early  part  of  May,  1864,  there  was  almost 
constant  skirmishing  at  and  near  this  place,  the  most  important 
engagement  being  on  the  9th,  when  General  Wheeler  defeated  the 
Federal  cavalry  led  by  Colonel  LaGrange.  Wheeler  reported  his 
loss  in  this  affair  at  36,  while  that  of  the  enemy  was  estimated 
at  260. 

Vaughn,  a post-village  in  the  western  part  of  Spalding  county, 
is  at  the  junction  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  and  the  Fort  Valley 
branch  of  the  Southern  railroads.  It  is  sometimes  called  Ivallulah 
Junction.  The  population  in  1900  was  43.  It  has  some  mercan- 
tile concerns,  an  express  office,  and  does  considerable  shipping. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


495 


Vayles,  a post-hamlet  of  Union  county,  is  almost  on  the  North 
Carolina  line  in  the  valley  of  the  Notely  river.  Culberson,  N.  C., 
four  miles  northwest,  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Veazey,  a post-hamlet  of  Greene  county,  is  on  Stewart’s  creek, 
six  miles  south  of  Greensboro.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is 
Siloam. 

Vega,  a post-hamlet  of  Pike  county,  is  a station  on  the  Southern 
railroad,  seven  miles  south  of  Zebulon. 

Velma,  a post-hamlet  of  Appling  county,  is  in  the  Carter’s  creek 
valley,  six  miles  southeast  of  Baxley,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad 
station. 

Venture,  a post-hamlet  of  Monroe  county,  is  four  miles  east  of 
Forsyth,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  town. 

Venus  Point. — Early  in  February,  1S62,  a Federal  battery  was 
planted  at  Venus  Point  on  Jones  Island.  On  the  13th  the  'Con- 
federate steamer  Ida,  one  of  Commodore  Tattnall’s  boats,  was 
fired  upon  by  this  battery  but  not  injured.  The  following  day 
three  of  the  Confederate  boats  bombarded  the  battery  for  some 
time  but  with  no  serious  result  to  either  side. 

Verdell,  a post-hamlet  of  Gilmer  county,  is  in  the  valley  of  the 
Coosawattee  river,  four  miles  northwest  of  Talona,  which  is  the 
nearest  railroad  station. 

Vesta,  a post-hamlet  of  Oglethorpe  county,  is  fifteen  miles  north- 
east of  Lexington.  Carlton,  on  the  Seabord  Air  Line,  is  the  most 
convenient  railroad  station. 

Vice  Admiralty  Court. — See  Court  of  Vice  Admiralty. 

Vickery,  a village  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Forsyth  county, 
reported  a population  of  100  in  1900.  It  has  a money  order  post- 
office  and  is  a trading  center  for  the  neighborhood  in  which  it  is 
located.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Suwanee,  twelve  miles 
southeast. 

Victoria,  a post-hamlet  of  Cherokee  county,  in  Etowah  valley, 
about  seven  miles  west  of  Toonigh,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad 
station. 

Victory,  a post-village  of  Carroll  county,  with  a population  of 
63  in  1900,  is  on  the  Tallapoosa  river,  twelve  miles  southwest  of 
Carrollton,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  town.  It  is  the  principal 
trading  point  for  a large  agricultural  community. 

Vidalia,  a town  in  the  eastern  part  of  Montgomery  county,  is 
located  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railway,  at  the  termini  of  the  Mil- 
len  & Southwestern  and  the  Macon,  Dublin  & Savannah  railroads. 
Its  population  in  1900  was  503  in  its  corporate  limits,  while  in  its 


496 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


entire  district  there  were  enumerated  2,342  inhabitants.  It  has 
express  and  telegraph  offices,  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural 
free  delivery,  a bank,  several  prosperous  business  houses,  lumber 
mills,  turpentine  distilleries,  a cotton  oil  mill  and  other  manufacto- 
ries, and  is  well  supplied  with  schools  and  churches. 

Vidette,  a post-hamlet  of  Burke  county,  is  in  the  valley  of  Buck- 
head  creek,  not  far  from  the  Jefferson  county  line.  Louisville  is 
the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Vienna,  the  county  seat  of  Dooly  county,  located  on  the  Georgia 
Southern  & Florida  railway,  was  incorporated  as  a town  by  act 
of  the  legislature  in  1854,  though  it  had  been  the  county  seat  for 
years  prior  to  that  date.  It  has  a court  house,  money  order  post- 
office  with  rural  free  delivery,  two  banks,  express  and  telegraph 
offices,  successful  commercial  establishments,  extensive  saw  and 
planing  mills,  a cotton  factory  and  oil  mill.  There  is  a heavy 
trade,  not  only  in  cotton,  but  also  in  pine  products  such  as  lumber, 
turpentine  and  rosin.  The  lumber  trade  has  given  it  considerable 
growth  in  recent  years  and  since  the  formation  of  the  new  county 
of  Crisp,  of  which  Cordele  is  the  county  seat,  it  is  the  largest 
town  in  Dooly  county.  It  has  good  church  edifices  and  excellent 
schools.  According  to  the  census  of  1900  the  population  was 
1,035. 

View,  a post-hamlet  of  Habersham  county,  is  located  in  the  fer- 
tile Soquee  valley,  four  miles  northwest  of  Alto,  which  is  the 
nearest  railway  station. 

Villanow,  a village  in  the  eastern  part  of  Walker  county,  is  in 
the  Armuchee  valley  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  150.  It 
has  a money  order  postoffice  and  is  the  principal  trading  center 
of  the  neighborhood  in  which  it  is  located.  Cove  City  is  the 
nearest  railroad  station. 

Villa  Rica,  a town  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Carroll  county, 
is  on  the  Southern  railway  and  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the 
legislature  in  1842.  Its  name  (signifying  rich  village)  was  adopted 
from  the  adjacent  mining  districts,  in  which  large  quantities  of 
gold  are  found.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free 
delivery,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a mining  plant,  an  electric 
light  and  power  company,  a bank,  several  good  stores,  and  good 
schools  and  churches. 

Vineyard,  a post-village  of  Spalding  county,  is  on  the  Central  of 
Georgia  railway,  about  three  miles  north  of  Griffin.  As  its  name 
indicates,  it  is  in  the  heart  of  a section  noted  for  the  fine  grapes 
produced. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


497 


Vinings,  a post-village  of  Cobb  county,  is  a station  on  the  West- 
ern & Atlanta  railroad,  about  half-way  between  Atlanta  and 
Marietta.  It  has  telegraph  and  express  offices,  some  mercantile 
and  shipping  interests,  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  270. 

Vinson,  John  T.,  manager  of  the  Savannah  branch  of  the  great 
meat-packing  concern  of  Schwarzschild  & Sulzberger,  of  New  York 
city,  was  born  in  the  village  of  Union,  N.  C.,  Sept.  10,  1S74,  a son 
of  Jame  Henry  Vinson,  a merchant  and  farmer,  and  a native  of 
North  Carolina,  where  he  was  born  on  March  3,  1849,  and  where  he 
died  on  Dec.  11,  1901.  In  1878  he  removed  from  North  Carolina 
to  Magnolia,  Va.,  where  he  remained  until  1888,  when  he  took 
up  his  residence  in  Evinston,  Fla.,  which  continued  to  be  his  home 
until  1895,  when  he  returned  to  North  Carolina  and  there  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Emily  A.  Drake,  was  born  in  Virginia,  in  1842,  and  survives  her 
husband,  having  been  his  senior  by  about  seven  years.  She  now 
maintains  her  home  in  Newbern,  N.  C.  She  was  married  to  James 
H.  Vinson  in  December,  1871,  and  of  their  seven  children  six  are 
living,  namely:  Garrett  L.,  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  at 
Raleigh,  N.  C. ; John  T.,  whose  name  initiates  this  article;  Stan- 
hope Glenn,  secretary  and  general  manager  of  the  Ideal  Electrical 
Manufacturing  Company,  of  Mansfield,  Ohio;  Robert  L.,  a success- 
ful farmer  near  Newbern,  N.  C. ; and  James  P.,an  electrical  engineer, 
residing  in  Detroit,  Mich.  The  only  daughter,  Lillian,  died  at  the 
age  of  three  years.  James  H.  Vinson  was  a son  of  Lawrence  and 
Mary  Vinson,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  North  Carolina,  where 
the  respective  families  were  early  founded.  John  T.  Vinson 
attended  the  public  schools  of  Magnolia,  Va.,  in  his  boyhood  days, 
later  was  a student  in  the  state  normal  school  at  White  Sulphur 
Springs,  Fla.,  and  in  a military  school  at  Gainesville,  that  state, 
and  subsequently  completed  a course  of  study  in  a business  college 
in  Atlanta,  Ga.  He  completed  his  school  work  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  years  and  became  secretary  and  treasurer  of  his  father’s 
mercantile  business,  at  Evinston,  Fla.  Fifteen  months  later,  in 
the  spring  of  1S95,  he  took  a position  as  traveling  freight  agent 
for  the  old  Plant  system  of  railroads,  but  resigned  a few  months 
later  to  accept  a position  as  secretary  in  the  office  of  Thomas  R. 
Sawtell,  of  Atlanta,  engaged  in  the  wholesale  meat  business.  On 
Dec.  15,  1896,  he  resigned  this  position  to  take  that  of  cashier  of 
the  Savannah  plant  of  the  firm  of  Schwarzschild  & Sulzberger, 
one  of  the  largest  and  strongest  packing  concerns  in  the  Union, 
incorporated  for  $10,000,000  under  the  name  of  the  Schwarzschild 


32— III 


498 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


& Sulzberger  Company.  In  September,  1899,  Mr.  Vinson  was 
promoted  to  his  present  responsible  position  as  manager  of  the 
company's  Savannah  branch  and  he  has  proved  a most  able  and 
discriminating  executive.  He  is  loyal  to  the  cause  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  and  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  was  formerly  identified 
with  the  Georgia  Hussars.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
First  Baptist  church  of  Savannah.  On  April  15,  1899,  Mr.  Vinson 
was  United  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mamie  L.  Lewis,  of  Atlanta,  and 
they  have  one  child,  John  T.,  Jr.,  born  Sept.  5,  1901. 

Viola,  a post-hamlet  of  Heard  county,  is  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Chattahoochee  river,  four  miles  below  Franklin.  Hogansville  is 
the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Visage,  a post-hamlet  of  Towns  county,  is  in  a picturesque  re- 
gion, about  seven  miles  east  of  Hiawassee.  Clayton  is  the  nearest 
railroad  station. 


w 

Waco,  an  incorporated  town  of  Haralson  county,  is  located  on 
the  Southern  railroad,  a little  west  of  Bremen.  The  population  in 
1900  was  345.  It  has  important  mercantile  and  shipping  interests, 
some  manufacturing,  educational  and  religious  advantages,  a money 
order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  express  and  telegraph 
offices,  etc. 

Waddell,  Moses,  educator,  was  born  in  Rowan  county,  N.  C., 
July  29,  1770,  of  Irish  parentage.  His  early  education  was  ob- 
tained in  a school  called  Clio's  nursery,  after  which  he  graduated 
at  Hampden-Sidney  college  in  1791.  The  following  year  he  was 
licensed  to  preach  by  the  Hanover  presbytery  of  Virginia.  In 
1794  he  removed  to  Columbia  county,  Ga.,  where  he  conducted  a 
school  until  1801,  when  the  institution  was  removed  to  Vienna, 
S.  C.  There  it  remained  for  about  four  years,  when  Dr.  Waddell 
changed  the  location  to  Willington,  about  six  miles  from  Vienna, 
where  the  school  became  widely  known.  A number  of  the  cele- 
brated men  of  Georgia  and  South  Carolina,  among  whom  were 
William  H.  Crawford  and  John  C.  Calhoun,  were  students  in  this 
school.  In  1818  Dr.  Waddell  was  elected  president  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Georgia  and  removed  to  Athens  in  the  spring  of  1819. 
He  served  as  president  for  about  ten  years,  when  he  returned  to 
Willington,  where  he  served  for  seven  years  as  pastor  of  a church. 
His  four  sons  were  all  graduated  in  the  university  while  he  was 
president.  He  died  on  July  21,  1840. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


499 


Wade,  a village  of  Emanuel  county,  with  a population  in  1900 
of  86,  is  on  the  Millen  & Southwestern  railroad,  a little  north  ot 
Monte  Junction.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  some  mercantile 
concerns,  and  does  some  shipping. 

Wade,  Howard  M.,  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Perkins 
hosiery  mills,  at  Columbus,  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative young  business  men  of  that  section  of  the  Empire  state 
of  the  South,  and  has  set  at  naught  the  application  of  the  proverb 
that  “a  prophet  is  not  without  honor  save  in  his  own  country,” 
from  the  fact  that  he  was  born  near  Columbus,  his  present  home, 
in  Muscogee  county,  Aug.  21,  1876.  His  father,  Miles  Green  Wade, 
was  born  in  Lee  county,  Ala.,  and  his  mother,  Madeline  Virginia 
(Biggers)  Wade,  was  born  in  Muscogee  county,  Ga.  The  former 
was  identified  with  plantation  interests  during  practically  the 
entire  course  of  his  active  business  career  and  died  on  Oct.  5,  1902. 
He  was  a son  of  Thomas  Henry  Wade,  a successful  planter  in  Lee 
county,  Ala.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  now  resides 
at  Smith  Station,  Lee  county,  Ala.,  whither  the  family  removed 
from  Georgia  in  1897.  Her  father,  Lorenzo  Madison  Biggers,  was 
a prosperous  farmer  and  merchant,  and  passed  the  closing  years 
of  his  life  in  Muscogee  county,  Ga.  After  duly  availing  himself 
of  the  advantages  of  the  schools  of  his  native  county  Howard  M. 
Wade  was  matriculated  in  Emory  college  at  Oxford,  Ga.,  in  which 
institution  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1898  with 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  and  stood  fourth  in  a class  of 
forty-three  members.  After  leaving  college  he  put  his  scholastic 
acquirements  to  practical  use  by  teaching.  For  one  year  he  taught 
in  a private  school  for  boys  in  Columbus  and  then  became  assistant 
principal  of  the  Columbus  high  school.  This  position  he  retained 
for  two  years  and  made  an  excellent  record.  In  1901  he  completed 
a course  in  Eastman’s  business  college,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  in 
which  old  and  celebrated  institution  he  was  graduated.  From 
April,  1902,  until  December  1st  of  the  same  year  he  held  the  posi- 
tion of  bookkeeper  for  the  Britt-Tarver  Shoe  Company,  of  Colum- 
bus. He  then  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Georgia  Manufacturing 
Company,  conducting  a large  hosiery  mill  in  Columbus,  and  as- 
sumed charge  of  the  office  of  the  concern.  In  August,  1903,  he  was 
made  vice-president  of  the  company  and  retained  this  office  until 
Jan.  1,  1905,  when  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  mill.  In  the  following 
May  he  became  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  Perkins  hosiery  mills, 
of  which  he  has  since  been  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  concern 
has  a paid  in  capital  of  $100,000,  so  that  its  operations  are  con- 


500 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


ducted  on  the  basis  of  ample  financial  reinforcement.  It  also  has 
the  best  of  equipments  in  the  way  of  modern  buildings  and  ma- 
chinery and  enlists  the  cooperation  of  good  executive  and  tech- 
nical talent.  Its  fine  factory  and  handsome  brick  office  were 
erected  in  1905  and  the  property  is  one  of  the  best  of  the  sort  in 
the  state.  The  officers  of  the  company  are  C.  L.  Perkins,  president; 
R.  C.  Jordan,  vice-president;  H.  M.  Wade,  secretary  and  treasurer. 
The  enterprise  represents  one  of  the  important  industries  of  Colum- 
bus and  adds  largely  to  the  commercial  prestige  of  this  thriving 
city.  In  politics  Mr.  Wade  is  a stanch  advocate  of  the  principles 
and  policies  of  the  Democratic  party  and  both  he  and  his  wile  hold 
membership  in  St.  Luke’s  church,  Methodist  Episcopal  South,  of 
Columbus,  of  which  he  is  steward.  On  Nov.  22,  1900,  was  sol- 
emnized the  marriage  of  Mr.  Wade  to  Miss  Rosalie  Tarver, 
daughter  of  James  B.  and  Sallie  (Banks)  Tarver,  of  Columbus, 
and  they  are  prominent  in  the  social  activities  of  their  home  city. 

Wade,  Peyton  L.,  attorney  and  coun- 
selor at  law,  Dublin,  is  one  of  the  leading 
members  of  the  bar  of  Laurens  county, 
and  is  a scion  of  distinguished  ancestry. 
He  was  born  at  “Lebanon  Forest,”  his 
grandfather’s  home,  in  Screven  county, 
Ga.,  Jan.  9,  1865,  a son  of  Robert  M.  and 
Frederica  (Washburn)  Wade,  the  former 
born  in  Screven  county,  March  4,  1840, 
and  the  latter  in  the  city  of  Savannah, 
Aug.  31,  1844.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Rev.  Peyton  L.  Wade,  of  Screven  county, 
was  the  owner  of  an  extensive  landed  es- 
tate and  more  than  500  slaves  at  the  time  of  the  inception  of  the 
Civil  war.  He  was  well  known  in  his  day  as  a man  of  broad  informa- 
tion, profound  scholarship  and  great  wealth.  He  was  for  a time  in 
the  Georgia  conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  when  a 
young  man,  and  continued  a zealous  member  of  that  church  until 
his  death,  in  1866,  when  well  advanced  in  years.  His  second  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Robert,  was  a descendant  of 
the  Huguenot,  Pierre  Robert,  from  whom  many  of  the  partician 
families  of  South  Carolina  claim  descent.  Her  maternal  grand- 
father was  Samuel  Maner.  The  first  wife  of  Rev.  Peyton  L.  Wade 
was  the  widow  of  Isaac  G.  Crawford,  a brother  of  Gov.  George  W. 
Crawford,  of  Georgia,  but  no  children  were  born  of  this  union. 
Frederica  (Washburn)  Wade  was  a daughter  of  Joseph  Washburn, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


501 


who  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  whence  he  came  to  Georgia  as  a 
young  man  and  here  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  For  many 
years  prior  to  his  death  he  resided  in  Savannah,  and  for  a long 
period  held  the  presidency  of  the  old  Savannah  bank,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing financial  institutions  of  the  entire  South.  He  was  a brother 
of  Gov.  Emory  Washburn,  of  Massachusetts,  a very  distinguished 
lawyer,  who  was  Bussy  professor  of  law  in  Harvard  university 
for  many  years,  and  the  author  of  “Washburn  on  Real  Property,” 
as  well  as  many  other  works.  He  was  the  last  Whig  governor  of 
Massachusetts.  Joseph  Washburn  was  thrice  married,  and  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  a descendent  of  his  second  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Martha  Ingersoll,  of  the  well  known  Ingersoll 
family  of  Massachusetts.  The  maiden  name  of  his  first  wife  was 
Bird,  and  she  was  of  a South  Carolina  family,  while  his  last  wife, 
who  bore  him  no  children,  Avas  a resident  of  Savannah  at  the  time 
of  their  marriage,  her  maiden  name  having  been  Habersham. 
Joseph  Washburn  was  an  ardent  secessionist,  and  all  of  his  sons, 
two  by  his  first  and  two  by  his  second  marriage,  were  valiant 
soldiers  of  the  Confederacy  during  the  Civil  war.  He  died  about 
the  beginning  of  the  war,  having  been  a citizen  of  wealth  and  a 
man  of  unspotted  integrity.  The  Washburn  family  is  descended 
from  Joseph  Washburn,  whose  father  married  a granddaughter 
of  Mary  Chilton,  the  first  woman  Avho  stepped  from  the  “May- 
flower” on  Plymouth  Rock.  The  original  progenitor  of  the  family 
in  America  was  one  of  the  first  Puritan  settlers  of  Massachusetts 
and  Avas  secretary  of  the  colony.  The  grandfather  of  Joseph  Wash- 
burn, of  Savannah,  Avas  Col.  Seth  Washburn,  of  Leicester,  Mass., 
who  served  as  colonel  in  the  ReA^olutionary  army.  He  was  a man 
of  distinction  in  his  day,  and  held  various  public  offices  after  the 
war,  including  that  of  member  of  the  Massachusetts  house  of 
representatives.  The  Wade  family  is  of  Welsh  derivation,  the 
family  crest  being  a dove  with  an  olive  branch.  The  original 
American  settlement  Avas  made  in  Spottsyffiania  county,  Va., 
whence  representatives  came  to  Georgia  in  an  early  day.  Robert 
M.  Wade,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  review,  was  a soldier  of  the 
Confederacy  during  the  Civil  war,  having  enlisted,  in  1862,  as  a 
member  of  the  First  Georgia  regulars,  in  Avhich  he  Avas  a lieutenant, 
and  remained  in  active  service  until  the  close  of  Avar,  having  been 
Avith  the  command  of  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston  at  the  time  of  the 
surrender.  He  Avas  graduated  in  the  Georgia  military  institute  at 
Marietta,  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1860,  and  was  afterward  on 
the  staff  of  Gen.  Frank  W.  Capers,  in  the  Georgia  militia.  After 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


502 

the  disbanding  of  the  militia  he  was  a member  of  the  Twenty- 
second  Georgia  battery  of  artillery,  as  hospital  steward,  having 
been  a medical  student  from  1860  until  the  time  when  he  entered 
the  army.  After  the  evacuation  of  Savannah  he  was  in  the  quar- 
termaster’s department.  He  was  in  Virginia  during  the  early  part 
of  the  war,  and  after  about  a year  was  there  stricken  with  typhoid 
fever.  A few  weeks  after  his  return  home,  for  recuperation,  he 
joined  the  army  in  Savannah,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  as  noted.  He  was  graduated  in  the  medical  department  of  the 
University  of  Maryland  at  Baltimore,  as  a member  of  the  class 
of  1872,  and  thereafter  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
until  1898,  when  he  retired,  by  reason  of  impaired  health.  For 
a quarter  of  a century  he  was  a resident  of  Athens,  Ga.,  where  he 
died  on  Dec.  7,  1904.  His  wife  still  survives  him.  Peyton  L. 
Wade,  to  whom  this  article  is  dedicated,  was  graduated  in  the 
University  of  Georgia,  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1886,  receiving 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  and  standing  fifth  in  a class  of 
forty-seven  members.  He  was  junior  speaker  of  his  class,  the 
place  being  awarded  in  competition  for  composition,  and  was  class- 
tree  orator;  he  was  also  senior  speaker,  the  place  being  awarded 
on  class  standing,  and  was  class  poet  at  the  commencement  ex- 
ercises, in  July,  1886.  After  graduation  he  taught  one  year  in  the 
Dublin  high  school,  and  thereafter  was  editor  of  the  Dublin  Post 
for  six  months.  He  studied  law  in  the  office  of  his  uncle  Ulysses 
P.  Wade,  of  the  firm  of  Dell  & Wade,  Sylvania,  Ga.,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  in  Screven  county,  in  November,  1888.  Immedi- 
ately afterward  he  went  to  the  paternal  home  in  Athens,  where  he 
remained  six  months,  during  which  he  served  his  novitiate  in  his 
profession.  He  then  established  himself  in  Dublin,  where  he  has 
since  been  engaged  in  practice.  He  has  enjoyed  a good  practice  in 
Laurens  county  for  fifteen  years  and  for  the  past  decade  has  con- 
fined himself  entirely  to  civil  business.  He  is  counsel  for  various 
local  corporations,  and  is  local  counsel  for  the  Wrightsville  & 
Tennille  and  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway  companies.  He  is 
a member  of  the  Georgia  bar  association  and  has  the  largest  pro- 
fessional library  in  his  section  of  the  state,  as  well  as  the  largest 
private  and  general  library,  the  law  library  comprising  over  800  vol- 
umes and  the  general  library  more  than  2,000, including  many  special 
and  limited  editions.  Mr.  Wade  is  affiliated  with  Kappa  Deuteron 
Chapter,  of  the  Phi  Gamma  Delta  fraternity  at  the  University  of 
Georgia,  and  also  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Royal 
Arcanum.  He  is  a Democrat  in  his  political  allegiance,  but  has 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


503 


seduously  avoided  and  refused  to  enter  politics  or  to  accept  office. 
On  April  13,  1895,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Gussie  K. 
Black,  who  was  at  the  time  a resident  of  Atlanta,  a daughter  of 
George  R.  and  Georgia  A.  (Bryan)  Black,  of  Screven  county. 
Her  father  and  paternal  grandfather,  Edward  J.  Black,  have  both 
served  Georgia  as  members  of  Congress.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade 
have  one  child,  Frederica  Washburn  Wade,  born  Sept.  11,  1905. 

Wadley,  a town  in  Jefferson  county,  is  located  at  the  junction  of 
the  main  line  of  the  Central  of  Georgia,  the  Stillmore  Air  Line  and 
the  Wadley  & Mount  Vernon  railways.  The  Louisville  & Wadley 
railroad  also  connects  it  with  the  county  seat.  In  1900  the  popula- 
tion was  630  in  the  town  and  2,815  in  the  district.  It  has  a money 
order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  a bank,  express  and  tele- 
graph service,  several  important  mercantile  concerns  and  is  the 
principal  shipping  point  for  that  section  of  the  state.  The  people 
are  well  supplied  with  schools  and  churches. 

Wadley,  William  Morrill,  a pioneer  of  the  railroad  development 
of  Georgia,  was  born  in  Brentwood,  N.  H.,  Nov.  12,  1813,  of  Puri- 
tan ancestry.  He  learned  the  blacksmith’s  trade  and  when  he  was 
about  twenty  years  of  age  went  to  Georgia,  where  he  worked  as 
a blacksmith  in  various  places,  until  he  became  a railroad  contrac- 
tor on  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad.  By  his  ability  and  close 
attention  to  details  he  rose  rapidly  and  in  1849  was  made  superin- 
tendent of  the  road.  From  that  time  until  his  death  he  occupied 
a prominent  place  in  Southern  railroad  circles.  During  the  Avar 
he  was  appointed  superintendent  of  transportation  for  the  Con- 
federacy by  President  Davis  and  after  peace  restored  he  was  called 
upon  to  rebuild  the  Central  railroad.  He  died  August  10,  1882. 
The  employes  of  the  Central  railroad  have  erected  at  Macon  a 
magnificent  bronze  statue,  dedicated  to  “Our  President  and  Friend.” 

Wahoo,  a post-village  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Lumpkin 
county,  reported  a population  of  55  in  1900,  and  is  the  principal 
trading  point  in  the  section  where  it  is  located.  Lula  is  the  nearest 
railroad  station. 

Wainright,  (railroad  name  Uptomdlle)  a town  in  the  eastern 
part  of  Charlton  county,  is  a station  on  the  Waycross  division  of  the 
Atlantic  Coast  Line  railway,  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of 
100.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  some  mercantile  concerns, 
and  does  considerable  shipping. 

Walden,  a town  in  the  southern  part  of  Bibb  county,  is  on  the 
Macon  & Columbus  branch  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad. 
It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  an  express 


504 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


office,  several  good  stores,  some  small  factories,  does  some  ship- 
ping, and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  100. 

Waleska,  a town  in  Cherokee  county,  is  about  eight  miles  north- 
west of  Canton,  on  a branch  of  the  Etowah  river.  The  popula- 
tion in  1900  was  170.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  several 
successful  mercantile  establishments,  and  is  the  seat  of  the  Rein- 
hardt Normal  college,  a coeducational  institution  conducted  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South. 

Walker  County  was  organized  in  1833  from  Murray  and  named- 
in  honor  of  Maj.  Freeman  Walker,  of  Richmond  county,  member 
of  the  Georgia  legislature  and  representative  in  Congress.  It 
is  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  the  State  of  Tennessee,  on  the  east  by  Catoosa  and  Whitefield 
counties,  on  the  south  by  Chattooga,  and  on  the  west  by  Dade 
county  and  the  State  of  Alabama.  Chickamauga  creek  is  the 
largest  stream.  The  surface  is  mountainous  and  many  noted  val- 
leys occur  between  the  ridges,  among  them  McLemore’s  Cove, 
Peavine,  Armuchee  and  Chickamauga,  in  which  the  soil  is  of  unsur- 
passed fertility.  These  valleys  produce  abundantly  corn,  wheat, 
rye,  oats,  barley,  clover  and  potatoes.  On  the  table-lands  fine  crops 
of  cotton  are  grown  and  the  untilled  lands  and  woods  afford  ex- 
cellent range  for  cattle.  Peaches,  apples,  melons  and  all  varieties 
of  berries  are  exported.  Iron  and  bituminous  coal  are  extensively 
mined,  and  granite,  marble  and  limestone  of  superior  quality  are 
found.  In  some  places  the  land  is  still  covered  with  a heavy  growth 
of  timber  and  the  lumber  industry  is  an  important  one,  water- 
power being  supplied  by  the  Chickamauga  and  other  streams.  Two 
railroads,  the  Chattanooga  Southern  and  a branch  of  the  Central 
of  Georgia  traverse  the  county  and  supply  facilities  for  transpor- 
tation. LaFayette,  the  county  seat,  is  extensively  engaged  in 
manufacturing.  In  Walker  county  lies  the  western  portion  of  the 
national  park,  which  marks  the  site  of  the  Chickamauga  battle- 
field. Wilson’s  cave,  near  LaFayette,  is  a natural  curiosity  often 
visited.  Round  Pond  is  a beautiful  sea  green  sheet  of  water  cover- 
ing four  or  five  acres.  It  has  no  visible  outlet,  yet  the  waters  never 
become  stagnant.  In  places  it  is  forty-eight  feet  deep  and  like  the 
other  streams  and  ponds  of  the  vicinity  contains  a supply  of  ex- 
cellent fish.  The  population  of  the  county  in  1900  was  15,661,  a gain 
of  2,379  since  1890.  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  is  the  market  for  most 
of  the  productions  of  Walker  county.  Gen.  Daniel  Newman,  the 
noted  Indian  fighter  and  Georgia  Congressman,  died  in  this  county. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


505 


Walker,  Dawson  A.,  jurist,  was  a native  of  Tennessee,  where  he 
was  born  in  1819.  In  1845  he  removed  to  Murray  county,  Ga., 
where  he  began  the  practice  of  law.  For  some  time  he  was  judge 
of  the  Cherokee  circuit  and  in  1866  was  elected  to  a place  on  the 
supreme  bench.  His  term  expired  in  1868.  His  decisions  during 
that  time  show  him  to  have  been  a lawyer  of  profound  learning  and 
clear  methods  of  expression.  Upon  retiring  from  the  bench  he 
resumed  practice  at  Dalton,  where  he  died  in  1881. 

Walker,  Edward  H.,  who  is  success- 
fully established  in  the  real-estate  busi- 
ness at  College  Park,  Fulton  county,  was 
born  in  Lagrange,  Troup  county,  Ga., 
Sept.  16,  1861,  a son  of  David  A.  and 
Mary  (Hill)  Walker,  the  former  born  in 
"Harris  county,  Ga.,  and  the  latter  in 
Monticello,  Jasper  county.  The  Walker 
family  was  represented  in  the  early  wars 
of  the  South.  Judge  Edward  Y.  Hill, 
maternal  grandfather  of  Edward  Walker, 
was  prominently  identified  with  the  his- 
tory of  Georgia  in  the  early  days  and  was 
at  one  time  bearly  defeated  for  governor.  Dr.  John  E.  Dawson, 
a great-uncle  of  Mr.  Walker,  was  the  founder  of  a college  and  was 
noted  as  one  of  the  eloquent  Baptist  ministers  of  Georgia.  He 
represented  this  state  in  the  United  States  senate,  as  did  also 
Joshua  Hill,  another  great-uncle.  The  -Walker  family  was  estab- 
lished in  Georgia  in  1751,  the  original  settlement  being  made  in 
Richmond  county,  and  it  is  said  that  at  the  present  time  a repre- 
sentative of  the  name  is  to  be  found  in  every  county  in  Georgia. 
William  Walker,  who  was  in  his  day  the  wealthiest  citizen  in 
Harris  county,  was  the  great-grandfather  of  him  whose  name 
initiates  this  sketch.  He  owned  20,000  acres  of  land  and  about 
1,000  slaves.  David  A.  Walker  was  quartermaster  in  the  Con- 
federate service  during  the  Civil  war,  serving  three  years  and 
being  an  active  participant  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  and  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga.  He  was  graduated  in  the  University  of 
Georgia  and  took  a post-graduate  course  in  Yale  university.  His 
vocation  throughout  life  was  that  of  farming.  Edward  H.  Walker 
attended  the  theological  department  of  Mercer  university  at 
Macon,  and  later  took  a partial  course  in  the  Southern  Baptist 
theological  seminary  in  Louisville,  Ivy.,  being  ordained  as  a clergy- 
man of  the  Baptist  church  in  1893.  He  was  pastor  of  the  Baptist 


506 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


church  at  Hapeville,  Fulton  county,  for  one  year,  and  later  served 
in  turn  as  pastor  of  Calvary  and  Edgewood  Baptist  churches 
in  the  city  of  Atlanta,  and  others.  In  1902  Mr.  Walker  was 
elected  manager  of  the  College  Park  Land  Company,  which 
position  he  now  holds.  He  has  been  conspicuously  identified  with 
the  development  and  upbuilding  of  this  beautiful  suburb  of  Atlanta, 
and  its  attractions  are  unrivaled  by  those  of  any  of  the  suburban 
districts  of  Georgia’s  metropolis.  The  growth  of  this  suburb 
began  with  the  induction  of  Mr.  Walker  into  the  manager’s  office. 
He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  commercial  and  industrial 
development,  and  the  increase  in  real-estate  values  has  been  over 
400  per  cent,  since  he  took  charge.  In  politics  he  is  a stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  and  policies  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  he 
and  his  wife  are  numbered  among  the  most  prominent  and  in- 
fluential members  of  the  College  Park  Baptist  church.  On  Feb. 
12,  1895,  Mr.  Walker  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mildred 
Stevens,  daughter  of  Calvin  and  Frances  (Noble)  Stevens,  of 
Montgomery  county,  Alabama,  and  they  have  three  children — 
Efifie  Lou,  Janie  Marguerette,  and  Edward,  Jr. 

Walker,  Freeman,  was  born  in  Charles  City  county,  Va.,  Oct. 
25,  1780.  He  received  a liberal  education  in  his  native  state,  after 
which  he  became  a resident  of  Georgia.  In  December,  1819,  he 
w'as  elected  to  the  United  States  senate,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused 
by  the  resignation  of  John  Forsyth,  and  served  until  August,  1821, 
when  he  also  resigned.  He  died  at  Augusta  in  1827. 

Walker,  George  P.,  of  Savannah,  cap- 
tain of  the  Chatham  artillery  since  1895, 
was  born  in  Charleston,  S.  C.,  in  Oct., 
1845,  and  was  reared  in  Savannah  from 
infancy.  In  the  fall  of  1861  he  left  school 
in  Screven  county,  Ga.,  and  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  the  Republican  Blues,  Com- 
pany B,  with  which  he  was  on  duty  for 
six  months.  After  the  expiration  of  this 
period  of  enlistment,  he  was  employed 
in  the  commissary  department  on  the 
coast  until  the  fall  of  1863.  He  then  en- 
listed, Nov.  13,  1863,  being  at  the  time 
eighteen  years  of  age,  as  a private  in  the  Chatham  artillery.  With 
this  gallant  battery  he  participated  in  the  battle  of  Olustee,  Fla., 
Feb.  20,  1864,  afterawrd  engaged  the  enemy  at  Cedar  Creek,  near 
Jacksonville,  Fla.,  and  through  the  summer  of  1864  was  on  duty 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


507 


in  the  works  about  Charleston,  S.  C.  After  Charleston  was  evacu- 
ated he  participated  in  the  engagement  at  Columbia,  S.  C.,  and 
surrendered  with  his  command  April  26,  1865,  at  Greensboro,  N.  C. 
Captain  Walker  has  been  a resident  of  Savannah  since  the  war, 
and  is  successful  in  business  and  popular  with  his  fellow  citizens. 

Walker,  John  David,  of  Sparta,  Han- 
cock county,  is  one  of  the  prominent 
bankers  and  planters  of  that  section  of  the 
state  and  is  an  influential  business  man 
and  citizen,  while  his  name  is  well-known 
in  connection  with  industrial  enterprises 
and  associations  in  the  state.  He  was 
born  in  Augusta,  Richmond  county,  Ga., 
Jan.  6,  1871,  a son  of  Clarence  V.  and 
Lucy  (Pearson)  Walker,  both  born  in 
Richmond  county,  Ga.  The  father  served 
with  gallantry  and  distinction  as  a soldier 
of  the  Confederacy  during  the  Civil  war, 
in  which  he  rose  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel.  He  took  a 
lively  interest  in  the  public  and  civic  affairs  of  the  state  and  the 
city  of  Augusta,  having  served  as  a member  of  the  city  council. 
The  subject’s  great-grandfather,  Hon.  Freeman  Walker,  served 
as  the  first  mayor  of  Augusta,  and  was  also  a member  of  the 
United  States  senate.  Gen.  William  H.  T.  Walker  and  Maj.  John 
David  Walker  were  men  of  distinction  in  Georgia  in  their  day, 
being  great-great-uncles  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  John  David 
Walker  was  educated  in  Richmond  academy,  the  city  of  Augusta, 
and  his  business  career  has  been  one  of  peculiarly  successful  order, 
showing  a mastering  of  details,  a wonderful  facility  in  expedients, 
a rare  power  of  initiative  and  a signal  maturity  of  judgment.  At 
the  age  of  thirteen  years  he  became  a clerk  in  the  office  of  the 
Southern  Telegraph  Company,  in  Augusta,  but  resigned  two  years 
later  and  became  assistant  bookkeeper  for  the  Howard-Willett 
Drug  Company,  of  that  city.  Two  years  later  he  assumed  a sim- 
ilar position  with  the  C.  B.  Vail  Commission  Company,  and  he 
resigned  this  place  to  accept  that  of  cashier  of  the  private  bank 
of  R.  A.  Graves,  of  Sparta,  to  which  place  he  removed  in  the  year 
1900.  Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Graves  in  1902,  he  became  president 
of  the  bank,  and  held  this  office  until  the  institution  was  reorgan- 
ized and  incorporated  as  the  First  National  Bank  of  Sparta,  in 
January,  1904,  when  he  became  president  of  the  amplified  institu- 
tion, of  which  he  has  since  continued  chief  executive.  After  locat- 


508 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


ing  in  Sparta  he  engaged  in  the  insurance  business,  which  he  still 
continues,  and  in  the  connection  he  also  controls  a large  real-estate 
business.  He  is  identified  in  a capitalistic  and  administrative 
way  with  other  important  enterprises.  He  is  president  of  the 
Bank  of  White  plains,  Greene  county ; The  Bank  of  Gray  at  Gray, 
Ga. ; The  Bank  of  Harlem  at  Harlem  ; the  Jones  County  bank  at 
Haddock;  Farmers  and  Citizens  bank,  Watkinsville,  and  vice- 
president  of  the  Merchants  & Farmers  bank,  Davisboro,  Ga.  Fie 
is  President  of  the  Sparta  Oil  Mill  Company  and  of  The  Union 
Store,  incorporated,  of  this  place,  is  also  conducting  an  extensive 
and  profitable  business  as  a dealer  in  carriages,  buggies,  harness, 
etc.,  and  has  the  largest  plantation  interests  in  Hancock  county. 
He  is  secretary-treasurer  of  the  Southern  Bankers’  executive  com- 
mittee, which  promised  the  Southern  cotton  association  $10,000 
in  January,  1905,  at  the  meeting  in  New  Orleans,  and  it  is  largely 
due  to  his  well  directed  efforts  that  this  amount  has  been  raised. 
He  is  also  treasurer  of  the  Georgia  division  and  president  of  the 
Hancock  county  division  of  the  Southern  cotton  association,  and 
his  labors  in  the  interest  of  this  association  have  brought  him 
into  prominence  among  all  interested  in  the  cotton  industry  in 
the  South.  Concerning  his  efforts  in  this  connection,  Harvie  Jor- 
dan, president  of  the  association,  has  stated  that  no  man  in  the 
South  has  done  more  or  better  work  for  the  welfare  of  the  associa- 
tion than  has  Mr.  Walker.  True  to  the  military  instincts  of  his 
forefathers,  he  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  organization  of 
a military  company  in  Sparta,  and  has  been  elected  captain  of  same. 
A characteristic  incident  in  Mr.  Walker’s  career  is  worthy  of 
note  in  this  article,  an  indicating  the  confidence  which  he  has 
merited  and  received  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  When  R.  A. 
Graves  died,  as  previously  mentioned,  he  left  an  estate  of  about 
$100,000,  and  Mr.  Walker  was  made  sole  executor  of  the  same, 
without  bond.  In  politics  he  is  a stanch  Democrat,  and  he  has 
been  an  earnest  and  uncompromising  worker  for  the  cause  of  the 
prohibition  of  the  liquor  traffic  in  Hancock  county.  He  was  the 
leader  of  the  prohibition  forces  which  gained  the  great  victory 
in  the  campaign  to  exclude  the  liquor  traffic  from  the  county;  has 
served  as  treasurer  of  the  village  of  Sparta  and  also  of  the  county; 
and  has  also  been  a member  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners. 
He  is  a prominent  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
South,  in  his  state;  is  a chairman  of  the  board  of  stewards  of  the 
local  church  and  superintendent  of  its  Sunday  school ; is  presi- 
dent of  the  Hancock  county  Sunday  school  association,  a member 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


509 


of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Georgia  Sunday  school  associa- 
tion, and  chairman  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Culverton 
campground  association  of  the  church.  He  has  also  served  as  lay 
member  of  the  general  conference.  On  Nov.  22,  1893,  Mr.  Walker 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Christir  * Berry,  daughter  of  James 
Edward  and  Anne  Elizabeth  (Simmons)  Berry,  of  Hancock  county. 
The  children  of  this  union  are  as  follows:  Edward  Valentine, 
Elizabeth  Pearson  and  John  David,  Jr. 

Walker,  John  L.,  M.  D.,  a prominent 
and  successful  physician  and  surgeon  of 
Waycross,  Ware  county,  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Ga.,  Aug.  27,  1854, 
a son  of  Elisha  W.  and  Martha  (Webb) 
Walker,  who  were  likewise  born  in 
Washington  county,  the  former  on  Jan. 
19,  1832,  and  the  latter  on  June  12,  1831. 
The  father  served  a short  period  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Confederate  ranks  during 
the  Civil  war,  but  withdrew  upon  his 
election  to  the  office  of  treasurer  of  John- 
son county,  an  exacting  position  during 
the  turbulent  epoch  of  the  war  between  the  states.  Doctor  Walker 
took  a course  in  the  high  school  at  Wrightsville,  Johnson  county, 
and  thereafter  began  the  work  of  preparing  himself  with  all 
thoroughness  for  his  chosen  profession.  He  attended  the  Atlanta 
medical  college  and  the  Kentucky  school  of  medicine,  securing  his 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  from  the  former  and  he  has  since 
done  effective  post-graduate  work  in  leading  medical  schools  and 
hospitals  in  New  York  city  and  Chicago.  Since  his  graduation  he 
has  been  successfully  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  the 
greater  portion  of  the  time  in  Waycross,  where  he  now  has  a rep- 
resentative and  extended  clientage.  He  is  a member  of  the  Ameri- 
can medical  association,  the  Medical  Association  of  Georgia  and 
the  Ware  county  medical  society.  In  a fraternal  way,  he  is  affili- 
ated with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  The  Knights  of  Pythias,  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks.  In  politics  he  exercises  his  franchise  and 
influence  in  support  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South.  On 
Dec.  19,  1883,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Doctor  Walker  to 
Miss  Laura  Singleton,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Ann  (Christian) 


510 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Singleton,  of  Eatonton,  Putnam  county,  Ga.,  and  they  have  four 
children,  namely:  John  S.,  Robert  C.,  Annie  Laurie,  and  Samuel  E. 

Walker,  John  W„  conducting  one  of 
the  leading  insurance  agencies  in  Au- 
gusta, was  born  in  that  city,  June  18, 
1872,  a son  of  Capt.  James  W.  and  Mary 
Belle  (Miller)  Walker,  both  of  whom 
were  likewise  born  and  reared  in  Au- 
gusta, where  both  died.  Captain  Walker 
commanded  a company  in  a Georgia 
regiment  of  the  Confederate  service  in 
the  war  between  the  states,  and  was 
serving  as  adjutant  on  the  staff  of  Gen. 
Goode  Bryan  at  the  time  the  war  closed. 
He  was  a graduate  of  the  University  of 
Georgia,  having  been  a classmate  of  the  late  Gen.  John  B.  Gordon. 
He  passed  his  entire  life  in  Augusta,  save  for  the  period  of  his 
military  service,  and  was  city  collector  and  treasurer  at  the  time 
of  his. death,  April  12,  1897,  his  wife  having  passed  away  on  July 
27,  1879.  John  W.  Walker  was  graduated  at  Richmond  academy 
in  Augusta,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  and  then  took  a position 
as  clerk  in  a local  hardware  establishment,  being  thus  engaged 
for  the  ensuing  three  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  secured 
a clerical  position  in  the  insurance  office  of  J.  V.  H.  Allen  & Co., 
of  Augusta,  familiarizing  himself  with  the  minutiae  of  the  business 
and  remaining  in  the  employ  of  the  firm  two  years.  He  then,  on 
March  12,  1896,  engaged  in  the  same  line  of  enterprise  on  his  own 
responsibility,  and  has  built  up  a very  large  and  prosperous  gen- 
eral insurance  business  representing  many  important  fire  and  acci- 
dent companies.  He  is  a member  of  the  Commercial  and  Country 
clubs  of  his  native  city,  is  a Presbyterian  in  his  religious  faith 
and  is  popular  in  both  business  and  social  circles.  On  May  17, 1905, 
Mr.  Walker  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Martha  Beall  Panknin, 
of  Augusta,  her  birthplace  having  been  Charleston,  S.  C. 

Walker,  William  H.  T.,  soldier,  was  born  in  Georgia  in  1816. 
After  attending  the  schools  of  Augusta  he  entered  the  United  States 
military  academy  at  West  Point,  where  he  graduated  in  1837  and 
entered  the  army  as  second  lieutenant  in  the  Sixth  infantry.  In 
the  campaign  against  the  Indians  in  Florida  in  1837-38  he  won 
distinction  and  was  brevetted  first  lieutenant.  In  18-15  he  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain  ; served  through  the  Mexican  war, 
attaining  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel,  and  received  a handsome 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


511 


sword  from  his  state  in  recognition  of  his  services.  From  1854  to 
1856  he  was  commandant  of  cadets  and  instructor  of  infantry  tac- 
tics at  West  Point.  In  1860  he  resigned  his  commission  in  the  army 
and  when  Georgia  seceded  was  made  major-general  of  the  First 
division  of  state  troops.  In  May,  1861,  he  was  commissioned 
brigadier-general  in  the  army  of  the  Confederate  States  and  was 
stationed  at  Pensacola  until  the  following  October,  when  ill  health 
compelled  him  to  retire  from  the  service.  In  February,  1863,  he 
reentered  the  army  and  was  placed  in  command  at  Savannah.  In 
May  he  was  made  major-general  and  assigned  to  the  command  of 
a division  in  the  army  of  Gen.  J.  E.  Johnston.  He  fought  at 
Vicksburg  and  Chickamauga  and  fell  on  July  22,  1864,  while  lead- 
ing a charge  upon  the  Federal  left  at  Atlanta. 

Walker,  William  J.,  president  of  the 
Citizens’  bank  of  Sylvania  and  a member 
of  the  firm  of  W.  J.  Walker  & Co.,  con- 
ducting the  only  mercantile  establish- 
ment at  Middle  Ground,  Screven  county, 
is  one  of  the  representative  young  busi- 
ness men  of  that  county,  which  has  been 
his  home  from  the  time  of  his  birth.  He 
was  born  on  his  father’s  plantation, 
March  15,  1S75,  is  a son  of  James  T.  and 
Sallie  (Robbins)  Walker,  both  of  whom 
were  likewise  born  and  reared  in  Screven 
county  and  now  reside  at  Middle  Ground, 
the  father  being  chairman  of  the  board  of  education  of  the  county 
and  a man  of  prominence  and  influence  in  his  community.  He  has 
large  landed  interests  and  is  associated  with  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  in  the  general  merchandise  and  naval-stores  business  at 
Middle  Ground,  under  the  title  of  W.  J.  Walker  & Co.,  noted 
above.  He  is  a son  of  the  late  William  Walker,  who  likewise  was 
a native  of  Screven  comity,  and  a soldier  of  the  Confederacy  in  the 
Civil  war.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view was  Archibald  Robbins,  also  born  and  reared  in  Screven 
county  and  represented  the  same  as  a loyal  soldier  of  the  Confed- 
erate States  of  America.  William  J.  Walker  attended  a neighbor- 
hood school  at  intervals  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  twenty 
years,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  Middle  Ground,  where  he  has  since  continued  in  the 
same  line  of  enterprise,  having  built  up  a large  and  profitable 
trade,  having  the  only  store  in  the  village.  The  firm  carries  a 


512 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


select  stock  of  general  merchandise  and  also  operates  largely  in 
the  handling  of  naval-stores.  William  J.  Walker  has  shown 
marked  energy  and  initiative  power,  and  is  entitled  to  be  consid- 
ered one  of  the  representative  business  men  of  his  native  county. 
In  October,  1905,  he  organized  the  Citizens’  bank,  of  Sylvania, 
incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  state,  and  he  has  been  president 
of  the  institution  from  the  start.  The  bank  was  opened  for  busi- 
ness Jan.  1,  1906,  and  is  meeting  with  distinctive  success  and 
popular  appreciation.  He  is  a Democrat  in  his  political  allegiance, 
is  a member  of  the  Baptist  church,  as  is  also  Mrs.  Walker,  and  is 
a Master  Mason.  On  Feb.  1,  1900,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Walker  to  Miss  May  Blitch,  daughter  of  the  late  Willis  S. 
Blitch,  of  Screven  county,  and  they  have  two  children- — J.  Willis, 
born  Dec.  17,  1900,  and  Regis,  born  Sept.  5,  1905. 

Walker  Station,  a post-village  in  the  western  part  of  Dougherty 
county,  is  on  the  division  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway  that 
runs  west  from  Albany  into  Alabama.  The  population  in  1900 
was  56. 

Walkersville,  a post-hamlet  of  Pierce  county,  is  in  the  Big  Hurri- 
cane valley,  seven  miles  north  of  Blackshear,  which  is  the  most 
convenient  railroad  station. 

Wall,  Budd  C.,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
grocery  trade  in  Augusta,  as  a jobber 
and  retailer,  was  born  on  the  home  plan- 
tation, in  Elbert  county,  Ga.,  April  24, 
1847,  a son  of  Budd  C.  and  Martha 
(Nunnelee)  Wall,  both  natives  of  Elbert 
county.  The  father,  who  was  born  in 
1803,  was  a successful  agriculturist  of 
Elbert  county,  where  he  passed  his  en- 
tire life,  his  death  occurring  in  August, 
1874.  The  death  of  his  wife  occurred  in 
1866.  He  was  a son  of  Cade  and  Nancy 
(Pace)  Wall,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 
Virginia,  whence  they  removed  to  Elbert  county,  prior  to  the  war 
of  the  Revolution.  Nancy  (Pace)  Wall  lived  to  attain  the  ex- 
tremely venerable  age  of  one  hundred  and  five  years.  The  mater- 
nal grandparents  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  were  James  F.  and 
Jane  (Nash)  Nunnelee.  Budd  C.  Wall  was  reared  on  the  home 
plantation  and  attended  the  schools  of  the  locality  until  he  had 
attained  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  or  until  the  beginning  of  the 
Civil  war.  In  December,  1863,  when  but  sixteen  years  of  age,  he 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


513 


enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  C,  Seventh  Georgia  cavalry,  with 
which  he  served  in  Young’s  brigade,  Gen.  M.  C.  Butler’s  division, 
remaining  in  the  ranks  as  a loyal  and  faithful  soldier  until  the 
close  of  the  conflict,  taking  part  in  all  the  important  engagements 
in  Virginia  in  which  his  command  was  involved  during  the  cam- 
paign of  1864-5.  After  the  war  he  returned  to  Elbert  county,  where 
he  followed  agricultural  pursuits  until  1875,  when  he  removed  to 
Abbeville  county,  S.  C.,  where  he  followed  the  same  vocation  until 
the  autumn  of  1881,  when  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Augusta  and 
established  himself  in  the  grocery  business,  as  a jobber  and  re- 
tailer. He  has  since  continued  in  this  line  of  business  and  has 
built  up  an  excellent  trade  in  both  departments.  Since  1891  he 
has  been  established  at  his  present  eligible  location,  917  Broad 
street.  Mr.  Wall  is  a stanch  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party, 
but  has  never  sought  official  preferment.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  St.  John’s  church,  Methodist  Episcopal,  South,  and  he 
is  identified  with  Camp  No.  435,  United  Confederate  Veterans. 
On  Dec.  11,  1866,  Mr.  Wall  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Annie 
C.  McIntosh,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Elbert  county,  a daugh- 
ter of  William  M.  and  Maria  L.  (Allen)  McIntosh,  and  a repre- 
sentative of  stanch  old  Scottish  lineage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wall  have 
five  children:  Martha  L.,  James  S.,  Bevelle  W.,  Jessie  M.  and 

Harry  M.  Jessie  M.  is  now  the  wife  of  John  Stelling. 

Wall,  E.,  has  gained  recognition  and 
success  in  the  exacting  profession  of  law, 
forging  his  way  to  the  front  through 
ability  and  well  directed  personal  effort 
and  is  to-day  numbered  among  the  rep- 
resentative members  of  the  bar  of  Irwin 
county,  established  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  the  thriving  little  city  of 
Fitzgerald.  He  was  born  at  Ellaville, 
Schley  county,  Ga.,  Aug.  20.  1874,  a son 
of  Marion  J.  and  Mary  B.  Wall,  the 
former  born  in  Opelika,  Ala.,  and  the 
latter  at  Ellaville.  "The  paternal  great- 
grandfather was  a soldier  in  the  Continental  line  during  the  war 
of  the  Revolution,  and  Marion  J.  Wall,  the  father,  went  forth  from 
Schley  county  with  a Georgia  regiment  of  volunteers  to  do  battle 
in  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy,  later  being  assigned  to  duty  in 
the  commissary  department  at  Andersonville,  Ga.  He  died  about 
1887,  having  been  a successful  lawyer  and  farmer  in  Schley  county 


33— in 


514 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


after  the  Avar,  and  his  widow  is  still  living  in  that  county.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  passed  his  boyhood  days  on  the  home  farm, 
two  and  one-half  miles  west  of  Ellaville,  and  was  about  thirteen 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  father’s  death.  He  had  attended 
the  local  school  and  after  the  death  of  his  father  he  went  to  Ella- 
ville, where  he  attended  the  high  school  which  is  now  known  as 
the  Charles  F.  Crisp  institute.  Upon  going  to  EllaAnlle  he  became 
a clerk  in  the  drug  store  of  Dr.  C.  H.  Smith,  working  mornings  and 
eA^enings  and  attending  school  during  the  regular  hours  for  several 
years.  He  then  became  associated  with  Dr.  H.  S.  Munro  in  pur- 
chasing the  drug  business  of  Doctor  Smith  and  about  two  years 
later  Mr.  Wall  sold  his  interest  to  his  partner  and  began  reading 
larv  in  the  office  of  Col.  Charles  R.  McCrory,  being  admitted  to 
the  bar  about  one  year  later,  when  about  twenty  years  of  age, 
having  passed  a creditable  examination  before  Judge  W.  H.  Fish. 
He  initiated  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Ellaville,  where  he 
remained  about  one  year,  then  removed  to  Abbeville,  where  he  was 
in  practice  about  two  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he 
took  up  his  residence  in  Fitzgerald,  where  he  has  built  up  an 
excellent  practice  and  gained  cordial  recognition  among  his  pro- 
fessional confreres  in  the  county.  He  has  depended  entirely  upon 
himself  in  gaining  his  technical  education  and  in  winning  his  pro- 
fessional laurels,  so  that  his  success  is  the  more  gratifying  to  con- 
template. He  is  an  uncompromising  advocate  of  the  principles 
and  policies  of  the  Democratic  party  and  both  he  and  his  wife  hold 
membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South.  On  April 
28,  1897,  Mr.  Wall  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eddie  Hicks, 
daughter  of  Capt.  James  H.  and  Annie  E.  Hicks,  of  Fitzgerald, 
whither  they  removed  from  Wrightsville.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  AVall 
have  a winsome  dittle  daughter,  Arielle,  who  was  born  in  Sep- 
tember, 1900. 

Wallace,  a post-hamlet  of  Dekalb  county,  is  on  the  Seaboard  Air 
Line  railway,  about  three  miles  northwest  of  Decatur. 

Wallace,  Campbell,  born  in  Sevier  county,  Tenn.,  was  on  his 
father’s  side  descended  from  Scotch  Presbyterians  avIio  made  their 
home  in  the  Waxhaw  settlement,  N.  C.,  and  his  mother,  of  Quaker 
stock,  was  of  Welsh  descent.  His  grandfather,  William  Wallace, 
was  an  American  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution  and  one  of 
the  first  two  magistrates  in  the  East  Tennessee  territory.  His 
father,  Jesse,  removing  to  Blount  county,  Tenn.,  placed  his  son, 
Campbell,  in  the  commercial  house  of  McCurig  & Son,  of  Knox- 
ville, where  lie  remained  three  years,  when  he  returned  home  to 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


515 


care  for  his  aged  parents.  In  1834  he  became  a partner  in  his  old 
firm  at  Knoxville.  Being  made  president  of  the  East  Tennessee 
& Georgia  railroad  in  1853,  he  placed  that  enterprise  on  a firm 
basis  and  completed  it  to  Chattanooga  and  Knoxville.  When 
General  Bragg  was  returning  from  his  Kentucky  campaign  in  the 
fall  of  1862,  Mr.  Wallace  under  great  difficulties,  transported 
60,000  troops  from  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  to  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  thus 
enabling  that  general  to  move  his  army  rapidly  and  concentrate 
promptly  for  an  advance  into  middle  Tennessee.  He  was  offered 
a brigadier-general’s  commission,  but  refused  it  because  he  could 
better  serve  the  Confederacy  by  transporting  troops.  After  the 
war  he  was  soon  pardoned  by  his  friend,  President  Andrew  John- 
son, and  removed  from  Atlanta  to  Bartow  county,  Ga.,  with  the 
intention  of  being  a farmer,  but  in  1866  he  was  appointed  by  Gov. 
Charles  J.  Jenkins  superintendent  of 'the  Western  & Alabama  rail- 
road, which  under  his  supervision  was  promptly  rebuilt.  Resign- 
ing in  1868,  he  contracted  the  next  year  to  build  the  South  & 
North  Alabama  railroad  from  Decatur  to  Montgomery.  He  became 
president  of  the  Atlanta  State  National  (afterward  Merchants’)  bank 
and  in  1879  was  appointed  to  the  Georgia  railroad  commission, 
and  again  in  1883,  when  he  was  made  chairman.  After  eleven 
years’  service  with  five  more  years  to  run,  he  resigned,  because 
the  legislature  would  not  allow  what  he  considered  the  needful 
clerical  force  to  do  the  work  properly.  Campbell  Wallace  was  a 
man  of  great  business  talent  and  his  best  work  was  that  of  mould- 
ing the  Georgia  railroad  commission,  the  first  in  this  country  and 
the  model  for  the  Union.  .He  was  ever  equally  careful  of  the 
rights  of  the  railroads  and  of  the  people.  He  was  for  over  fifty 
years  an  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Colonel  Wallace  was 
married  in  1831  to  Susan  E.  Lyon  and  to  them  were  born  several 
children.  He  died  in  Atlanta  May  3,  1895. 

Walnut,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Lumpkin 
county,  is  near  the  base  of  Rock  mountain.  Clarkesville  is  the 
nearest  railroad  station. 

Walnut  Creek  is  a small  stream  in  Bibb  county.  On  Nov.  20, 
1864,  as  the  Federal  troops  were  advancing  on  Macon,  they  found 
a Confederate  force  posted  at  Walnut  creek,  about  two  miles  from 
the  city,  to  dispute  their  further  progress.  A skirmish  ensued 
which  lasted  until  nightfall,  when  the  Federals  withdrew,  leaving 
their  antagonists  in  possession  of  the  field,  though  that  night  they 
succeeded  in  destroying  the  railroad  for  some  distance. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


516 

Walnut  Grove,  a village  of  Walton  county,  with  a population  of 
82  in  1900,  is  not  far  from  the  western  boundary  of  the  county. 
It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  some 
stores  with  good  local  trade,  schools,  churches,  etc.  Monroe  is  the 
most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Walnut  Hill,  a post-village  of  Franklin  county,  is  about  six  miles 
west  of  Carnesville.  The  population  in  1900  was  51.  The  nearest 
railroad  station  is  Canon,  twelve  miles  east. 

Walrick,  a post-hamlet  of  Crawford  county,  is  about  six  miles 
southwest  of  Musella,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Walsh,  Patrick,  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1840.  While  still  in  his 
boyhood  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  where  he 
learned  the  printer’s  trade  and  earned  money  to  pay  for  a course 
at  the  Georgetown  college,  Georgetown,  D.  C.  After  completing 
his  education,  he  located  at  Augusta,  where  for  thirty-two  years  he 
was  connected  with  the  press  of  that  city,  most  of  the  time  as  editor 
and  manager  of  the  Augusta  Chronicle,  and  was  remarkably  active 
in  promoting  all  , the  interests  of  the  city.  He  was  elected  to  the 
legislature  in  1872;  reelected  in  1874  and  1876;  was  a delegate-at 
large  to  the  Democratic  national  convention  at  Chicago  in  1884; 
was  a member  of  the  Democratic  state  executive  committee  for  four 
years ; was  appointed  by  President  Harrison  member  of  the 
World’s  Columbian  Exposition  Commission  in  1893  and  by  Gov- 
ernor Northen  as  United  States  senator  to  succeed  Senator  Alfred 
Colquitt,  taking  his  seat  April  9,  1894.  He  died  in  August,  1900. 

Walter,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northern  part  of  Burke  county,  is 
about  six  miles  southeast  of  Iveysville,  which  is  the  nearest  rail- 
road station. 

Waltertown,  a post-village  of  Ware  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Nicholls  & Waycross  division  of  the  Atlantic  & Birmingham  rail- 
road, and  in  1900  reported  a populatian  of  90.  It  has  some  mer- 
cantile interests  and  is  a shipping  point  of  considerable  importance. 

Walthour,  Henry  Clayton,  who  is  successfully  established  in 
the  cotton  exporting  trade  in  Savannah,  is  a representative  of  old 
and  honored  families  of  the  south,  and  the  records  of  the  era  of 
the  Civil  war  indicate  how  gallant  and  efficient  service  was  ren- 
dered in  defense  of  the  Confederate  cause  by  his  grandfathers,  Maj.- 
Gen.  Henry  D.  Clayton,  and  Capt.  William  L.  Walthour.  He 
was  born  at  Opelika,  Ala.,  Feb.  22,  1874,  a son  of  Andrew  M.  and 
Sarah  (Clayton)  Walthour,  the  former  born  in  Savannah,  Ga.,  and 
the  latter  in  Clayton,  Ala.,  and  they  now  reside  in  New  Jersey. 
Henry  C.  Walthour  pursued  his  preparatory  studies  in  a private 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


51? 


school  in  Clayton,  after  which  he  was  matriculated  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Alabama,  where  he  remained  as  a student  for  one  year, 
and  later  attended  the  Alabama  polytechnic  institute  at  Auburn. 
After  leaving  school  he  served  several  years  in  the  capacity  of 
railroad  clerk,  and  is  now  one  of  the  cotton  factors  of  Savannah, 
where  he  is  building  up  an  export  trade.  His  political  allegiance 
is  given  to  the  Democratic  party;  he  is  a communicant  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  church,  as  is  also  Mrs.  Walthour;  is  a Master 
Mason,  a member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  is  identified  with  the 
Savannah  cotton  exchange.  On  April  19,  1901,  was  solemnized 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Walthour  to  Miss  Helen  M.  Buckman,  daughter 
of  John  W.  and  Sarah  (Milward)  Buckman,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
and  they  have  two  children — Sarah  and  Jack  B. 

Walthourville,  a town  in  Liberty  county,  is  near  the  Atlantic 
Coast  Line  railway.  An  academy  was  incorporated  here  by  act 
of  the  legislature  in  1823.  By  the  census  of  1900  the  town  had  a 
population  of  500.  It  has,  at  Walthour  station,  on  the  railroad, 
express  and  telegraph  offices,  and'  the  town  has  a money  order  post- 
office  with  rural  free  delivery.  It  is  a shipping  point  for  lumber, 
rosin  and  turpentine  and  has  in  the  town  or  near  by  lumber  mills 
and  turpentine  distilleries.  There  are  several  stores  doing  a profit- 
able business,  good  schools  and  churches. 

Walthrall,  a post-hamlet  of  Polk  county,  is  about  three  miles 
southwest  of  Youngs,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Walton  County  was  laid  out  by  the  lottery  act  in  1818  and  a 
part  of  Jackson  was  added  to  it  the  following  year.  A portion  of 
the  county  was  given  to  Jasper  in  1820  and  another  to  Newton  in 
1821.  During  this  year  a part  of  Walton  was  added  to  and  a part 
taken  from  Henry  county.  It  was  named  for  George  Walton,  one 
of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  afterward 
governor  of  Georgia.  It  lies  in  the  central  northern  part  of  the 
state  and  is  bounded  on  the  northeast  by  Jackson  and  Oconee 
counties,  on  the  southeast  by  Morgan,  on  the  southwest  by  Newton 
and  Rockdale,  and  on  the  northwest  by  Gwinnett.  The  principal 
streams  are  the  Appalachee,  Alcovey  and  Yellow  rivers.  There 
are  many  smaller  creeks  in  the  county,  and  the  land  along  all  the 
streams  is  very  fertile.  Cotton,  corn,  wheat,  rye,  oats,  potatoes, 
vegetables,  fruits  and  forage  crops,  are  the  principal  productions. 
All  fruits  are  raised  and  marketed  in  the  towns  of  the  county.  There 
are  many  acres  of  timber  lands,  both  original  and  second  growth, 
and  many  saw-mills  in  the  county  are  employed  in  preparing  the 
timber  for  the  market.  Monroe,  the  county  seat,  and  Social  Circle 


518 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


are  the  principal  towns.  The  public  roads  are  good,  the  Gaines- 
ville, Jefferson  & Southern,  the  Georgia,  and  the  Seaboard  Air 
Line  railroads  traverse  the  county  and  afford  means  of  transporta- 
tion and  travel.  Near  Loganville,  granite  is  found,  but  it  is  not 
quarried.  The  population  in  1900  was  20,942,  a gain  of  3,475  since 
1890.  Jack’s  creek  in  this  county  was  the  scene  of  a battle  in  1787 
between  the  Indians  and  a band  of  130  white  men  under  Gen. 
Elijah  Clarke.  R.  M.  Echols,  one  time  president  of  the  senate, 
was  a resident  of  Walton  county. 

Walton,  George,  governor  and  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, was  born  in  Frederick  county,  Va.,  in  1749.  Being  left 
an  orphan  in  early  boyhood  he  was  apprenticed  to  a carpenter.  His 
education  was  obtained  by  reading  at  night,  using  pine  knots  for 
a light  when  his  employer  would  not  permit  him  to  have  a candle. 
At  the  close  of  his  apprenticeship  he  located  at  Savannah,  where 
he  studied  Eav  with  Henry  Young.  When  the  troubles  with  the 
mother  country  began  he  became  an  enthusiastic  advocate  of  lib- 
erty ; was  secretary  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  1774 ; one  of  the 
committee  that  appealed  to  Governor  Wright  for  a redress  of  griev- 
ances; a member  of  the  Council  of  Safety;  was  elected  to  the 
Continental  Congress  in  January,  1776,  and  signed  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  in  the  following  July.  In  1778  he  was  made  a 
colonel  of  militia.  When  the  British  took  Savannah  he  was 
wounded  and  captured,  being  held  a prisoner  until  September, 
1779.  About  a month  after  his  release  he  was  elected  governor. 
In  1783  he  was  appointed  chief  justice,  but  did  not  serve.  He  was 
a delegate  to  the  convention  that  adopted  the  Federal  constitution 
and  in  1789  was  again  elected  governor,  the  first  to  serve  in  that 
office  after  the  republic  was  establisted.  In  1793  he  was  made 
judge  of  the  superior  court  and  in  1795  was  elected  to  the  United 
States  senate.  He  also  served  two  terms  in  the  state  legislature 
and  was  a commissioner  to  negotiate  a treaty  with  the  Cherokee 
Indians.  He  died  in  Augusta  on  Feb.  2,  1804. 

Walton,  John,  was  a brother  of  George  Walton  and  was  active 
in  behalf  of  the  colonists  during  the  Revolutionary  struggles.  In 
July,  1775,  he  was  a member  of  the  Provincial  Congress  from  St. 
Paul's  parish ; he  served  as  a member  of  the  executive  council 
under  Governor  Treutlen,  and  on  Feb.  26,  1778,  was  elected  one 
of  Georgia’s  delegates  to  the  Continental  Congress.  He  died  near 
Augusta  in  1783. 

War  of  1812. — War  against  England  was  declared  by  Congress 
on  June  18,  1812.  For  some  time  prior  to  that  date  the  English 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


519 


had  been  impressing  American  seamen  into  the  British  service. 
The  night  encounter  between  the  United  States  frigate  President 
and  the  British  sloop-of-war  Little  Belt,  on  May  16,  1811,  aggra- 
vated the  situation,  and  in  April,  1812,  Congress  passed  the  em- 
bargo act,  closing  American  ports  to  English  commerce,  prepara- 
tory to  a declaration  of  war.  England,  however,  was  especially 
desirous  of  holding  the  trade  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  on 
account  of  the  cotton  these  states  exported,  and  sent  ships  to  open 
the  ports.  At  Savannah  they  Avere  met  with  a decided  coldness  and 
ordered  to  take  their  departure  at  once.  As  the  ships  put  out  to 
sea  a number  of  shots  were  fired  and  other  evidences  of  hostility 
shown.  President  Madison,  hearing  that  the  British  had  formed 
an  alliance  with  the  Spaniards  in  Florida  asked  GoArernor  Mitchell, 
of  Georgia,  to  investigate  the  situation.  Mitchell  opened  a corre- 
spondence with  the  officer  in  charge  in  East  Florida,  with  a view 
to  anexation  but  the  proposition  was  haughtily  rejected.  The 
British  and  Spaniards  tried  to  force  the  American  troops  to  retire 
from  the  vicinity  of  the  border  but  were  defeated  in  the  attempt. 
Governor  Mitchell  left  Colonel  Smith  in  command  and  returned  to 
Milledgeville.  In  a somewhat  pointed  message  to  the  general 
assembly  he  called  attention  to  the  unprotected  state  of  the  coast 
and  to  the  need  of  troops  to  defend  the  state  against  an  inA^asion. 
The  legislature  responded  by  appropriating  $30,000  for  defense  and 
authorizing  the  enrollment  of  volunteers.  Two  companies  of  in- 
fantry were  stationed  in  each  of  the  counties  of  Chatham,  Bryan 
and  Camden,  and  detachments  were  placed  at  intervals  along  the 
Florida  border.  The  only  attempts  of  the  British  to  invade  the 
soil  of  Georgia  were  the  landing  at  Cumberland  island,  in  January, 
1815,  and  the  expedition  against  Clarke’s  Mills,  (q.  v.)  On  Jan.  15, 
1815,  a force  of  some  1,500  British  was  sent  against  Point  Petre 
from  Cumberland  island,  but  the  movement  was  defeated  by  the 
militia  under  Captains  Tattnall  and  Messias. 

On  the  western  frontier  Georgia  was  subjected  to  considerable 
danger  through  the  hostile  demonstrations  of  the  Indians.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  war  the  wily  chief  Tecumseh,  with  a chosen  band 
of  thirty  warriors,  was  sent  by  the  Shawnees  to  enlist  the  Creeks 
in  the  cause  of  Great  Britain.  The  scheme  was  only  partially 
successful  but  a respectable  number  of  the  tribe  was  sufficiently 
aroused  by  the  power  of  Tecumseh’s  eloquence  to  give  the  frontier 
settlements  serious  apprehension.  Through  the  influence  of  this 
visit  the  massacre  at  Fort  Mims,  Ala.,  occurred  and  numerous 
petty  depradations  Avere  committed.  These  events  impelled  the 


520 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


general  government  to  call  on  Georgia  for  a levy  of  troops,  which 
was  promptly  filled.  A force  of  3,600  men  were  soon  assembled 
at  Fort  Hawkins  and  Gen.  John  Floyd  was  placed  in  command. 
Tennessee  also  raised  an  army,  which  was  placed  under  the  com- 
mand of  General  Coffee,  and  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson  was  appointed 
commander-in-chief  of  the  combined  forces  of  the  two  states. 
Floyd  constructed  a line  of  blockhouses  and  stockade  forts  from 
the  Ocmulgee  westward  to  the  Chattahoochee,  where  he  built 
Fort  Mitchell.  From  this  base  he  marched  against  the  Indians, 
defeating  them  at  Autossee  and  Challibee.  He  then  cooperated 
with  Jackson  and  Coffee  in  administering  a series  of  overwhelming 
defeats  to  the  savages,  which  finally  compelled  them  to  sue  for 
peace. 

War  Woman’s  Creek. — In  Elbert  county  there  is  a small  tribu- 
tary of  Broad  river,  which  acquired  the  name  of  “War  Woman’s 
Creek”  during  the  Revolution.  It  was  near  this  stream  that  Benja- 
min Hart  lived,  and  the  name  was  conferred  on  the  creek  because 
of  the  heroic  deeds  of  his  wife,  who  was  known  among  the  Indians 
of  that  section  as  the  “War  Woman.”  (See  Nancy  Hart). 

Ward,  James  M.,  of  Waynesboro,  is  one  of  the  popular  citizens 
of  that  locality  and  now  devotes  his  attention  to  the  management 
of  his  large  plantation  interests  in  Burke  county.  He  was  born 
on  the  homestead  plantation,  in  that  county,  Aug.  1,  1845,  a son 
of  Gilbert  A.  and  Rosina  (Watkins)  Ward,  both  natives  of  the 
county,  where  the  former  was  born  in  1819,  and  the  latter  in  1822, 
both  being  now  deceased.  The  father  was  a planter  by  vocation 
and  served  the  Confederacy  as  a soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  as  a 
member  of  what  was  known  as  Joe  Brown’s  militia.  For  twenty- 
one  years  he  held  the  office  of  tax  collector  of  Burke  county, 
being  in  tenure  of  this  position  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1891,  his  widow  passing  to  the  life  eternal  in  1900. 
Gilbert  A.  Ward  was  a son  of  Francis  Ward,  who  was  born  in 
Burke  county,  a son  of  James  Ward,  a native  of  Ireland,  who 
came  to  this  state  from  Virginia  in  an  early  day  and  settled  upon 
a tract  of  land  embracing  about  3,000  acres,  the  same  having  been 
granted  to  him  by  King  George  III.  He  subsequently  served  as 
a patriot  soldier  in  the  Colonial  line  during  the  Revolution,  and 
was  a prominent  and  influential  citizen.  His  landed  estate  is  still 
held  in  the  possession  of  his  descendants.  The  maternal  grandfather 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  Jacob  Watkins,  likewise  born  in 
Burke  county.  James  M.  Ward,  the  immediate  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Burke  county  and  remained 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


521 


on  the  home  plantation  until  his  loyalty  to  the  Confederacy 
prompted  him  to  go  forth  in  defense  of  its  cause.  In  August,  1862, 
he  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  C,  Fifth  Georgia  cavalry, 
with  which  he  served  one  year,  after  which  he  re-enlisted,  as  a 
member  of  the  Twelfth  Alabama  cavalry  and  remained  on  active 
duty  with  this  command  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  took  part 
in  many  engagements  in  Georgia,  Tennessee,  and  North  and  South 
Carolina,  and  surrendered  at  Greensboro,  N.  C.,  at  the  close  of 
the  great  internecine  conflict.  During  his  father’s  long  period  of 
service  as  tax  collector  of  Burke  county  he  served  as  deputy  and 
in  1891,  upon  the  death  of  his  father,  he  succeeded  to  the  office’. 
By  subsequent  reelections  he  continued  the  incumbent  of  this 
office  for  fifteen  consecutive  years,  retiring  in  August,  1905,  since 
which  time  he  has  found  ample  demands  upon  his  time  and  atten- 
tion in  supervising  his  plantation.  He  is  a stanch  supporter  of 
the  principles  and  policies  of  the  Democratic  party;  is  a steward 
in  the  Waynesboro  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South;  and  is 
identified  with  the  United  Confederate  Veterans  and  the  Knights 
of  Pythias.  On  April  8,  1868,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Cornelia  Allen,  of  Houston  county,  Ga.,  who  died  in  February,  1884, 
leaving  one  child,  Hugh  A.  In  December,  1884,  Mr.  Ward  wedded 
Miss  Madeline  Dunlap,  and  they  have  three  children : Eugenia, 
Annie  and  Frank. 

Ward,  John  Elliott,  one  of  Georgia’s  old  school  lawyers  and 
statesmen,  was  born  at  Sunbury,  Liberty  county,  Oct.  14,  1814. 
He  was  educated  at  Yale  and  Amherst  colleges,  studied  law  under 
Mathew  H.  McAllister  at  Savannah,  and  was  admitted  to  practice 
by  special  act  of  the  legislature  before  he  was  twenty-one  years 
of  age.  In  1836  he  was  appointed  solicitor-general,  was  then 
elected  to  the  legislature  and  in  1838  was  made  United  States 
district  attorney  for  Georgia.  A year  later  he  resigned  to  again 
enter  the  legislature  and  was  made  speaker  of  the  house ; was 
then  elected  mayor  of  Savannah ; declined  an  appointment  to  the 
United  States  senate  upon  the  resignation  of  John  M.  Berrien  in 
1852 ; was  chairman  of  the  national  Democratic  convention  that 
nominated  Buchanan  in  1856,  and  was  prominently  mentioned  for 
the  vice-presidency  in  that  campaign ; was  appointed  by  Buchanan 
in  1858  as  envoy  and  minister  plenipotentiary  to  China;  resigned 
in  1861  on  account  of  the  secession  of  his  state,  and  in  1866  re- 
moved to  New  York. 

Wardin,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Charlton 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


county,  is  five  miles  southeast  of  Winokur,  which  is  the  nearest 
railroad  station. 

Ware  County  was  laid  out  from  Irwin  in  1824  and  was  named 
for  Hon.  Nicholas  Ware  of  Richmond  county,  who  served  in  the 
Georgia  legislature  and  was  elected  United  States  senator  in  1821. 
It  lies  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Appling  county,  on  the  east  by  Pierce,  on  the  south  and 
east  by  Charlton,  on  the  south  by  the  State  of  Florida,  on  the  south- 
west by  Clinch,  and  on  the  west  by  Coffee.  The  Satilla  river  and 
numerous  smaller  streams  flow  across  the  surface  and  lose  them- 
selves in  the  Okefinokee  Swamp.  The  surface  is  level  and  there  are 
many  small  swamps  within  the  borders  of  the  county.  The  soil 
is  light,  but  produces  good  crops  of  sugar-cane,  cotton,  corn,  pota- 
toes, tobacco,  peaches,  melons,  figs  and  oranges.  Cattle  and  sheep 
have  excellent  range  over  the  unused  land  which  provides  pasturage 
all  the  year  through,  while  the  mild  winters  render  shelter  super- 
fluous. Fish  are  plentiful  in  all  the  streams  and  deer  and  wild 
turkey  offer  fine  sport  to  the  huntsman.  The  timber,  which  is 
mainly  pine  and  cypress,  is  very  valuable,  rosin,  turpentine  and 
lumber  being  among  the  leading  exports.  Three  branches  of  the 
Atlantic  Coast  Line  system  of  railroads  and  the  Nichols  & Way- 
cross  division  of  the  Atlantic  & Birmingham  afford  opportunities 
for  travel  or  shipping.  The  county  seat  is  Waycross.  Waresboro 
is  the  next  town  in  importance  and  was  once  the  county  seat.  The 
population  in  1900  was  13,761  a gain  of  4,950  in  ten  years. 

Ware,  Nicholas,  was  born  in  Caroline  county,  Va.,  in  1769.  He 
received  his  general  education  in  his  native  state,  after  which  he 
located  in  Richmond  county,  Ga.,  where  he  began  the  practice  of 
law.  He  served  with  distinction  in  the  state  legislature  and  in 
December,  1821,  was  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  to  fill  the 
vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  Freeman  Walker.  At  the 
close  of  that  term  he  was  elected  for  a full  term  of  six  years,  but 
died  in  New  York  city  on  Sept.  7,  1824,  before  its  expiration.  Ware 
county  was  named  in  his  honor. 

Waresboro,  an  incorporated  town  in  Ware  county,  is  located  on 
the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  railway,  ten  miles  west  of  Waycross.  It 
has  a money  order  postoffice,  telegraph  and  express  accommoda- 
tions, several  stores,  some  factories,  and  is  a shipping  point  of  con- 
siderable importance.  The  population  in  1900  was  269.  It  was 
formerly  the  county  seat. 

Warhill,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southeast  corner  of  Dawson  county, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


523 


is  not  far  from  the  Chattahoochee  river.  The  nearest  railroad 
station  is  Gainesville. 

Waring,  a post-hamlet  of  Whitfield  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Southern  railroad,  five  miles  north  of  Dalton. 

Waring,  Thomas  Pinckney,  M.  D.,  a representative  physician  and 
surgeon  of  Savannah,  was  born  in  that  city,  Feb.  28,  1867.  His 
father,  Dr.  James  Johnston  Waring,  was  born  in  Savannah,  May  7, 
1829,  and  was  graduated  in  Jefferson  medical  college,  Philadelphia, 
Pa.  He  served  about  one  year  as  surgeon  of  a North  Carolina 
regiment,  in  the  Confederate  army,  during  the  Civil  war,  and  there- 
after was  engaged  in  practice  in  Savannah  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  on  Jan.  9,  1888.  He  began  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  Washington,  D.  C.,  where  he  held  the  position  of  curator  of  the 
Smithsonian  institution  and  professor  of  obstetrics  in  the  medical 
department  of  Columbian  university.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Mary  Bruton  Alston,  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  in 
1827,  and  still  resides  in  the  old  Waring  homestead,  corner  of  Bull 
and  Perry  streets,  Savannah.  Dr.  James  J.  Waring  was  a graduate 
of  Yale  college  in  the  class  of  1850,  as  was  also  his  father  and  the 
other  sons,  while  the  famous  old  institution  has  graduated  numer- 
ous representatives  in  the  later  generations.  Dr.  Thomas  P.  War- 
ing secured  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Savannah 
and  then  entered  Yale  college,  in  which  he  was  graduated  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  class  of  1889,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  In 
1892  he  was  graduated  in  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons, 
New  York  city,  and  thereafter  he  served  as  interne  in  Bellevue 
hospital,  that  city,  until  1894.  He  passed  a portion  of  the  following- 
year  in  Europe,  pursuing  his  medical  studies  in  leading  institutions, 
especially  the  University  of  Berlin.  Upon  his  return  he  located  in 
Savannah,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  active  practice,  being 
one  of  the  leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of  his  native  city.  He  is 
a member  of  the  American  medical  association ; a member  and  ex- 
president of  the  Georgia  medical  society ; is  identified  with  the 
Chatham  county  medical  society,  and  is  medical  superintendent  of 
Telfair  hospital  and  visiting  surgeon  to  the  Savannah  hospital  and 
St.  Joseph’s  hospital.  He  holds  membership  in  the  Savannah 
chamber  of  commerce,  Savannah  Yacht  club,  and  the  Oglethorpe 
club,  and  is  a Knight  Templar  Mason  and  a noble  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine.  He  and  his  wife  are  communicants  of  Christ  church,  Pro- 
testant Episcopal.  On  Dec.  24,  1902,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Martha  Gallaudet  Backus,  daughter  of  Henry  E.  and 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


524 

Alice  (Hardee)  Backus,  of  Savannah,  and  they  have  a daughter, 
Alice,  born  April  29,  1904. 

Warm  Springs,  a village  in  the  southern  part  of  Meriwether 
county,  is  a station  on  the  Columbus  & McDonough  division  of 
the  Southern  railway  system,  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of 
151.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  express  and  telegraph  service, 
some  mercantile  concerns,  schools,  churches,  etc.,  but  the  chief  at- 
traction are  the  mineral  springs  from  which  the  town  takes  its 
name.  The  water  is  always  of  the  temperature  of  92°  and  affords 
the  finest  bath  in  the  South. 

Warner,  Hiram,  jurist  and  legislator,  was  born  at  Hampshire, 
Mass.,  Oct.  29,  1802.  When  he  was  about  seventeen  years  old  he 
came  to  Georgia,  where  he  taught  school  for  three  years  and  then 
began  the  practice  of  law  at  Knoxville.  From  1828  to  1831  he  was 
a member  of  the  legislature;  was  judge  of  the  superior  court  from 
1833  to  1S40 ; occupied  a place  on  the  supreme  bench  from  1845  to 
1853 ; was  elected  to  Congress  in  1854,  but  declined  a reelection ; 
was  frequently  called  on  to  serve  as  delegate  to  Democratic  state 
and  national  conventions ; was  a member  of  the  secession  conven- 
tion of  1861  and  was  one  of  those  who  voted  against  the  ordinance; 
was  appointed  associate  justice  by  Governor  Bullock  in  1868;  chief 
justice  by  Governor  Smith  in  1872,  and  held  that  position  until  1880, 
when  he  resigned.  His  name  was  mentioned  in  the  Democratic 
state  convention  of  that  year  as  a candidate  for  governor.  He  died 
in  1881. 

Warnock,  George  O.,  vice-president  of  the  First  National  bank 
of  Waynesboro  and  one  of  the  extensive  planters  of  Burke  county, 
was  one  of  those  loyal  sons  of  Georgia  who  went  forth  in  defense 
of  the  Confederacy  in  the  Civil  war,  and  he  stands  to-day  as  one 
of  the  representative  citizens  of  the  Empire  commonwealth  of  the 
south.  He  was  born  on  the  homestead  plantation  of  his  parents, 
in  Burke  county,  and  is  a son  of  Ella  and  Nancy  E.  (Moore) 
Warnock,  both  of  whom  passed  their  entire  lives  in  this  county. 
The  father  died  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  six  months 
old,  and  his  widow  remained  faithful  to  his  memory  until  her  death, 
which  occurred  in  1888.  Besides  George  the  only  other  living 
child  is  Mrs.  Martha  Perry,  of  Waynesboro.  One  son,  Ransom, 
was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg  in  the  Civil  war,  and  the 
only  other  son,  William,  was  severely  wounded  in  the  same  bat- 
tle. He  died  in  1886,  all  three  of  the  sons  having  thus  been  soldiers 
of  the  Confederacy.  George  O.  Warnock  secured  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  village  school  at  Louisville,  Jefferson  county,  and  later 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


525 


supplemented  this  by  a course  of  study  in  Mercer  university,  at 
Macon.  At  the  inception  of  the  war  between  the  states  he  enlisted 
in  Company  B,  Seventh  Georgia  volunteer  infantry,  and  was  made 
second  lieutenant  of  his  company  at  the  time  of  organization.  He 
served  until  the  expiration  of  his  six  months’  term  of  enlistment 
and  then  became  one  of  the  organizers  of  a cavalry  company, 
known  as  the  Twenty-first  battalion  of  Georgia  cavalry,  in  which 
he  was  made  a lieutenant.  He  was  in  active  service  with  this 
command  two  years  and  then  became  a lieutenant  in  the  Seventh 
Georgia  cavalry.  He  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Trevilian  Sta- 
tion, Va.,  where  he  was  captured  by  the  enemy  and  was  held  as  a 
prisoner,  at  Fort  Delaware,  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  retains 
a deep  interest  in  his  old  comrades  and  is  an  appreciative  member 
of  the  United  Confederate  Veterans.  Aside  from  his  services  in 
various  official  capacities,  Mr.  Warnock’s  career  since  the  war  has 
been  one  of  close  identification  with  planting  interests  and  banking 
in  Burke  county.  He  has  an  extensive  landed  estate,  is  a large 
grower  of  cotton,  and  is  also  vice-president  of  the  First  National 
bank  of  Waynesboro,  in  which  city  he  maintains  his  home.  He  is 
unwavering  in  his  allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party  and  its  prin- 
ciples ; served  sixteen  years  as  clerk  of  the  circuit  court  of  Burke 
county ; was  a member  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners  for 
several  years,  and  has  been  for  three  years  a member  of  the  board 
of  aldermen  of  Waynesboro.  Mr.  Warnock  is  a man  of  marked 
ability  in  business,  is  strong  in  his  convictions  and  direct  and  un- 
assuming in  his  intercourse  with  his  fellow  men.  His  stand  on  all 
matters  of  public  or  civic  interest  is  never  equivocal  or  unstable, 
and  he  has  so  ordered  his  life  in  all  its  relations  as  to  command  the 
respect  of  those  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  stewards  of  the  local  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  South,  and  is  affiliated  with  the  lodge  and  chapter  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity. 

Warren  County  was  laid  out  in  1793  and  was  named  for  Gen. 
Joseph  Warren,  of  Massachusetts,  who  fell  in  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Wilkes  and  Taliaferro  counties, 
on  the  east  by  McDuffie,  on  the  south  by  Jefferson  and  Glascock, 
on  the  west  by  Hancock  and  Taliaferro  and  on  the  west  and  north- 
west by  Taliaferro.  The  land  is  well  watered  and  much  of  it  is 
covered  with  a growth  of  oak  and  hickory  timber.  The  soil  is  well 
adapted  to  the  production  of  corn,  cotton,  small  grains,  vegetables, 
melons  and  fruits.  The  produce  of  the  county  is  marketed  princi- 
pally at  Warrenton,  Camak  and  Barnett.  Two  lines  of  the  Georgia 


526  CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 

railroad  offer  excellent  transportation  facilities.  Warrenton  is  the 
county  seat.  Other  towns  are  Camak,  Norwood  and  Mesena.  In 
the  northern  portion  of  the  county  gold  has  been  found,  but  it  is  not 
mined.  The  population  in  1900  was  11,463,  an  increase  of  506  in 
ten  years. 

Warren,  John  M.,  of  Abbeville,  judge 
of  the  court  of  ordinary  of  Wilcox  county, 
and  one  of  the  representative  citizens, 
was  born  on  his  father’s  plantation,  in 
that  county,  March  26,  1862.  He  is  a son 
of  Thomas  and  Queen  (Faircloth)  War- 
ren, the  former  born  in  Dooly  county,  Ga., 
and  died  in  Wilcox  county,  Nov.  14, 
1891,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  The 
latter  was  born  in  Laurens  county,  Ga., 
and  her  death  occurred,  in  Wilcox 
county,  in  1864.  Of  the  two  children  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  elder,  the 
other  having  died  in  infancy.  Thomas  Warren  was  one  of  the  ex- 
tensive land  owners  of  Wilcox  county  and  a citizen  of  prominence 
and  influence.  He  was  judge  of  the  inferior  court  of  the  county 
at  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  and  was  thus  exempt  from  military 
duty,  but  he  became  captain  of  a company  in  the  state  militia, 
and  in  1863  he  entered  the  Confederate  service  with  his  command, 
with  which  he  continued  to  serve  until  the  close  of  the  war,  as 
captain  of  Company  D,  Sixty-sixth  Georgia  infantry.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners  for  a period  of 
sixteen  years  and  held  other  minor  offices  of  public  trust.  John 
M.  Warren  secured  his  early  educational  discipline  in  the  public 
schools  of  Wilcox  county  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  years  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  on  his  ow'n  responsibility,  his  father  having 
given  him  400  acres  of  land,  in  Wilcox  county.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  in  which 
office  he  served  four  years.  In  1886  he  was  elected  tax  receiver 
remaining  the  incumbent  of  this  position  two  years.  In  1889  he 
removed  to  Rochelle,  having  erected  the  first  house  in  the  place, 
which  is  now  a thriving  village  of  800  population.  He  there  estab- 
lished a general  store  and  built  up  a prosperous  enterprise,  which 
he  continued  until  1893,  when  he  disposed  of  the  business.  In  the 
meanwhile  he  served  three  years  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  in 
1896  he  was  mayor  of  the  town.  In  1897  he  was  elected  judge  of 
the  court  of  ordinary  of  the  county,  taking  up  his  residence  in 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


527 


Abbeville  at  that  time,  and  he  has  since  remained. the  incumbent 
of  this  office,  by  successive  reelections.  He  has  given  a most  care- 
ful and  businesslike  administration,  and  the  affairs  of  the  office 
have  been  handled  with  the  utmost  ability.  Judge  Warren  is  a 
stanch  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party,  is  identified  with  the 
lodge  and  chapter  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church.  On  Dec.  29,  1881,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eva  D.  Fenn,  daughter  of  Z.  S. 
and  Mary  T.  (Everett)  Fenn,  of  Dooly  county,  both  of  whom  are 
now  deceased.  Judge  and  Mrs.  Warren  became  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  of  whom  seven  are  living:  Lena  died  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years  and  the  sixth  child  died  at  birth.  The  surviving  children  ^re 
Pearl,  Eva,  Mamie,  Thomas,  Ethel,  Charles  and  Ola. 

Warren,  Lewis  Philip  Desaubleaux,  son  of  Hon.  Lott  Warren 
(q.  v.),  was  born  in  Marion,  Ga.,  in  1828.  His  education  was 
secured  in  Albany,  Dougherty  county,  and  in  Mercer  university 
at  Macon.  He  studied  law  with  his  father  and  was  duly  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  Dougherty  county,  where  he  began  practice  in  part- 
nership with  his  father,  while  later  he  was  a law  partner  in  turn 
of  Gen.  Gilbert  J.  Wright  and  Capt.  Richard  Hobbs.  He  served 
on  the  bench  of  the  county  court  of  Dougherty  county;  as  solic- 
itor-general of  the  Albany  district,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
was  judge  of  this  district,  having  been  appointed  by  Governor 
Colquitt.  He  died  in  1882.  He  married  Miss  Louisa  H.  Webb 
and  of  their  children  R.  H.  is  secretary  of  the  Albany  Trust  Com- 

Warren,  Lott,  a scion  of  one  of  the  old 
and  honored  families  of  Georgia,  lent 
distinction  to  his  native  state  through  his 
able  services  as  a jurist,  a member  of 
Congress  and  a citizen  of  sterling  char- 
acter. He  was  born  in  Burke  county, 
Ga.,  Oct.  30,  1797,  his  ancestors  having- 
come  from  England  and  settled  in  Vir- 
ginia, whence  his  father,  Josiah  Warren, 
removed  to  North  Carolina,  from  which 
latter  state  he  came  to  Georgia.  The  early 
education  of  Lott  Warren  was  secured 
under  the  tutorage  of  several  private  in- 
structors, and  in  1816  he  became  a clerk  in  a retail  mercantile 
establishment  in  Dublin,  Laurens  county,  Ga.  Shortly  afterward 


pany  of  Georgia. 


528 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


he  was  drafted  into  the  state  militia,  for  service  in  the  Seminole 
war  and  was  elected  second  lieutenant  of  the  Laurens  company. 
He  served  with  distinction  during  the  campaign  and  on  his  dis- 
charge again  became  identified  with  business  affairs.  Having  long 
cherished  the  ambition  of  becoming  a lawyer,  he  applied  himself 
to  technical  study,  and  in  1820  entered  the  law  office  of  Daniel 
McNeil,  a prominent  lawyer  of  Dublin.  In  the  same  year  was 
solemnized  his  marriage  to  Miss  Jane  Desaubleaux,  daughter  of  a 
French  general  who  came  to  America  to  assist  the  colonies  in  their 
struggle  for  independence,  and  who  was  an  active  participant  in 
the  war  of  the  Revolution.  In  1821  young  Warren  was  admitted 
to  the  bar,  forthwith  opened  an  office  in  Dublin  and  entered  upon 
the  practice  of  the  profession  for  which  he  had  well  fortified  him- 
self. In  1825  he  removed  to  Marion,  Twiggs  county,  and  in  the 
following  year  received  from  Governor  Troup  appointment  to  the 
office  of  solicitor-general.  He  became  very  prominent  and  influ- 
ential in  the  legal  circles  of  the  state,  and  in  1830  was  elected  to 
the  state  senate.  In  the  same  year  he  was  elected  judge  of  the 
superior  court  of  the  southern  district  of  Georgia,  for  a term  of 
three  years.  In  1834  he  resumed  the  active  practice  of  law,  in 
Americus,  Sumter  county,  and  in  1838  he  was  elected  a representa- 
tive in  Congress,  being  chosen  as  his  own  successor  in  1840.  His 
career  in  Congress  was  distinguished  and  on  his  return  from  his 
service  in  the  national  capital  he  was  elected  to  the  bench  of  the 
superior  court  of  the  southwestern  district  of  the  state  in  1843, 
and  reelected  in  1847.  He  died  in  1861,  in  the  court  hotfse  at 
Albany,  while  defending  a client  charged  with  murder,  his  death 
being  the  result  of  a stroke  of  appoplexy. 

Warrenton,  the  county  seat  of  Warren  county,  is  located  on  a 
branch  of  the  Georgia  railroad  running  between  Augusta  and 
Macon  and  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1810. 
Its  population  by  the  census  of  1900  was  1,115  in  the  corporate 
limits  and  2,842  in  the  militia  district.  It  has  a court  house,  money 
order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  express  and  telegraph 
offices,  a bank,  and  several  very  prosperous  business  houses.  There 
are  neat  and  substantial  churches  and  a good  system  of  public 
schools. 

Warrior,  a post-hamlet  of  Worth  county,  is  on  a branch  of  Tyty 
creek,  about  five  miles  northwest  of  Omega,  which  is  the  most 
convenient  railroad  station. 

Warrior  Creek. — In  that  portion  of  Colquitt  county  formerly 
belonging  to  Thomas,  there  is  a shall  stream  known  as  Warrior 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


529 


creek.  After  the  battle  of  Chickasawhachee  (q.  v.)  one  of  the 
scattered  remnants  of  the  defeated  Creeks  passed  through  the 
northern  part  of  Thomas  county  in  the  effort  to  reach  Florida. 
Late  in  the  afternoon  of  July  12,  1836,  word  was  received  at 
Thomasville  that  the  band  had  that  day  been  seen  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Warrior  creek  swamp.  Early  the  next  morning  the 
Thomas  and  Lowndes  county  battalions,  under  the  command  of 
Major  Young,  set  out  in  pursuit.  On  the  14th  a small  party  of 
Indians  was  seen  about  a mile  and  a half  from  the  swamp  and 
headed  in  the  direction  of  Little  river.  That  evening  Young  was 
reinforced  by  the  companies  of  Captains  Sharpe  and  Tucker  and 
decided  to  attack  the  next  morning.  The  Indians  were  overtaken 
in  an  open  pine  woods  and  a charge  was  ordered.  The  Creeks 
were  panic-stricken  at  the  rush  and  fled  precipitately  in  all  direc- 
tions. The  main  body  was  pursued  for  about  three  miles,  killing 
several  as  they  retreated.  The  savages  numbered  about  70,  of 
whom  22  were  known  to  have  been  killed,  and  18  were  captured. 
The  whites  lost  two  men  killed  and  8 wounded. 

Warsaw,  a post-village  of  Milton  county,  with  a population  of 
52  in  1900,  is  on  the  Chattahoochee  river,  and  is  a trading  point  for 
the  southeast  portion  of  the  county.  Duluth  is  the  nearest  rail- 
road station. 

Warthen,  an  incorporated  town  of  Washington  county,  is  on  the 
Augusta  Southern  railroad,  ten  miles  northeast  of  Sandersville. 
The  population  in  1900  was  148.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice, 
with  rural  free  delivery,  telegraph  and  express  offices,  is  a trading 
point  for  a large  agricultural  district,  and  does  considerable  ship- 
ping. 

Warwick,  a village  of  Crisp  county,  is  on  the  Albany  Northern 
railroad,  ten  miles  southwest  of  Cordele.  It  has  a money  order 
postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  a telegraph  office,  some  mer- 
cantile establishments,  and  in  1900  had  a populatian  of  76. 

Washington,  the  county  seat  of  Wilkes  county,  was  incorporated 
by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1804,  but  was  founded  several  years 
previous  to  that  date  and  claims,  the  honor  of  being  the  first  place 
in  the  United  States  to  bear  the  name  of  the  immortal  Washing- 
ton. It  is  a terminus  of  a branch  of  the  Georgia  railroad.  Its 
incorporation  as  a city  dates  from  1899.  It  had  in  1900  a popula- 
tion of  3,300  in  the  corporate  limits  and  4,436  in  the  entire  district. 
It  has  a court  house  valued  at  $40,000,  three  banks,  between  thirty 
and  forty  prosperous  mercantile  establishments,  a postoffice  with 
rural  free  delivery,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a water  works 


34—111 


530 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


plant,  a cotton  seed  oil  mill,  a knitting  mill,  a wagon  and  carriage 
factory,  a public  cotton  gin,  and  good  schools  and  churches.  At 
Washington  was  held  the  last  cabinet  meeting  of  the  government 
of  the  Confederate  States  of  America. 

Washington  County  was  created  in  1784  and  named  in  honor  of 
George  Washington.  At  the  time  of  its  organization  it  included 
all  the  land  “from  the  Cherokee  corner  north,  extending  from  the 
Ogeechee  to  the  Oconee,  south  to  Liberty  county.”  In  1786  a por- 
tion of  it  was  added  to  Greene  county,  in  1793  a part  to  Hancock 
and  in  1807  and  1826  parts  were  added  to  Baldwin.  In  the  con- 
vention which  met  at  Augusta  in  January,  1788,  to  ratify  the  Fed- 
eral Constitution,  the  county  was  represented  by  Jared  Irwin  and 
John  Rutherford.  The  first  superior  court  within  her  borders  was 
held  in  May,  1787,  Judge  Henry  Osborne  presiding.  It  is  in  the 
central  part  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the  northeast  by  Glas- 
cock and  Jefferson  counties,  on  the  east  by  Jefferson,  on  the  south 
by  Johnson,  on  the  southwest  by  Wilkinson,  on  the  west  by  Wilk- 
inson and  Baldwin  and  on  the  northwest  by  Hancock.  The  Ogee- 
chee and  Oconee  rivers  flow  along  the  boundaries  and  many 
streams  cross  the  surface,  making  this  one  of  the  best  watered 
counties  in  the  state.  The  surface  is  level  or  gently  rolling,  and 
the  soil  is  fertile.  Cotton,  sugar-cane,  potatoes  and  all  the  cereals 
are  grown  and  the  native  grasses  afiford  excellent  pasturage  for 
cattle.  Timber  grows  along  the  streams  and  the  timber  products 
exported  are  considerable.  Many  factories  are  located  along  the 
Ogeechee  and  the  Oconee  rivers,  but  there  are  still  immense  water- 
powers  not  utilized.  The  minerals  of  the  county  include  potter’s 
clay,  sandstone,  buhrstone,  opals,  chalcedony  and  agate.  Sanders- 
ville  is  the  county  seat.  Tennille,  Warthen,  Davisboro  and  Riddle- 
ville  are  other  towns  of  importance.  The  population  of  the  county 
in  1900  was  28,227,  an  increase  of  2,900  since  1890.  Near  Sanders- 
ville  are  several  lime  sinks,  or  caves,  in  which  fossils  of  many  kinds 
are  found.  Being  so  near  to  the  Indian  lands,  the  early  settlers  of 
Washington  county  suffered  much  from  Indian  depredations. 

Waterfalls. — In  Georgia  there  are  several  noted  cataracts.  Those 
most  widely  known  are  the  Tallulah  falls,  in  Habersham  county; 
Amicalola  falls  in  Dawson  county;  the  Toccoa  falls  in  Stephens, 
and  the  falls  of  the  Towaliga  in  Monroe  county.  A description  of 
the  Tallulah  falls  is  given  in  connection  with  the  town  of  that 
name  and  the  others  are  described  in  the  sketches  of  the  counties 
in  which  they  are  located.  Another  picturesque  waterfall  is  that 
of  Cane  creek,  near  Dahlonega  in  Lumpkin  county,  where  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


531 


water  descends  in  a series  of  cascades  for  a distance  of  some  sev- 
enty-five feet  until  it  reaches  the  placid  bosom  of  the  stream 
below.  The  surrounding  scenery  is  of  a romantic  and  diversified 
character,  adding  to  the  beauty  of  the  falls,  the  whole  forming  a 
landscape  that  invites  the  brush  of  the  artist. 

Water-Power. — Georgia  is  well  provided  with  streams  that  fur- 
nish water-power  for  the  operation  of  mills  and  factories.  The 
state  geological  survey  a few  years  ago  issued  a bulletin  on  the 
subject  of  water-power,  in  which  the  total  horse-power  covered  by 
the  investigations  of  the  department  amounted  to  550,000,  of  which 
less  than  ten  per  cent,  was  at  that  time  utilized.  The  report  did 
not  include  all  the  streams  of  the  state,  as  the  survey  had  not  been 
completed  at  the  time  the  bulletin  was  published.  As  a rule  the 
largest  water-powers  are  at  or  just  above  the  fall  line,  which  runs 
from  Augusta  to  Columbus,  via  Macon,  but  there  is  scarcely  a 
stream  of  any  consequence  that  does  not  provide  fine  water-power 
at  some  point  along  its  course.  Some  of  the  streams  in  the  north- 
ern part  flow  into  the  Tennessee  river.  The  principal  of  these  are 
the  Chickamauga,  Toccoa,  Notely  and  Hiawassee  rivers,  and  Nick- 
ajack,  Lookout  and  Chattanooga  creeks.  All  these  and  some  of 
their  tributaries  furnish  water-power  at  various  places.  The 
waters  of  the  Coosa  and  its  affluents  find  their  way  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  through  the  Mobile  basin.  In  this  system  the  Oostanaula, 
Etowah,  Chattooga,  Tallapoosa,  Little  Tallapoosa,  Amicalola, 
Coosawattee  and  Cartecay  rivers,  and  many  of  the  larger  creeks 
furnish  abundant  power,  some  of  which  is  utilized  to  operate  saw 
and  grist  mills,  cotton,  woolen  and  furniture  factories,  and  a num- 
ber of  minor  establishments.  The  Chattahoochee  and  Flint  rivers 
are  the  main  arteries  of  the  Apalachicola  basin.  The  aggregate 
horse-power  of  these  two  streams  and  their  principal  tributaries 
runs  into  thousands.  At  Columbus  this  power  is  employed  to  a 
considerable  extent,  that  city  standing  second  only  to  Augusta 
as  a cotton  manufacturing  center.  Streams  of  the  Altamaha  basin 
are  also  rich  in  water-power,  that  of  the  Oconee,  Ocmulgee,  Apa- 
lachee, South,  Yellow  and  Towaliga  rivers  being  partially  devel- 
oped. The  largest  drainage  system  of  the  state,  and  the  richest  in 
water-powers,  is  that  of  the  Savannah  river.  According  to  the 
United  States  census  Richmond  county  has  a gross  horse-power 
of  over  50,000  from  the  Savannah  alone,  while  other  counties  in 
the  basin  are  amply  provided  with  water-power  by  the  Tallulah, 
Tugaloo  and  Broad  rivers  and  a number  of  large  creeks.  Rabun, 
Elbert,  Lincoln  and  Habersham  counties  are  particularly  fortunate 


532 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


in  this  respect,  and  the  towns  in  this  section  are  doubtless  destined 
to  become  important  manufacturing  centers  at  no  distant  period 
in  the  future.  In  all  the  lesser  drainage  systems,  viz.,  the  Ogee- 
chee,  the  Ocklockonee,  the  Suwannee,  the  Satilla  and  the  St.  Mary’s, 
there  is  more  or  less  water-power,  but  it  is  not  so  easily  utilized  as 
that  of  the  streams  farther  from  the  coast  where  there  is  a stronger 
current. 

Waterville,  a post-hamlet  of  Walker  county,  is  located  on  Cane 
creek,  about  six  miles  southeast  of  Lafayette.  Martindale  is  the 
nearest  railroad  station. 

Water  Witch. — In  the  spring  of  1864  Ossabaw  sound  was  guarded 
by  a single  Federal  vessel,  a side  wheel  steamer  called  the  Water 
Witch,  which  had  participated  in  the  Paraguay  war  of  1855  and  had 
acquired  considerable  notoriety  by  fighting  against  Commodore 
Hollins  in  the  Mississippi  passes  during  the  early  part  of  the  Civil 
war.  About  the  first  of  June  the  vessel  ascended  the  Little  Ogee- 
chee  river  and  on  the  night  of  the  3d  was  attacked  in  the  midst  of 
a thunder  storm  by  Lieut.  Thomas  P.  Pelot,  with  about  130 
men  in  seven  small  boats.  The  boarding  netting  was  cut  through, 
in  the  face  of  a gallant  fire  of  small  arms  from  the  steamer,  and 
after  a desperate  hand  to  hand  fight,  in  which  Lieutenant  Pelot 
was  killed,  the  vessel  surrendered,  being  afterward  added  to  the 
Confederate  navy. 

Watkins’  Ferry. — On  March  2,  1862,  Colonel  Reynolds,  by  order 
of  Gen.  Daniel  Leadbetter  of  the  Confederate  army,  burned  the 
bridges  over  Lookout  creek,  between  Trenton  and  Chattanooga, 
to  obstruct  the  advance  of  the  Federal  troops  under  General 
Mitchell.  Scouting  parties  of  the  contending  armies  met  at  Wat- 
kins’ Ferry  on  the  3d  and  a slight  skirmish  ensued,  but  without 
important  results  to  either  side. 

Watkinsville,  the  county  seat  of  Oconee  county,  was  incor- 
porated in  1806  and  was  long  the  county  seat  of  Clarke  county. 
At  the  organization  of  Oconee  county  it  retained  the  court  house 
with  the  same  relation  to  the  new  county  that  it  had  formerly  held 
to  Clarke.  It  is  located  on  the  Macon  & Northern  branch  of  the 
Central  of  Georgia  railway  within  a belt  of  red  lands  which  run 
across  the  county  from  the  upper  portion  of  Clarke  southward  into 
Morgan  county.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free 
delivery,  a bank,  several  commercial  establishments,  express  and 
telegraph  offices,  schools  and  churches,  etc.  The  population  in 
1900  was  351. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


533 


Watson,  a post-village  of  Cherokee  county,  is  about  seven  miles 
southeast  of  Canton,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station.  It  has 
some  local  trade  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  44. 

Watson,  Thomas  E.,  was  born  in  Columbia  county  Sept.  5,  1S56. 
After  attending  the  common  schools  of  his  neighborhood  and 
Mercer  university,  he  taught  school,  read  law  and  in  1875  was 
admitted  to  the  bar.  He  was  elected  to  the  legislature  in  1882 ; was 
chosen  Democratic  elector-at-large  for  the  state  in  1888,  and  was 
elected  to  Congress  in  1890,  as  a Populist.  While  in  Congress  he 
secured  the  first  appropriation  for  free  delivery  of  mails  in  farming 
districts.  He  was  nominated  for  vice-president  by  the  Populist 
convention  at  St.  Louis  in  1896 ; conducted  a Populist  paper  for  a 
time  at  Atlanta;  author  of  The  Story  of  France,  Life  of  Thomas 
Jefferson,  Life  of  Napoleon,  and  in  1905  founded  Tom  Watson’s 
Magazine. 

Watters,  John  H.,  assistant  master  me- 
chanic of  the  Georgia  railroad,  with  head- 
quarters in  the  city  of  Augusta,  is  a 
prominent  figure  in  railroad  circles  in  the 
South,  and  comes  of  distinguished  line- 
age, both  his  paternal  and  maternal  an- 
cestors having  early  established  homes  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  present  great 
American  republic.  He  was  born  in 
Rome,  Floyd  county,  Ga.,  Sept.  12,  1851, 
a son  of  Thomas  G.  and  Catherine  C. 
(Moore)  Watters,  the  former  born  in 
Oglethorpe  county,  Ga.,  Aug.  21,  ISIS, 
and  the  latter  in  Rome,  Aug.  18,  1828.  Thomas  Glascock  Watters 
was  named  in  honor  of  Colonel  Thomas  Glascock,  of  whom  indi- 
vidual mention  is  made  elsewhere  in  this  work.  The  father  of 
Thomas  G.  Watters  was  Joseph  Watters,  who  had  served  in  the 
command  of  Colonel  Glascock.  On  Jan.  27,  1818,  Joseph  Watters 
was  commissioned  captain  of  a company  of  militia,  by  Gov.  Will- 
iam Rabun,  of  Georgia,  and  later  he  held  various  offices  of  public 
trust,  having  been  sheriff  of  Floyd  county  several  years,  prior  to 
the  Civil  war,  and  afterward  served  eight  years  as  justice  of  the 
peace.  John  Moore,  great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
in  the  maternal  line,  took  up  his  residence  in  North  Carolina  in  the 
colonial  days,  having  come  to  America  from  Ireland.  He  was 
a patriot  soldier  of  the  continental  forces  in  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, in  which  he  attained  the  rank  of  major-general.  He  was  a 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


534 

member  of  the  fourth  house  of  commons  of  North  Carolina,  serv- 
ing from  1783  to  1794;  again  becoming  a member  in  1798,  and  served 
until  1809.  His  eldest  son,  William  Adair  Moore,  grandfather  of 
him  whose  name  initiates  this  sketch,  was  in  service  as  a soldier 
in  1818  and  also  in  1836.  He  married  Miss  Frances  Swanson 
Edmundson,  of  Jasper  county,  Ga.,  a representative  of  prominent 
families  of  the  state,  through  direct  and  collateral  lines,  including 
the  Moxeys,  Swansons  and  Buckinghams.  Gen.  John  Moore’s  wife 
was  a sister  of  Gen.  John  Adair,  who  Avas  the  first  governor  of 
Kentucky.  General  Moore  died  in  1836  and  was  buried  at  Goshen, 
N.  C.  John  H.  Watters  received  his  educational  training  at  Rome 
and  in  1868  became  identified  with  railroad  interests,  taking  a 
position  as  locomotive  fireman  on  the  Rome  railroad.  One  year 
later  he  took  a similar  position  on  the  Selma,  Rome  & Dalton  rail- 
road, now  a portion  of  the  Southern  railway  system,  running 
between  Rome  and  Selma,  and  was  promoted  locomotive  engineer 
in  1872,  thereafter  continuing  to  work  as  such  until  1886,  when  he 
was  made  master  mechanic  and  train  master  of  the  Anniston  & 
Atlantic  and  Anniston  & Cincinnati  railways,  which  was  shortly 
afterwards  made  a part  of  the  Louisville  & Nashville  system.  He 
served  in  this  dual  office,  with  headquarters  in  Anniston,  Ala.,  until 
Oct.  1,  1901,  when  he  located  in  Augusta  and  assumed  his  present 
office,  that  of  assistant  master  mechanic  of  the  Georgia  railroad. 
He  has  marked  mechanical  ability,  as  his  present  incumbency  im- 
plies, and  has  invented  several  different  styles  of  pneumatic  track- 
sanding  devices,  which  are  being  used  by  a large  number  of  rail- 
roads in  the  Union.  He  is  a member  of  the  Southern  & South- 
western railroad  club,  the  American  master  mechanics’  association 
and  the  American  railway  appliance  association,  and  is  also  affiliated 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  politics  he  gives  his  support  to  the 
Democratic  party,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  church.  On  Nov.  29,  1881,  Mr.  Watters  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Mamie  W.  Borders,  daughter  of  Samuel  K.  and 
Sarah  M.  (Williams)  Borders,  of  Ninetysix,  Greenwood  county, 
S.  C.  Her  mother  was  a relative  of  Col.  James  Williams,  who  was 
killed  in  the  battle  of  King's  Mountain.  Samuel  K.  Borders  was  a 
native  of  Georgia  and  was  educated  in  the  state  university.  He 
served  in  both  the  Mexican  and  Civil  wars  and  died,  at  Oxford, 
Ala.,  in  1880.  His  wife  still  survives  him.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watters 
have  no  children. 

Waverly,  a post-hamlet  of  Camden  county,  is  a station  on  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


535 


Seaboard  Air  Line  railway,  about  half-way  between  the  Satilla 
and  the  Little  Satilla  rivers. 

Waverly  Hall,  a town  in  the  eastern  part  of  Harris  county,  is  on 
the  Southern  railroad,  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  226.  It  has 
a money  order  postoffice,  from  which  several  rural  free  delivery 
routes  emanate,  telegraph  and  express  offices,  schools,  churches, 
etc.,  and  is  the  principal  trading  and  shipping  point  in  that  part 
of  the  county. 

Waycross,  the  county  seat  of  Ware  county  was  incorporated  by 
act  of  the  legislature  in  1874.  Three  main  divisions  of  the  Atlantic 
Coast  Line  center  at  Waycross,  where  they  form  a junction  with  a 
branch  of  the  Atlantic  & Birmingham  railroad.  This  rapidly  grow- 
ing city  has  a court  house  valued  at  $30,000,  a money  order  post- 
office  with  rural  free  delivery,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  two 
banks,  many  successful  commercial  establishments,  gas  and  water 
works,  an  electric  plant  for  lighting  and  for  street  railroad  power, 
shops  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  railway,  two  iron  manufactories, 
a sash,  door  and  blind  factory,  saw  mill  and  other  industries. 
There  is  a good  public  school  system,  including  an  academy,  seven 
churches  for  whites,  some  of  them  elegant  buildings,  and  nine  for 
colored  people.  The  population  of  W aycross  by  the  census  of 
1900  was  5,919. 

Wayne,  Anthony,  soldier,  was  born  on  Jan.  1,  1745,  at  Easttown, 
Pa.  He  received  an  academic  education,  followed  surveying  for 
a time  and  then  engaged  in  farming.  In  1774  he  was  elected  to  the 
colonial  legislature  as  a AVhig,  and  the  following  year  was  made 
a member  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.  AVhen  it  became  evident 
that  war  with  the  mother  country  was  inevitable  he  raised  a regi- 
ment, of  which  he  was  made  colonel  and  went  to  the  assistance  of 
the  army  in  the  north.  He  fought  at  Three  Rivers ; commanded  at 
Ticonderoga;  was  prominent  in  driving  the  British  from  New 
Jersey;  participated  in  the  battle  of  Brandywine;  led  the  assault 
at  AVarren  Tavern ; opened  the  battle  of  Monmouth  with  his 
brigade ; effected  the  capture  of  Stony  Point,  and  contributed 
largely  to  the  capture  of  Yorktown.  Toward  the  close  of  the  war 
he  took  part  in  the  military  operations  in  the  South  and  in  Decem- 
ber. 1782,  took  possession  of  Charleston.  After  the  war  he  settled 
in  Georgia ; was  a delegate  to  the  convention  that  framed  the  first 
state  constitution  after  the  independence  of  the  nation  was  estab- 
lished ; was  elected  to  Congress  in  1790,  but  his  seat  being  declared 
vacant,  owing  to  a contest  by  Janies  Jackson,  he  refused  to  become 
a candidate  in  the  special  election,  and  in  the  spring  of  1792  sue- 


536 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


ceeded  General  Iiarmar  as  general-in-chief  of  the  army.  For  the 
next  few  years  he  was  engaged  in  campaigns  against  the  Indians 
of  the  Northwest.  His  success,  where  it  looked  like  failure  was 
certain,  gave  him  the  sobriquet  of  “Mad  Anthony.”  He  died  on 
Dec.  15,  1796,  at  Presque  Isle,  (now  Erie)  Pa.,  but  in  1809  his 
remains  were  removed  to  Radnor,  in  his  native  county. 

Wayne  County  was  laid  out  under  the  lottery  act  of  1803  and  was 
organized  two  years  later.  It  was  named  in  honor  of  Gen.  Anthony 
Wayne.  Part  of  it  was  given  to  Camden  in  1805  and  parts  of  Cam- 
den were  added  to  it  in  1808  and  1812.  It  was  enlarged  by  the 
addition  of  a part  of  Glynn  in  1820  and  a part  was  added  to  Glynn  in 
1822.  It  lies  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  state  and  is  bounded 
on  the  northeast  by  Tatnall,  Liberty  and  McIntosh  counties,  on  the 
east  by  Glynn,  which  is  also  south  of  a small  portion  of  it,  on  the 
south  by  Camden,  Charlton  and  Pierce  and  on  the  west  by  Pierce 
and  Appling.  The  Satilla  and  Altamaha  rivers  drain  the  surface 
and  supply  an  abundance  of  fish.  The  soil  when  fertilized  produces 
sugar-cane,  potatoes,  rice,  corn,  a variety  of  vegetables,  melons  and 
long  staple  cotton.  Recently  there  have  been  a number  of  experi- 
ments conducted  in  the  production  of  sugar-cane,  cassava  and  fruits 
by  scientific  methods,  in  Wayne  county,  and  the  results  have  been 
gratifying  in  a high  degree.  Much  of  the  land  is  wild  and  affords 
fine  range  for  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs,  while  the  mild  winters  save  all 
expense  of  shelter.  The  county  is  traversed  by  the  Southern  rail- 
way, two  divisions  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line,  the  Atlantic  and 
Birmingham  and  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  touches  the  northeast  cor- 
ner. The  Satilla  and  Altamaha  rivers  furnish  water  transportation. 
The  forests  consist  chiefly  of  pine  and  cypress  timber  and  there  is 
a large  trade  in  turpentine,  rosin  and  lumber.  Jesup,  the  county 
seat,  is  near  the  center  and  is  an  important  railroad  town.  Other 
towns  are  Gardi,  Brentwood,  Lulaton,  Atkinson,  and  Mount 
Pleasant. 

Wayne,  James  Moore,  jurist  and  Congressman,  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Savannah  in  the  year  1790.  In  180S  he  was  graduated  at 
Princeton,  after  which  he  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1810.  Becoming  interested  in  politics  he  was  elected  represent- 
ative in  the  state  legislature,  and  in  1823  became  mayor  of  Savan- 
nah. Prom  1824  to  1828  he  served  as  judge  of  the  superior  court, 
resigning  his  place  on  the  bench  to  enter  Congress  as  a representa- 
tive, to  which  position  he  was  elected  in  1828.  He  was  twice 
reelected,  but  before  the  close  of  his  third  term  he  was  appointed 
associate  justice  of  the  United  States  supreme  court  by  President 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


537 


Jackson.  In  1849  the  degree  of  LL.D.  was  conferred  on  him  by 
his  alma  mater.  He  took  an  active  part  in  having  the  Indians 
placed  on  reservations,  was  a pronounced  free-trader,  and  was  par- 
ticularly noted  for  his  knowledge  of  maritime  and  admiralty  cases. 
He  died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  July  5,  1867. 

Waynesboro,  the  county  seat  of  Burke  county,  was  incorporated 
by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1803  and  in  1883  was  chartered  as  a 
city.  It  is  located  on  a branch  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway 
running  from  Millen  to  Augusta,  in  the  center  of  a fine  cotton  grow- 
ing section  and  does  a heavy  warehouse  and  shipping  business, 
besides  carrying  on  a considerable  trade  in  fertilizers.  It  has  a 
court  house,  money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  two 
banks,  telegraph  and  express  offices,  prosperous  commercial  estab- 
lishments, a cotton  and  oil  mill,  saw  and  planing  mill,  good  water, 
supplied  by  an  artesian  well  and  distributed  through  mains,  electric 
lights,  an  excellent  school  system,  an  academy  enjoying  an  envi- 
able reputation,  and  several  denominations  have  churches  in  the 
town.  The  population  by  the  census  of  1900  was  2,030. 

While  Sherman  was  on  his  march  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea  there 
were  some  sharp  combats  in  the  vicinity  of  Waynesboro.  On  Nov. 
27,  1864,  Kilpatrick  destroyed  a bridge  near  the  town  and  set  fire  to 
some  of  the  buildings,  but  Wheeler  with  his  cavalry  arrived  in  time 
to  extinguish  the  flames,  after  which  he  pushed  on  beyond  Waynes- 
boro and  attacked  Kilpatrick’s  barricaded  line,  while  Humes  and 
Anderson  struck  the  Federals  on  the  flank.  Kilpatrick  was  routed 
and  barely  escaped.  Later  he  was  again  defeated  in  a swamp  fight 
and  was  driven  across  Buckhead  Creek.  On  the  28th  Wheeler 
again  drove  him  from  his- position.  On  December  3rd,  Sherman 
sent  Kilpatrick’s  cavalry  and  Baird’s  division  of  infantry  again 
toward  Waynesboro.  Wheeler  threw  up  barricades  and,  though 
fighting  desperately,  was  pushed  back  to  the  town,  where  he  was 
so  pressed  by  the  heavy  odds  that  he  found  it  difficult  to  withdraw, 
but  a dashing  charge  of  his  Texas  and  Tennessee  horsemen  enabled 
him  to  retire  in  safety. 

Waynesville,  a town  on  the  southern  border  of  Wayne  county, 
is  connected  with  Brunswick  and  Waycross  by  a branch  of  the 
Atlantic  Coast  Line  railway.  It  had  in  1900  a population  of  300. 
It  has  telegraph  and  express  offices,  a money  order  postoffice  with 
rural  free  delivery,  several  stores,  manufactories  of  various  kinds, 
mostly  lumber  mills,  and  good  churches  and  schools. 

Wayside,  a village  of  Jones  county,  is  a station  on  the  Central 
of  Georgia  railroad,  about  seven  miles  north  of  Clinton.  It  has  a 


538 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  some  mercantile 
and  shipping  interests  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  105. 

Ways  Station,  a village  in  Bryan  county,  with  a population  of  131 
in  1900,  is  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railroad,  a little  west  of  the 
Ogeechee  river.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  telegraph  and  ex- 
press service,  and  is  the  principal  trading  and  shipping  point  in 
that  section  of  the  county. 

Webb,  a post-hamlet  of  Milton  county,  is  about  three  miles  north- 
east of  Alpharetta.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Roswell. 

Webster  County  was  laid  out  in  1853  and  named  Kinchafoonee 
county  (q.  v.).  In  1854  it  was  named  for  Daniel  Webster,  the  noted 
statesman  and  orator.  The  county  lies  in  the  southwestern  part 
of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Marion  and  Chatta- 
hoochee counties,  on  the  east  by  Marion  and  Sumter,  on  the  south 
by  Terrell  and  Randolph  and  on  the  west  by  Stewart.  The  sur- 
face is  level  and  the  land  well  watered.  The  staple  productions 
are  cotton,  sugar-cane,  potatoes,  peas  and  the  cereals.  The  fruits 
are  apples,  plums,  peaches  and  grapes.  Great  forests  of  pine, 
poplar,  ash,  birch,  sweet  and  black  gum,  hickory,  black-jack*, 
white  and  Spanish  oak  still  stand  and  the  annual  output  of  lumber 
is  immense.  The  streams  afford  water-power,  only  a part  of  which 
is  utilized.  Webster  county  has  few  minerals.  Iron,  clay,  lime- 
stone, mica  and  manganese  are  found  in  small  quantities,  but  none 
are  mined  or  quarried.  Preston  is  the  county  seat  and  Weston  is 
a thriving  town.  Two  branches  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railway 
traverse  the  county  and  provide  ample  facilities  for  transportation. 
The  population  in  1900  was  6,618,  an  increase  of  923  since  1890. 

Weed,  Joseph  Dunning,  was  born  in  Savannah,  Ga.,  March  15, 
1838,  and  lived  in  that  city  continuously  until  his  death  on  Feb. 
11,  1906.  He  was  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  J.  D.  Weed  & 
Co.,  one  of  the  oldest  mercantile  establishments  in  the  state, 
founded  by  Henry  D.  and  N.  B.  Weed,  father  and  uncle  of  Joseph 
D.  Weed.  Mr.  Weed  was  also  president  of  the  Savannah  Bank  and 
Trust  Company,  and  of  the  Augusta  & Savannah  railroad. 

Weigle,  John  M.,  city  assessor  of  Augusta,  and  one  of  Ihe  pro- 
gressive and  public-spirited  citizens  of  that  place,  where  the  major 
portion  of  his  life  has  been  passed,  and  from  which  he  went  forth 
to  do  valiant  service  as  a soldier  in  the  Confederate  lines,  is  a 
native  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  whe're  he  was  born  Feb.  20,  1842.  He 
is  a son  of  George  A.  and  Ellen  (Ssenger)  Weigle,  both  of  whom 
were  born  in  Germany,  their  marriage  being  solemnized  in  the  city 
of  Baltimore,  where  they  continued  to  reside  until  1847,  when  they 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


539 


removed  to  Augusta,  Ga.  The  father  was  a baker  by  trade  and 
vocation  and  was  long  connected  with  business  interests  of  Au- 
gusta, where  he  died  in  1888  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  His 

wife  died  in  1891  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
five.  They  are  survived  by  the  one  son 
and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom  reside 
in  Augusta.  John  M.  Weigle  attended 
the  schools  of  Augusta  until  he  had  at- 
tained the  age  of  thirteen  years,  when  he 
identified  himself  with  that  most  valuable 
and  practical  school  of  education,  the 
printing  business,  serving  a thorough  ap- 
prenticeship at  the  trade  and  being  con- 
cerned with  the  same,  in  various  capaci- 
ties, for  a period  of  forty  years.  Con- 
cerning his  military  cereer  the  follow- 
ing record  is  taken  from  the  Confederate  Military  History,  Volume 
VI,  published  in  1899:  “In  1861  he  was  an  employe  of  the  Augusta 
Chronicle,  whose  office  he  left  to  enter  the  Confederate  service, 
in  Company  I (Walker  light  infantry)  of  the  First  regiment  of 
Georgia  volunteers.  This  company,  together  with  the  Oglethorpe 
infantry,  had  become  a part  of  the  ante-bellum  Augusta  battalion, 
immediately  preceding  the  secession  of  Georgia,  and  its  members, 
as  well  as  those  of  the  Oglethorpe  infantry,  felt  themselves  highly 
honored  when,  on  March  18,  1861,  in  response  to  the  first  call  of 
Governor  Brown,  they  enrolled  their  names  for  service  anywhere 
the  government  might  wish  to  send  them.  Never  before  or  since 
has  the  city  of  Augusta  witnessed  such  an  outpouring  of  people  as 
when,  on  April  1,  1861,  the  Walker  light  infantry  and  Oglethorpe 
infantry  formed  at  the  lower  market  on  Broad  street  and  marched 
from  that  point  to  what  was  then  the  Waynesboro  depot  to  take 
the  train  for  Macon,  their  march  being  impeded  by  a crowd  so 
dense  that  they  could  hardly  make  their  way.  Mr.  Weigle  went 
as  a private  and  served  his  twelve  months’  term  faithfully  and 
gallantly,  participating  in  the  following  engagements,  under 
Generals  Garnett,  Lee,  Loring  and  Stonewall  Jackson:  Belington, 
Laurel  Hill,  Carrick’s  Ford,  Cheat  Mountain,  Greenbrier  River 
and  Bath,  Va.,  and  Hancock,  Mel.  After  being  mustered  out,  in 
Augusta,  March  18,  1862,  he  assisted  in  recruiting  a cavalry  com- 
pany, but  did  not  go  with  it  into  the  field.  In  1863  he  joined 
the  First  Augusta  battalion  of  tb.e  Georgia  reserves,  with  which 
organization  he  served  as  orderly  sergeant.  With  this  command 


540 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


he  took  part  in  the  following  combats : Griffin,  East  Macon  and 
Griswoldville,  Ga. ; Honey  Hill  and  Tullafinney  Creek,  S.  C.,  and 
served  in  the  outer  trenches  at  Savannah  until  the  evacuation  of 
the  city  by  Hardee.  Just  before  the  close  of  hostilities  he  was 
ordered  to  a place  near  Augusta  called  New  Savannah,  whence  the 
command  was  soon  afterward  ordered  to  Augusta  and  disbanded.” 
After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Weigle  continued  in  the  printing 
business  in  Augusta,  and  in  1877  he  founded  the  Augusta  Evening 
News,  continuing  its  publication,  in  the  capacity  of  business  man- 
ager, until  1889,  when  he  disposed  of  his  interests  in  the  enterprise. 
For  many  years  he  conducted  a job  printing  office,  finally  retir- 
ing entirely  from  the  business  in  1896.  He  is  a stalwart  in  the 
camp  of  the  Democracy  and  has  earnestly  supported  its  cause. 
In  1882  he  was  elected  a member  of  the  city  council,  and  served 
one  year;  in  1896  he  was  elected  assessor  of  the  city,  in  which 
capacity  he  has  since  continued  to  render  effective  service,  having 
been  twice  reelected,  without  opposition.  He  is  adjutant  of  C.  S. 
A.  Camp,  No.  435,  United  Confederate  Veterans,  and  he  and  his 
wife  are  prominent  and  zealous  members  of  St.  James  church, 
Methodist  Episcopal  South,  in  which  he  is  chairman  of  both  the 
board  of  stewards  and  the  board  of  trustees.  Through  the  efforts 
of  Mr.  Weigle  was  established  the  present  attractive  system  of 
parks  on  Greene  street,  Augusta,  and  he  raised  the  fund,  by 
popular  subscription,  by  means  of  which  was  erected  the  beautiful 
memorial  fountain  on  that  street,  dedicated  to  the  memory  of 
the  late  Alfred  Martin,  Jr.,  former  mayor  of  Augusta.  On  Dec. 
26,  1866,  Mr.  Weigle  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Emily  S. 
McCafferty,  of  Augusta,  and  of  their  children  six  are  living,  namely: 
James  Gardiner,  cashier  of  the  Augusta  savings  bank;  Mary  Ruth 
and  Marian  Eve,  at  the  parental  home;  Bertha  Emma,  wife  of 
Peter  J.  Nix,  manager  of  the  Augusta  telephone  system;  Nellie 
Edwards,  and  Leonard  Gibson. 

Weisman,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southeast  part  of  Screven  county, 
is  about  three  miles  from  the  Savannah  river  and  ten  miles  north- 
east of  Oliver,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Welch,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Towns  county, 
is  on  a branch  of  the  Notely  river,  not  far  from  the  North  Carolina 
line.  Culberson,  N.  C.,  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Wellborn,  Marshall  J.,  was  born  in  Putnam  county  in  the  year 
1808.  He  was  educated  as  a lawyer,  admitted  to  the  bar  and  soon 
won  an  honorable  standing  as  an  attorney.  Besides  filling  several 
minor  offices  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  superior  court,  and  in 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


541 


1848  was  elected  to  the  lower  house  of  Congress  as  a Democrat. 
He  died  at  Columbus  in  October,  1874. 

Wells,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southern  part  of  Murray  county,  is 
on  a branch  of  the  Coosawattee  river,  and  is  about  twelve  miles  east 
of  Tilton,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Wells,  James  T.,  engaged  in  the  cotton  factorage  and  fertilizer 
business  at  Savannah,  was  born  in  that  city,  Dec.  29,  1859,  a son  of 
James  T.  and  Sophia  M.  (Sweat)  Wells,  both  native  of  Okatie, 
Beaufort  county,  S.  C.,  where  the  former  was  born  April  15,  1829, 
and  the  latter  Sept.  11,  1831.  The  Wells  family  is  of  English 
origin  and  was  early  founded  in  South  Carolina.  In  the  maternal 
line  Mr.  Wells  is  descended  from  English  and  Swedish  ancestry. 
His  maternal  great-grandfather.  Rev.  James  Sweat,  was  in  the  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Francis  Marion  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution  and 
served  under  General  Pulaski  in  the  battle  of  Savannah.  James 
T.  Wells,  Sr.,  was  a soldier  of  the  Confederacy  during  the  Civil 
war.  On  May  31,  1861,  he  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  A, 
Savannah  Volunteer  Guards,  and  in  the  spring  of  the  following 
year,  when  the  Tattnall  Guards  were  organized  he  joined  the  same, 
which  became  Company  G,  of  the  First  Georgia  volunteer  infantry. 
The  command  served  for  a time  at  Fort  Wagner,  in  Charleston 
harbor,  and  later  joined  the  army  of  Tennessee,  being  with  the 
same  from  the  time  of  the  retreat  from  Dalton  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  surrendering,  with  Johnston,  at  Greensboro,  N.  C., 
in  April,  1865.  Mr.  Wells  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Lost  Moun- 
tain, Ivenesaw  Mountain,  New  Hope  church,  Peachtree  Creek, 
Atlanta,  Jonesboro,  Allatoona  and  Bentonville,  besides  many  minor 
engagements.  He  is  now  deceased  but  his  widow  still  survives 
making  her  home  with  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  James  T.  Wells, 
whose  name  heads  this  article  secured  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  Savannah,  which  city  has  been  his  home  throughout  life.  He 
held  the  position  of  inspector  of  naval  stores  for  a period  of  twenty- 
three  years,  and  since  1902  he  has  been  successfully  established  in 
business  as  a cotton  factor  and  dealer  in  fertilizers.  In  politics  he 
is  a stanch  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  both  he  and 
his  ■wife  are  prominent  and  zealous  members  of  the  First  Baptist 
church,  of  which  he  is  a deacon.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  the  Royal  Arcanum.  On  Nov.  26,  1884,  he  married 
Miss  Mattie  Blair  Keller,  daughter  of  George  A.  and  Martha  J. 
(Weisenbaker)  Keller,  of  Chatham  county,  and  they  have  ten 
children,  namely:  George  Keller,  Mattie  Ruby,  Kate  Miriam, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


512 

Sophia  May,  James  T.,  Jr.,  William  Duncan,  Effie  Clair,  Thomas 
Shipman,  Hugh  Gordon,  and  Margaret  Virginia. 

Wellston,  a village  in  Houston  county,  with  a population  of  63, 
in  1900,  is  a station  on  the  Georgia  Southern  & Florida  railroad. 
It  has  telegraph  and  express  offices,  some  mercantile  and  shipping 
interests,  and  a money  order  postoffice,  which  supplies  mail  to  the 
surrounding  country  through  the  medium  of  free  delivery  routes. 

Wenona,  a little  village  of  Crisp  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Georgia  Southern  & Florida  railroad,  five  miles  south  of  Cordele. 
It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  express 
and  telegraph  service,  and  some  mercantile  and  shipping  interests. 

Wereat,  John,  was  born  about  1730,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest 
and  most  enthusiastic  supporters  of  the  colonial  cause  in  the 
troubles  that  preceded  the  Revolution.  He  was  a member  of  the 
first  Provincial  Congress  of  Georgia ; was  speaker  of  that  body  in 
1776  ; as  president  of  the  executive  council  he  discharged  the  duties 
of  governor  from  Dec.  29,  1778,  to  Nov.  4,  1779  ; was  made  chief 
justice  in  1781 ; rvas  a member  of  the  commission  to  treat  with  the 
governor  of  Florida  regarding  the  boundary  question  in  1783 ; 
was  president  of  the  convention  that  ratified  the  constitution  of 
the  United  States;  played  a prominent  part  in  relieving  the  want 
of  the  people  living  west  of  Augusta  in  1782,  and  was  generally 
recognized  as  one  of  the  most  useful  men  of  his  day  and  generation. 
He  died  in  Bryan  county  in  1798. 

Wesley,  Charles,  a younger  brother  and  co-worker  of  John  Wes- 
ley, was  educated  at  Oxford,  came  to  America  in  the  early  part  of 
the  year  1736,  and  was  made  chaplain  to  General  Oglethorpe  and 
secretary  of  Indian  affairs.  In  December,  1736,  he  returned  to 
England,  where  his  health  failed  and  although  he  wanted  to  come 
back  to  Georgia  and  resume  his  duties  there  he  was  forbidden  to 
do  so  by  his  physicians.  Whitefield  gives  Charles  Wesley  the 
credit  of  being  the  first  to  propose  the  orphan  house  established  at 
Bethesda. 

Wesley,  John,  clergyman  and  evangelist,  was  born  at  Epworth, 
Lincolnshire,  England,  June  17,  1703,  and  was  the  fifteenth  in  a 
family  of  nineteen  children.  At  the  age  of  eleven  years  he  secured 
admission  to  the  Charter  house  in  London,  through  the  influence 
of  the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  and  there  received  his  early  education. 
In  1720  he  entered  Christ  Church  college,  Oxford,  studied  for  the 
ministry  and  was  ordained  deacon  in  the  Established  church  in 
1725.  The  following  year  he  won  a fellowship  at  Lincoln  college 
and  in  1728  was  admitted  to  priest’s  orders.  In  1735,  when  only 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


543 


thirty-two  years  old,  he  was  sent  to  Georgia  as  a missionary  to 
the  Indians,  but  on  the  passage  he  met  some  Moravians  who 
changed  his  course  and  he  began  preaching  at  Savannah  soon  after 
his  arrival.  His  religion  was  of  too  strict  a sort  to  suit  the  people 
there  and  his  unpopularity  was  increased  by  an  unfortunate  affair 
with  a Miss  Hopkins.  At  first  Wesley  showed  her  marked  atten- 
tion, but  upon  the  advice  of  the  Moravian  bishop  discontinued  her 
acquaintance.  Soon  after  this  she  married  a man  named  William- 
son and  deported  herself  in  such  a way  that  Wesley  denied  her  the 
sacrament  of  the  communion.  For  this  she  had  Wesley  indicted 
by  a grand  jury,  but  before  the  case  was  brought  to  trial,  Wesley, 
after  waiting,  returned  to  England  and  the  matter  was  dropped. 
Wesley  continued  in  the  ministry  for  over  sixty  years.  His  death 
occurred  on  March  4,  1791. 

Wesleyan  Female  College. — In  this  institution  Georgia  claims 
to  have  the  first  school  in  the  world  that  was  chartered  for  the  ex- 
press purpose  of  conferring  degrees  on  women.  As  early  as  1825 
Duncan  G.  Campbell  introduced  a bill  in  the  general  assembly  “to 
established  a public  seat  of  learning  in  the  state  for  the  education 
of  females.”  It  passed  the  house  but  was  defeated  in  the  senate. 
Ten  years  were  then  spent  by  the  advocates  of  the  measure  in 
awakening  public  sentiment  in  favor  of  it.  Pursuant  to  the  sug- 
gestions advanced  by  Mr.  Campbell’s  bill,  the  citizens  of  Macon 
started  a movement  for  the  establishment  of  a female  seminary 
there.  When  the  Georgia  Methodist  conference  met  at  Macon 
in  1835  the  question  was  presented  to  that  body,  which  agreed 
to  lend  its  aid  to  the  undertaking.  A site  was  selected  and  $9,00U 
subscribed  toward  the  erection  of  buildings  for  a college.  As  an 
outgrowth  of  this  action  the  legislature  on  Dec.  10,  1836,  passed 
a bill  granting  a charter  to  the  “Georgia  Female  College.”  The 
buildings,  costing  $85,000,  were  erected  by  popular  subscription, 
Methodist  ministers  acting  as  agents  for  the  collection  of  the  nec- 
essary funds,  and  on  Jan.  7,  1839,  the  college  was  formally  opened 
with  instructors  in  all  the  departments.  The  first  class  of  eleven 
was  graduated  in  1840.  Since  that  time  nearly  2,000  young  women 
have  received  degrees  from  this  well  known  school.  In  1850  the 
name  was  changed  to  Wesleyan  female  college.  Within  recent 
years  the  school  has  received  several  large  donations,  the  principal 
one  being  that  of  George  I.  Seney,  of  New  York,  who,  at  different 
times,  has  given  $125,000.  The  college  has  a large  attendance, 
residents  of  every  Southern  state  being  enrolled  among  its  students. 


544 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Weslosky,  Morris,  president  of  the 
First  and  the  Third  National  banks  of 
Albany,  Dougherty  county,  and  known  as 
one  of  the  representative  citizens  of  that 
section  of  the  state,  is  a native  of  Georgia 
and  has  here  passed  his  entire  life.  He  is 
a son  of  Charles  and  Johanna  Weslosky, 
both  of  whom  were  born  in  Prussia,  Ger- 
many, while  they  took  up  their  residence 
in  Georgia  in  the  days  before  the  Civil 
war,  in  which  the  father  rendered  loyal 
service  as  a soldier  of  the  Confederate 
army.  Morris  Weslosky  was  born  in 
Riddleville,  Washington  county,  Ga.,  Jan.  1,  1860,  and  his  earlier 
educational  training  was  secured  in  the  cities  of  Savannah  and 
Albany,  supplemented  by  study  in  the  University  of  Georgia,  at 
Athens.  He  has  been  identified  with  business  interests  in  Albany 
since  1885  and  has  here  risen  to  marked  prominence  aand  influ- 
ence as  a financier  and  as  a citizen  of  sterling  worth.  He  gives 
much  of  his  time  and  attention  to  the  executive  duties  devolving 
upon  him  as  president  of  the  First  National  and  the  Third  National 
banks,  both  solid  and  ably  conducted  institutions,  and  has  other 
interests  of  importance  here  and  elsewhere  in  the  state.  His 
political  faith  is  evinced  in  the  unqualified  support  which  he  ac- 
cords to  the  Democratic  party,  but  his  active  career  has  been 
given  unreservedly  to  business,  so  that  he  has  never  had  aught  of 
ambition  for  political  office.  In  September,  1882,  Mr.  Weslosky 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Julia  Simmons,  and  they  have 
four  daughters,  namely:  Jeannette,  Retta,  Amy,  and  Blanche. 

West,  Andrew  J.,  has  been  prominently  identified  with  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  Atlanta  for  two  score  years  and  is  now  one  of 
the  leading  real-estate  dealers  of  the  capital  city.  He  was  born  in 
Monroe  county,  Ga.,  May  27,  1844,  a son  of  James  F.  and  Anne 
Elizabeth  (Butts)  West.  His  maternal  great-grandfather,  Samuel 
Butts,  was  a soldier  in  the  Continental  line  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution.  Butts  county  was  named  in  his  honor.  Capt,  Henry 
Butts,  his  grandfather,  was  also  a prominent  and  influential  citizen 
of  Georgia.  James  F.  West  served  in  the  Indian  war  of  1836,  and 
later  went  to  Mexico,  where  he  was  murdered,  his  remains  being 
buried  in  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz.  Andrew  West,  grandfather  of 
the  subject  of  this  review,  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Mon- 
roe county,  Ga.,  and  thus  the  lineage  on  both  sides  is  of  one  of 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


545 


distinction  in  connection  with  the  annals  of  this  commonwealth. 
Andrew  J.  West  was  afforded  the  advantages  of  the  country- 
schools  in  his  native  county,  and  supplemented  this  by  study  in 

private  schools  in  LaGrange.  Concern- 
ing his  gallant  career  as  a soldier  of  the 
Confederacy,  the  following  data  are 
copied  from  the  Confederate  Military 
History,  published  in  1899 : “When  the 
South  engaged  in  the  great  struggle  for 
separate  independence  his  youthful  ardor 
carried  him  to  the  field  before  he  was 
sixteen  years  of  age  and  caused  him  to 
volunteer  in  the  Troup  County  Light 
- Guards,  Company  E,  Forty-first  regi- 
ment, Georgia  infantry.  With  this 
command  he  served  in  the  Western 
army  of  the  Confederacy  from  Shilo  to  Tupelo,  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Murfreesboro,  Chicka- 
mauga,  Missionary  Ridge,  the  Hundred  Days’  battles  from 
Dalton  to  Atlanta,  then  under  Hood  and  later  under  John- 
ston in  the  campaign  of  the  Carolinas,  which  terminated 
with  the  surrender  at  Durham’s  Station,  near  Greensboro,  N.  C. 
He  was  twice  wounded,  once  severely  at  Perryville.  He  rose  to 
the  rank  of  captain  and  was  commissioned  as  such  under  an  act  of 
the  Confederate  congress.  When  the  war  ended  he  made  his  home 
in  Atlanta  and  established  a large  grocery  business,  under  the  firm 
name  of  West  & Edwards,  which  collapsed  during  the  panic  of 
1873.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  an  extensive  real- 
estate  business.  He  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  Fulton 
Blues,  of  which  he  was  for  several  years  captain.  While  General 
Gordon  was  governor  he  appointed  Captain  West  upon  his  per- 
sonal staff,  and  under  succeeding  governors  he  has  served  twenty 
years  as  quartermaster-general.  He  has  been  commander  of  Camp 
No.  159,  United  Confederate  Veterans,  adjutant-general  of  the 
Georgia  division  by  appointment  of  General  Evans,  and  since  the 
election  at  Savannah,  in  1899,  has  been  one  of  the  four  brigadier- 
generals  of  the  Georgia  division.  He  was  commissioner  from  Geor- 
gia to  the  Columbian  Exposition  at  Chicago,  in  1893,  and  to  the 
Mexican  Exposition  held  in  the  city  of  Mexico  in  1896,  and  was 
invited  by  the  citizens  of  Chicago  to  the  ceremonies  attending  the 
unveiling  of  the  Cenfederate  monument  in  Oakwood  cemetery  of 
that  city  in  1894.  At  the  inauguration  of  President  McKinley  he, 


35— III 


54G 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


by  special  invitation,  acted  as  aide  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Horace 
Porter.  Mr.  West  also  acted  as  grand  marshall  on  the  occasion  of 
the  peace  jubilee  held  in  Atlanta  at  the  close  of  the  Spanish-Ameri- 
can  war.  He  was  the  first  to  agitate  the  matter  of  establishing 
a grand  national  military  park  in  the  vicinity  of  Atlanta,  and  has 
taken  great  interest  in  every  movement  tending  to  promote  a better 
feeling  between  the  North  and  South.”  From  another  publication 
is  taken  the  following  estimate  of  the  life  and  character  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  : “Few  Georgians  are  more  widely  known 

throughout  the  state  than  Gen.  Andrew  J.  West,  of  Atlanta,  and  the 
reputation  which  he  has  so  justly  won  at  home,  for  public  spirit, 
patriotism,  unselfish  devotion  to'  his  commonwealth,  together  with 
his  brilliant  talents  and  lofty  character,  cannot  fail  to  attract  atten- 
tion beyond  our  borders.  Indeed,  this  is  already  measurably  true. 
In  some  of  the  highest  circles  at  the  national  capital  and  in  the 
great  centers  of  the  continent  General  West’s  name  is  by  no  means 
unfamiliar.”  The  general  is  a stanch  Democrat  in  his  political 
proclivities,  but  has  never  cared  to  project  himself  into  the  arena 
of  so-called  practical  politics.  He  is  a Knight  Templar  Mason, 
a member  of  the  Ancient  Arabic  Order,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine,  and  is  identified  with  the  Piedmont  Driving  club,  of  At- 
lanta. He  and  his  wife  are  prominent  members  of  the  First  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  South,  in  which  he  is  a steward.  He  has 
been  twice  married— first  to  Miss  Eugenia  Tompkins,  who  died  in 
1885.  His  present  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Eva  M.  Morgan, 
is  a daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  John  H.  Morgan,  a distinguished 
physician  and  surgeon  of  Knoxville,  Tenn.  Of  the  five  children 
of  General  West  three  are  living,  namely:  H.  F.,  Eugenia  E.,  and 
Clifford.  The  two  deceased  are  Geraldine  and  Andrew. 

West,  James,  for  many  years  prominently  identified  with  the 
industrial  and  political  life  of  Georgia,  was  born  in  Lenoir  county, 
N.  C.,  Jan.  18,  1811,  of  English  and  Scotch  lineage.  Some  of  his 
ancestors  served  in  the  colonial  and  Indian  wars,  as  well  as  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  several  representatives  of  the  family  were 
in  the  Confederate  service  in  the  war  between  the  states.  About 
the  year  1830  James  West  came  to  Georgia,  and  on  June  8,  1837, 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Hunter,  a daughter  of 
Hardy  H.  Hunter,  of  Fort  Valley.  She  was  born  in  Screven 
county,  Ga.,  Aug.  18,  1815.  In  1857  Mr.  West  was  elected  to  the 
state  senate  from  the  district  comprising  Lowndes  and  Thomas 
counties  and  during  his  term  he  introduced  and  aided  in  the 
passage  of  the  bill  to  create  the  county  of  Brooks  from  the  counties 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


547 


of  Lowndes  and  Thomas.  Through  his  influence  the  county  was 
named  in  honor  of  Preston  S.  Brooks,  who  was  at  that  time  a 
distinguished  member  of  Congress  from  South  Carolina,  and  he 

named  the  county  seat  Quitman,  in  honor 
of  Gen.  John  A.  Quitman,  a gallant 
soldier  in  the  Mexican  war.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  state  militia  in  the  Civil 
war  and  his  eldest  son,  Hardy  H.,  was 
killed  in  one  of  the  battles  near  Rich- 
mond, while  fighting  in  the  Confederate 
army.  James  West  continued  to  live  in 
Brooks  county  until  1863,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Madison  county,  Fla.,  and  set- 
tled near  the  AVithlacoochee  river,  where 
he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
was  an  excellent  farmer  and  adopted 
many  new  methods  in  advance  of  his  time.  By  his  progressive 
ideas  on  agriculture  and  his  indomitable  energy  amassed  a fortune 
as  a farmer,  but  it  was  swept  away  by  the  Civil  war.  He  was 
noted  for  his  kindness  and  hospitality,  and  especially  for  his 
humane  treatment  of  his  slaves,  to  whom  he  gave  many  holidays 
not  accorded  to  them  by  other  slaveholders.  In  all  respects  he  was 
a true  and  typical  Southern  gentleman,  a Democrat  in  his  political 
convictions,  an  active  and  appreciative  member  of  the  time  honored 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  generous  to  a fault.  Although  his  opportun- 
ities to  acquire  an  education  in  his  youth  were  limited,  he  left  an 
impress  for  good  upon  the  people  in  the  communities  where  he 
lived,  as  his  influence  was  always  exerted  for  the  moral  and  physi- 
cal uplifting  of  his  fellow-men.  His  death  occurred  at  his  home 
in  Madison  county,  Fla.,  Sept.  2,  1880.  His  wife  died  on  Oct.  29, 
1888.  Twelve  children  were  born  to  them,  the  names  and  dates  of 
birth  being  as  follows:  Sarah  E.,  May  30,  1838;  Martha  A.,  Dec. 

14,  1839;  Mary  J.,  Dec.  4,  1841 ; Hardy  J.,  Aug.  23,  1843;  Laura  F., 
March  11,  1845;  Leonora  J.,  July  6,  1847;  William  S.,  Aug.  23, 
1849;  Abram  H.,  April  13,  1851:  John  W.,  Feb.  5,  1853;  Robert  A., 
Feb.  23,  1855  ; Eugene  E.,  July  1,  1S57 ; Orena  I.,  Nov.  21,  1861.  Of 
these  children  six  are  still  living.  The  four  surviving  brothers  are 
especially  mentioned  in  the  succeeding  paragraphs,  and  the  record 
of  the  others  is  as  follows : Sarah  E.  married  Dr.  J.  P.  Y.  Higdon 
on  June  17,  1858,  and  he  died  on  Oct.  1,  1895;  Martha  A.  was 
married  to  Col.  W.  L.  Irvine  on  Dec.  12,  1877,  and  died  on  Nov. 
1,  1888;  Mary  J.  was  married  to  A.  H.  Lane  on  May  1,  1866,  and 


548 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


is  now  living  in  V aldosta ; Hardy  J.  was  killed  in  battle  on  May  28, 
1S64,  as  above  mentioned ; Laura  F.  was  married  to  J.  T.  Peacock 
on  Dec.  18,  1862,  and  is  now  living  in  Valdosta ; Leonora  J.  died 
in  May,  1857;  Robert  A.  died  in  January,  1858;  Orena  I.  was 
married  to  J.  P.  Coffee  on  Nov.  23,  1881,  and  died  June  1,  1887. 
She  was  the  mother  of  three  children,  viz. : Mamie  Sue,  born  March 
21,  1883;  Lizzie  Lee,  born  Jan.  26,  1885,  and  Mattie  Orena,  born 
May  29,  18S7.  The  last  named  died  on  Oct.  6,  1887. 

West,  William  Stanley,  the  oldest  sur- 
viving son  of  James  and  Mary  A.  West, 
is  a representative  member  of  the  Lown- 
des county  bar,  with  residence  and  office 
in  4 be  city  of  Valdosta,  and  is  president 
of  the  Georgia  state  senate.  He  was 
born  in  Marion  county,  Ga.,  Aug.  23, 
1849,  was  educated  in  Mercer  university, 
where  he  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts,  subsequently  receiving 
the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from  the 
same  institution,  completing  his  educa- 
tion when  he  was  about  thirty-three  years 
of  age.  While  a student  in  the  university  he  was  honored  with 
the  presidency  of  the  Ciceronian  literary  society  and  was  anniver- 
sarian  of  that  society  in  1880,  a fact  that  evinces  his  standing  as  a 
student  and  his  popularity  with  his  class-mates.  In  the  earlier 
portion  of  his  business  life  he  was  engaged  in  teaching,  continuing 
in  this  occupation  for  some  time  after  leaving  college.  He  was  then 
identified  with  saw-mill  and  lumbering  interests,  as  well  as  some 
other  enterprises,  after  which  he  graduated  in  the  law  department 
of  Mercer  university  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  upon  completing 
his  course.  He  located  in  Valdosta,  where  he  soon  demonstrated 
his  capabilities  as  an  attorney  and  counselor  at  law,  and  won  a 
high  standing  at  the  bar.  Mr.  West  has  always  taken  a keen 
interest  in  public  affairs,  and  has  been  for  years  recognized  as  one 
of  the  active  Democratic  workers  in  south  Georgia.  From  1892 
to  1897  he  served  as  a member  of  the  lower  house  of  the  state 
legislature,  and  in  1898-99  was  a member  of  the  state  senate.  In 
1900  he  declined  a return  to  the  lower  house,  but  was  elected  to 
that  body  in  1902  and  served  until  1904.  In  1905-06  he  was  again 
returned  to  the  state  senate,  without  opposition,  and  was  honored 
by  being  elected  president  of  that  body.  When  he  first  entered 
the  legislature  in  1892  he  introduced  the  bill  providing  for  a uni- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


549 


form  system  of  text-books  in  the  common  schools  of  the  state, 
which  he  regards  as  one  of  the  most  important  measures  he  ever 
championed.  While  he  continued  to  introduce  this  bill  at  each 
successive  term  of  the  legislature  it  was  opposed  with  such  stub- 
bornness at  each  session  that  it  did  not  finally  pass  both  houses 
until  1903.  lie  also  introduced  the  bill  looking  to  the  erection  of 
a new  passenger  station  for  the  Western  & Atlantic  railroad  in 
Atlanta.  This  measure  he  regarded  as  important  for  the  preser- 
vation of  one  of  the  state’s  most  consequential  properties,  and 
while  it  passed  the  senate  it  was  defeated  in  the  house  after  a 
long  and  spirited  contest.  Mr.  West  thinks  the  defeat  of  this 
measure  was  an  irreparable  loss  to  the  state.  He  took  great 
interest  in  the  bill  to  establish  an  agricultural,  industrial  and  nor- 
mal college  in  south  Georgia,  which  bill  passed  the  senate  in  1905 
and  the  house  in  1906.  Another  measure  in  which  he  took  an 
active  interest  was  the  bill  looking  to  the  leasing  of  the  Western 
& Atlantic  railroad  for  a term  of  sixty  years,  at  not  less  than 
$60,000  per  month,  after  the  expiration  of  the  present  lease.  This 
bill  passed  the  senate  in  1906,  but  failed  to  pass  the  house.  Through 
its  failure  he  thinks  the  state  will  ultimately  suffer  a great  loss  in 
its  revenues.  Besides  the  acts  referred  to  directly,  he  was  also 
active  in  the  support  of,  and  influential  in  shaping  much  of  the 
important  legislation  during  his  long  service  of  thirteen  years  in 
the  general  assembly.  His  record  as  president  of  the  senate  is 
shown  by  the  following  extract  from  a letter  written  to  him  by 
one  of  his  colleagues:  “A  word  of  our  senate  work.  No  senate 

has  of  my  life  experience  done  so  much  with  no  serious  friction,  as 
that  over  which  you  presided.  I will  write  what  I would  hardly 
say  in  words  to  you,  that  you  presided  with  marked  and  unexcelled, 
if  ever  equaled,  ability,  dignity  and  impartiality  over  a Georgia 
senate  that  acted  on  more  important  and  far-reaching  legislation 
than  any  senate  since  1870-72.  You  made  a record  that  will  be  an 
honor  to  you,  your  great  boy,  your  splendid  wife,  and  our  family 
and  people.  This  I say  with  careful  measure  of  each  word.  You 
have  nothing  to  regret.  You  can  rest  assured  in  the  full  recogni- 
tion of  our  superb  administration  by  the  people  of  today  as  well 
as  those  of  tomorrow.”  At  the  close  of  the  session  of  1906  Presi- 
dent W est  was  presented  with  a handsome  loving  cup  by  the 
senate,  and  in  the  course  of  the  presentation  speech  it  was  stated 
that  he  had  been  fair,  impartial,  honest,  fearless  and  competent, 
and  that  the  senate  had  made  no  mistake  in  electing  its  presiding 
officer.  The  cup  is  twelve  inches  high  and  five  inches  in  diameter, 


550 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


and  bears  the  inscription  : “W.  S.  West,  President  of  the  Senate  of 
Georgia,  from  the  members  of  the  session  of  1905-1906.”  During 
his  college  days  Mr.  West  became  a member  of  one  of  the  Greek  let- 
ter fraternities ; he  is  a member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks,  and  while  connected  with  the  lumber  industry 
joined  the  Concatenated  Order  of  Hoo  Hoos.  In  all  these  organ- 
izations he  has  maintained  a popularity  based  on  his  sterling 
qualifications  as  a man  and  his  general  good  fellowship.  On  Nov. 
15,  1888,  Mr.  West  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ora  Lee  Cran- 
ford, daughter  of  John  L.  and  Jane  (Baird)  Cranford,  originally 
of  Pike  county,  Ga.  To  this  union  has  been  born  one  son,  William 
S.,  Jr.,  born  on  April  1,  1902. 

West,  Abram  Hunter,  another  son  of 
James  and  Mary  A.  West,  was  born  on  a 
plantation  in  Marion  county,  Ga.,  April 
13,  1851.  He  was  afforded  the  advan- 
tages of  good  schools  in  Quitman  and 
Talbotton,  Ga.,  and  Lookout  Mountain, 
Tenn.  From  his  youth  to  the  present 
time  he  has  been  identified  with  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  He  now  maintains  his 
home  in  the  city  of  Jacksonville,  Fla., 
though  he  still  holds  valuable  interests 
in  his  native  state.  Besides  his  planta- 
tion interests  he  has  been  successfully 
engaged  in  merchandising,  lumbering,  the  manufacture  of  turpen- 
tine, and  as  an  extensive  dealer  in  real  estate,  to  which  line  of 
enterprise  he  still  gives  his  attention.  In  politics  he  is  an  un- 
swerving Democrat  and  has  always  manifested  a keen  interest 
in  all  questions  touching  the  welfare  of  the  community.  He  is  a 
Royal  Arch  Mason,  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  On  April  27, 
1904,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Helene  Adale  Hudnall, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Rosalie  V.  (Hartley)  Hudnall,  of  Man- 
darin, Fla. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


551 


West,  John  W.,  son  of  James  and  Mary 
A.  West,  was  born  on  Feb.  5,  1853,  in 
that  part  of  Lowndes  county  now  in- 
cluded in  Brooks  county.  He  received 
a good  practical  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  at  an  early  age  engaged  in 
business  for  himself.  By  his  innate  hon- 
esty and  his  upright  dealings  with  his 
fellow-men  he  has  amassed  a fortune. 
Mindful  of  the  struggles  of  his  youth  he 
has  aided  a number  of  worthy  but  poor 
young  men  to  start  in  business  by  loan- 
ing them  money  on  the  most  favorable 
terms,  or  by  taking  them  in  with  him.  With  his  brothers  he  is 
largely  interested  in  various  enterprises  in  Georgia,  Florida, 
Tennessee  and  Texas.  He  believes  in  patronizing  home  indus- 
tries and  is  ever  ready  to  exert  his  influence  for  the  upbuilding  of 
southern  institutions  and  industries.  In  1S93  he  married  Miss 
Jeannette  B.  Kelly,  of  North  Carolina,  and  they  have  two  children 
living:  Mary  N.  and  Tames  W. — and  two  dead— John  Walter  and 
Walton  Kelly. 


West,  Eugene  E.,  the  youngest  surviv- 
ing son  of  James  and  Mai'y  A.  West,  is 
a well  known  resident  of  Jacksonville, 
Fla.  He  was  born  in  Brooks  county, 
Ga.,  July  1,  1857.  His  education  was 
obtained  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
state  and  in  early  manhood  he  became 
associated  with  his  brothers  in  various 
business  enterprises,  the  association  in 
many  lines  still  continuing.  On  Feb. 
28,  1889,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Louise 
Frances  Brady,  a daughter  of  John  W. 
and  Louisa  A.  (Lourcey)  Brady,  who 
lived  near  St.  Augustine,  Fla.  To  this  union  have  been  born  the 
following  children,  together  with  the  dates  of  birth : Edgar  E., 
Oct.  16,  1890;  Joseph  Hunter,  Feb.  12,  1892;  Ethel  Orena,  July  12, 
1894;  Ella  Louise,  April  2,  1896;  Lois  Evelyn,  June  18,  1903.  Ethel 
Orena  died  on  Sept.  5,  1895,  and  Ella  Louise  on  Nov.  3,  1902. 
The  other  children  are  still  living.  Mr.  West  is  a member  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks ; the  Travelers  Protective 
Association ; the  Concatenated  Order  of  Hoo  Hoos ; the  Seminole 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


00v 


club,  of  Jacksonville,  and  the  Osceola  club,  of  St.  Augustine,  Fla. 
In  politics  he  is  a stanch  Democrat,  but  has  never  sought  nor  held 
office.  He  has  been  in  politics  solely  for  the  best  interests  of  his 
state  and  county  ever  since  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  has 
always  done  his  part  in  securing  the  election  of  good  men  to 
office. 

The  sons  of  James  and  Mary  A.  West  are  fortunate  in  the  fact 
that  they  had  a father  who  taught  them  that  truth  and  honesty, 
as  well  as  energy  and  industry,  is  the  road  to  success.  From  their 
worthy  mother  the  boys  learned  politeness  and  kindness,  and 
grew  up  with  an  affectionate  regard  for  each  other.  In  boyhood 
they  became  known  as  the  ‘West  Brothers,”  and  while  they  are 
not  always  associated  in  business  they  have  never  forgotten  the 
precepts  of  their  honored  parents.  If  trouble  assails  one  of  these 
brothers  the  others  are  ready  and  willing  to  fly  to  his  relief.  In 
periods  of  industrial  depression,  in  seasons  of  financial  panics  that 
sometimes  prevail,  they  practically  hold  their  interests  in  common, 
although  each  may  be  conducting  an  individual  enterprise.  Their 
early  lives  were  passed  during  the  dark  days  of  the  Civil  war  and 
the  troublous  times  that  followed  it.  Their  father’s  fortune  had 
been  engulfed  in  the  great  internecine  strife  and  they  began  the 
battle  of  life  barehanded.  Industry,  frugality  and  honesty  con- 
stituted their  only  capital,  but  this  capital  has  been  amply  increased 
through  exemplary  lives  and  correct  habits.  William  S.  secured 
a university  education  mainly  through  his  own  efforts,  but  the 
other  brothers  obtained  only  a fair  education,  not  having  the 
necessary  means  to  attend  college,  and  preferring  to  engage  in 
business  while  young.  Solomon  wrote : “Seest  thou  a man  diligent 
in  business ; he  shall  stand  before  kings,  he  shall  not  stand  before 
mean  men.”  This  aphorism  would  certainly  apply  to  the  gentle- 
men whose  names  are  included  in  this  article.  All  are  Democrats 
in  their  political  views  and  during  the  reconstruction  era  that  fol- 
lowed the  war  between  the  states  each  one  did  what  he  could  to 
rid  the  South  of  the  obnoxious  governments  foisted  upon  the 
states  by  the  national  administration.  In  the  West  family  may 
be  found  an  example  worthy  of  the  highest  emulation.  Patriotic 
and  law  abiding,  they  have  ever  been  active  in  the  promotion  of 
men  and  measures  best  calculated  to  subserve  the  public  weal 
intensely  loyal  to  each  other,  they  have  been  successful  through 
their  mutual  interest  and  their  readiness  to  assist  one  another 
when  assistance  was  needed ; having  learned  by  experience  the 
struggles  incident  to  poverty,  they  have  always  been  ready  to 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


553 


extend  a helping  hand  to  any  worthy  man  who  might  be  flounder- 
ing in  the  slough  of  adversity ; imbued  with  the  teaching  of  their 
mother,  they  have  been  generous  contributors  to  meritorious 
charities,  and  true  to  the  memory  of  their  honored  father  they  have 
kept  the  name  of  West  free  from  any  stain. 

West,  John  T.,  of  Thomson,  is  one  of  the  prominent  lawyers 
and  honored  citizens  of  McDuffie  county  and  a representative  of 
old  and  distinguished  families  of  Georgia.-  He  was  born  in  what 
is  now  McDuffie  county,  then  a portion  of  Columbia,  Feb.  28, 
1859,  a son  of  Rev.  Thomas  B.  and  Mildred  O.  West,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  Wilkes  and  the  latter  in  Polk  county,  Ga. 
The  founders  of  the  West  family  in  Georgia  came  from  the  state 
of  Virginia,  in  the  later  years  of  the  eighteenth  century.  John  W. 
Butler,  great-grandfather  of  Mr.  West  in  the  paternal  line,  took 
up  his  residence  in  Georgia  in  1784,  as  did  also  his  father,  Edward 
Butler,  and  became  a very  successful  planter,  his  old  homestead 
being  still  owned  and  occupied  by  his  descendants.  Rev.  John  Q. 
West,  grandfather  of  John  T.,  was  one  of  the  pioneer  clergymen 
of  the  Baptist  church  in  Georgia,  being  a man  of  high  intellectual 
gifts  and  strong  personality  and  gaining  recognition  as  one  of  the 
most  eloquent  and  powerful  pulpit  orators  of  his  day.  Rev.  Thomas 
B.  West  was  also  a distinguished  clergyman  of  the  Baptist  church, 
his  life  being  consecrated  to  his  high  calling,  and  he  held  the  affec- 
tionate regard  of  all  who  came  within  the  sphere  of  his  influence. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  died  in  McDuffie  county,  the  former  in  1898 
and  the  latter  in  1904.  John  T.  West  was  graduated  at  Mercer 
university,  Macon,  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1881,  receiving  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  He  began  the  study  of  law  at  home, 
later  continued  his  technical  reading  under  the  preceptorship  of 
his  uncle,  Maj.  Joseph  A.  Blance,  of  Cedartown,  Polk  county,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1884.  He  forthwith  opened  an  office 
in  Thomson,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  general  prac- 
tice qf  his  profession  and  where  he  retains  a large  and  representa- 
tive clientage.  He  has  never  been  a seeker  of  public  office,  but  has 
given  close  attention  to  the  work  of  his  profession.  He  also  has 
large  farming  and  orchard  interests,  having  been  the  pioneer  of 
commercial  peach  growing  in  McDuffie  county,  the  industry  now 
being  one  of  no  inconsiderable  scope  and  importance  in  this  sec- 
tion. He  has  always  manifested  a loyal  and  active  interest  in  the 
public  and  civic  affairs  of  his  county  and  city,  and  is  a stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  cause  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  was  one  of  the 
incorporators  of  the  Bank  of  Thomson,  the  first  to  be  organized 


554 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


in  the  county,  is  still  one  of  its  directors  and  its  attorney.  He  is 
affiliated  with  the  local  lodge  and  chapter  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 
In  1884  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Laura  F.  Hawes, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Ellington  C.  and  Amanda  O.  (Wilson)  Hawes,  of 
McDuffie  county.  The  children  of  this  marriage  are  John  Quinn, 
Ava  Butler  and  Roger  Hawes. 

Westbrook’s. — O'n  Oct.  2,  1864,  a detachment  of  the  Twentieth 
corps  of  the  Federal  army  halted  near  Westbrook’s  place,  not  far 
from  Fairburn,  and  General  Ransom,  commanding  the  detachment, 
sent  Potts’  brigade  down  the  railroad  toward  the  town.  After 
proceeding  a short  distance  Colonel  Potts  encountered  a force  of 
some  500  Confederate  infantry,  supported  by  a battery  of  artillery, 
and  a sharp  skirmish  ensued.  General  Iverson  coming  to  the 
relief  of  the  Confederates,  Potts  fell  back  and  reported  a strong 
force  of  the  enemy  in  front,  whereupon  the  entire  Federal  detach- 
ment retired  to  Camp  Creek. 

Westlake,  a post-village  in  the  southwest  corner  of  Twiggs 
county,  is  located  on  the  Southern  railroad  and  on  the  Ocmulgee 
river,  which  gives  it  excellent  shipping  facilities.  The  population 
in  1900  was  64. 

Weston,  a town  in  the  Western  part  of  Webster  county,  was 
known  in  the  early  days  of  its  existence  as  “Hard  Money.”  It 
was  incorporated  under  its  present  name,  in  honor  of  a prominent 
citizen  of  that  section,  by  act  of  the  legislature  on  March  6,  1856. 
It  is  located  on  the  Albany  and  Columbus  division  of  the  Seaboard 
Air  Line  railway  system,  about  six  miles  south  of  Richland,  and 
in  1900  had  a population  of  273.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice, 
express  and  telegraph  offices,  and  is  the  principal  trading  and 
shipping  point  for  the  southwestern  portion  of  the  county. 

Westmoreland,  John  Willis,  M.  D.,  a prominent  and  successful 
physician  and  surgeon  of  the  city  of  Atlanta,  is  a member  of  a 
family  which  was  early  established  in  Georgia.  Three  brothers 
of  the  name  came  from  England  to  America  in  the  colonial  era 
of  national  history,  and  the  branch  of  which  Doctor  Westmore- 
land is  sprung  was  founded  in  central  Georgia  by  one  of  these 
brothers.  The  doctor  was  born  in  Henry  county,  Ga.,  May  18,  1855. 
a son  of  Mark  Wade  and  Louisa  (Whitsel)  Westmoreland,  both 
of  whom  were  likewise  born  and  reared  in  Georgia,  which  the 
father  honored  by  his  loyal  services  as  a soldier  of  the  Confederacy 
during  the  Civil  war.  Doctor  Westmoreland  was  afforded  the 
advantages  of  the  schools  of  Henry  and  Cobb  counties,  and  his 
professional  course  was  taken  in  the  Atlanta  medical  college,  in 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


555 


which  he  was  graduated  in  the  Centennial  year,  1876,  receiving  his 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  on  March  4th,  of  that  year.  He 
was  engaged  in  practice  in  Douglas,  Coffee  county,  for  a few  years 
and  then  removed  to  Atlanta,  where  he  has  met  with  marked 
success  in  the  work  of  his  profession.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Georgia  State  medical  association,  is  identified  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  his  political  allegiance  is  given  to  the  Democracy. 
On  Sept.  5,  1880,  Doctor  Westmoreland  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Mattie  E.  Edge,  who  died  in  1892.  In  1895  he  married 
Miss  Helen  B.  Bumpstead,  daughter  of  A.  Bumpstead,  a resident 
of  Massachusetts,  and  they  have  one  son,  John  Willis,  Jr. 

West  Point,  a thriving  town  of  Troup  county,  on  the  Atlanta  & 
West  Point  railroad,  87  miles  from  Atlanta,  had  in  1900  a popula- 
tion of  1,797  within  its  corporate  limits,  and  3,086  in  the  district. 
It  has  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  telegraph 
and  express  offices,  a bank,  a cotton  oil  mill,  a brick  plant,  a 
tannery,  an  iron  foundry,  machine  shops,  three  cotton  mills,  with 
an  aggregate  of  1,180  looms  and  44,000  spindles,  manufacturing 
duck,  sateens,  sheetings,  drills  and  osnaburgs.  This  city  owns 
its  water  works  and  electric  light  plant,  and  has  an  excellent  public 
school  system,  and  is  well  supplied  with  churches.  Not  far  from 
the  town  is  a pecan  grove  of  about  1,000  trees.  The  mercantile 
establishments  do  a thriving  business  and  have  well  stocked,  sub- 
stantial stores. 

Whaley,  a post-village  of  Hancock  county,  with  a population  of 
66  in  1900,  is  five  miles  northwest  of  Mayfield,  which  is  the  nearest 
railroad  station,  and  is  the  chief  trading  center  in  that  part  of  the 
county. 

Wheat. — The  southern  boundary  of  the  Georgia  rvheat  belt  is 
approximately  marked  by  a line  drawn  from  Columbus  on  the 
west,  through  Macon  and  Warrenton,  to  the  Savannah  river  a 
short  distance  above  Augusta.  In  all  the  counties  north  of  this 
line  wheat  is  raised  to  some  extent,  the  largest  yield  reported 
being  sixty-five  bushels  to  the  acre.  Before  the  days  of  cheap 
transportation  from  the  great  wheat  fields  of  the  northwest  wheat- 
raising was  a profitable  occupation  in  Georgia  and  the  flour  mills 
did  a good  business.  But  with  the  construction  of  the  great  trunk 
lines  of  railway  the  Georgia  wheat-grower  found  it  difficult  to 
compete  with  the  western  producer  and  turned  his  attention  to 
other  crops  that  promised  better  returns.  For  some  time  only 
enough  was  produced  to  supply  home  demands  of  the  farmei. 
The  over-production  of  cotton  in  the  early  90’s,  and  the  consequent 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


55  6 

low  prices  for  that  staple,  caused  the  farmers  to  again  turn  to 
wheat  as  a paying  crop.  Since  then  the  production  of  this  cereal 
has  been  gradually  increasing  and  an  analysis  of  the  grain  shows 
that  the  wheat  grown  in  the  valleys  of  North  Georgia  is  equal  in 
quality  to  any  in  the  United  States.  According  to  reports  of  the  state 
department  of  agriculture  the  crop  of  1890  was  1,096,312  bushels, 
grown  on  196,633  acres.  In  1900  this  had  increased  to  550,674 
acres  and  5,011,133  bushels,  valued  at  $4,760,576,  over  500,000 
bushels  being  shipped  from  the  counties  where  they  were  grown. 
Some  farmers  sow  wheat  as  a forage  crop  in  preference  to  oats  or 
rye  for  that  purpose. 

In  1897  a wheat  growers’  association  was  formed  and  at  the 
third  annual  convention,  held  at  the  city  of  Macon  on  July  11,  1900, 
prizes  were  awarded  for  the  best  yields.  The  first  prize  was  won 
by  W.  J.  Bridges, -of  Spalding  county,  who  reported  65  bushels  to 
the  acre  on  a field  of  four  acres,  and  nearly  45  to  the  acre  on  a 
field  of  sixteen  acres.  Other  farmers  reported  yields  ranging  from 
19  to  60  bushels,  the  average  showing  about  39  bushels  to  the 
acre  from  five  counties  in  Middle  and  Northern  Georgia.  Under 
the  influence  of  this  association  the  development  of  the  wheat 
growing  industry  has  made  satisfactory  progress  and  a number 
of  mills  that  had  shut  down  have  been  rebuilt,  or  reopened,  and 
are  paying  good  dividends  to  their  owners. 

Wheat  Growers’  Association. — See  Wheat. 

Wheeler,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Gordon 
county,  is  about  twelve  miles  due  east  of  Resaca,  which  is  the 
most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Wheeler’s  Cavalry  Raid. — Immediately  after  the  great  victories 
gained  by  Wheeler’s  cavalry  corps  over  the  Federals  under  McCook 
and  Stoneman  in  the  early  part  of  August,  1864,  Wheeler  received 
instructions  to  move  upon  the  Federal  communications  and  de- 
stroy them  at  various  points  between  Marietta  and  Chattanooga, 
after  which  he  was  to  cross  the  Tennessee  river  and  break  the  lines 
of  the  two  railroads  running  to  Nashville.  Flere  he  was  to  leave 
1,200  men  to  operate  on  those  roads,  again  strike  the  railroad  south 
of  Chattanooga  and  then  rejoin  the  army.  Wheeler  started  on 
August  10th  with  4,000  troops,  tore  up  the  railroad  above  Marietta, 
next  near  Cassville  and  then  near  Calhoun,  at  which  last  named 
place  Hannon’s  brigade  captured  1,700  beef  cattle,  a number  of 
prisoners,  wagons  and  horses,  and  though  pursued  by  a large  force 
of  Federal  cavalry,  returned  with  his  rich  spoils  in  safety  to  Hood’s 
army.  On  the  14th  Hume’s  and  Kelly’s  commands  attacked  and 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


557 


captured  Dalton  with  a large  amount  of  stores  and  government 
property.  South  of  the  town  a blockhouse  and  water  tank  were 
destroyed  and  the  railroad  track  was  torn  up  for  a considerable 
distance.  On  the  following  day  Wheeler  repulsed  an  attack  by 
Federal  infantry  and  cavalry  under  General  Steedman,  Williams’ 
brigade  destroyed  the  railroad  at  different  points  between  Tunnel 
Hill  and  Graysville,  and  the  enemy  were  kept  from  making  any 
repairs  until  the  20th,  when  Wheeler  with  his  main  force  pushed 
on  into  Tennessee,  going  above  Knoxville  and  almost  to  Nash- 
ville, repulsing  attacks  at  various  points  by  the  forces  under  Rous- 
seau, Steedman,  Croxton  and  Granger,  capturing  depots,  burning 
trains  and  stores  of  supplies,  destroying  bridges  and  so  thoroughly 
wrecking  the  Nashville  & Decatur  railroad  that  it  was  not  com- 
pletely repaired  until  after  the  close  of  the  war.  Wheeler’s  entire 
loss  during  the  expedition  was  150  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 

Whiddon,  Howard  P.,  the  efficient  and 
popular  cashier  of  the  Merchants’  bank, 
of  McRae,  Telfair  county,  was  born  on 
his  father’s  plantation,  in  Johnson  count}-, 
Ga.,  Sept.  27,  1874.  He  is  a son  of  Will- 
iam B.  and  Annie  E.  Whiddon,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  Greene  count}, 
Ga.,  Sept.  9,  1849,  and  the  latter  in  John- 
son county,  March  2,  1849.  William  B. 
Whiddon  enlisted  in  the  Confederate 
army  when  the  last  call  for  volunteers 
was  issued  and  continued  in  service  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  secured  his  early  educational  discipline  at  Eastman,  Dodge 
county,  but  did  not  complete  his  course,  as  his  father  met  with  an 
accident,  being  killed  in  the  cyclone  that  swept  Lumber  City 
March  21,  1888,  and  Howard  P.  was  called  home  to  assist  in 
caring  for  the  farm  and  business.  Two  years  later  he  secured 
employment  in  a drug  store  at  Eastman,  being  identified  with  this 
business  five  years  and  then  became  bookkeeper  in  the  bank  at 
Eastman.  In  1901  he  located  in  McRae,  being  then  elected  cashier 
of  the  Merchants’  bank,  and  has  since  remained  the  incumbent  of 
this  responsible  office.  He  is  one  of  the  popular  business  men  of 
the  town,  is  an  uncompromising  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party  and  is  at  the  present  time  a member  of  the 
board  of  aldermen  of  McRae.  He  is  a member  of  McRae  lodge 
No.  104,  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  which  he  is  at  present  the  chan- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


558 

cellor  commander,  and  is  also  affiliated  with  Ocmulgee  Tribe, 
No.  D,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men.  On  Dec.  6,  1905,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Annie  Cheatham,  daughter  of  John  W. 
and  Leanora  Mississippi  Cheatham,  of  Wadley,  Ga. 

Whigham,  a town  in  Grady  county,  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line 
railway,  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1896.  Its 
population  by  the  census  of  1900  was  392.  It  has  a bank,  a money 
order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  express  and  telegraph 
offices,  stores,  schools,  churches  and  some  manufactories,  chiefly 
of  pine  products. 

Whip,  a post-hamlet  of  Murray  county,  is  in  the  valley  of  the 
Connesauga  river,  near  the  North  Carolina  line.  The  nearest  rail- 
road station  is  Redclay. 

Whitaker,  George  A.,  one  of  the  representative  attorneys  and 
counselors  at  law  in  the  city  of  Valdosta,  was  born  in  Jefferson 
county,  Fla.,  July  10,  1857.  His  parents,  John  Hudson  and  Eliza- 
beth (Johnson)  Whitaker,  were  both  natives  of  Georgia,  the  former 
having  been  born  in  Washington  county  in  September,  1823,  and  the 
latter  in  Early  county.  The  Whitaker  family  came  originally  from 
Ireland  though  several  generations  have  been  residents  of  Georgia. 
The  paternal  grandfather  was  a native  of  Washington  county,  and 
his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Marguerite  Young,  was  a half- 
sister  of  Gen.  Thomas  Pinckney  Smith.  The  maternal  grandfather 
of  George  A.  Whitaker  is  buried  at  Indian  Springs  church,  Leon 
county,  Fla.  John  Pludson  Whitaker  was  a private  in  the  artillery 
under  Captains  Gamble  and  Dyke,  in  the  Confederate  war,  and 
served  for  four  years.  Before  his  enlistment  he  was  a farmer  in 
Jefferson  and  Leon  counties,  Fla.  He  died  in  July,  1902.  George 
A.  Whitaker  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Leon  county, 
Fla.,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  began  life  for  himself  as  a 
farm  hand.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  came  to  Georgia  and 
for  some  time  taught  school  in  the  rural  districts.  He  then  located 
at  Georgetown,  Quitman  county,  where  for  three  years  he  clerked 
in  a store.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the 
superior  court  and  was  twice  reelected  without  opposition.  While 
holding  this  office  he  read  law  and  toward  the  close  of  his  last 
term  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  resigned  his  office  as  clerk 
about  two  months  before  the  expiration  of  his  term  to  engage  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  but  was  elected  to  fill  an  unexpired 
term  as  ordinary  of  Quitman  county,  without  opposition.  Mr. 
Whitaker  is  an  ardent  Democrat  in  his  political  views  and  his 
elections  to  the  offices  mentioned  were  as  a representative  of  that 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


559 


party.  In  religious  matters  he  is  a Methodist.  He  is  well  known 
in  fraternal  circles,  being  a member  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  Lodge, 
No.  184,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  at  Valdosta;  is  also  a Royal 
Arch  Mason ; a Knight  of  Honor,  and  a member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  is  the  present  worshipful  master  of 
his  Masonic  Lodge,  having  passed  through  the  chairs,  and  is  popu- 
lar in  all  his  lodges  because  of  his  genial  disposition  and  general 
good  fellowship.  Mr.  Whitaker  is  a fine  type  of  a self-made  man. 
He  earned  the  money  to  editcate  himself,  gained  his  legal  educa- 
tion without  taking  a course  in  any  law  school,  yet  he  has  a large 
and  lucrative  practice  and  has  won  a high  standing  at  the  bar 
because  of  his  earnest  and  dignified  manner  toward  his  professional 
brethren.  Nov.  3,  1881,  witnessed  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Whitaker  to 
Miss  Jessie  Pittman,  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Fannie  (Dozier)  Pitt- 
man of  Quitman  county.  Her  father  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg,  while  serving  as  a soldier  in  the  Confederate  army. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitaker  have  four  children  living,  viz. : Louise, 
born  in  September,  1882;  William  B.,  born  in  April,  1890;  Eugene 
H.,  born  in  August,  1893,  and  Jessie  Pittman,  born  in  September, 
1896.  One  son  died  in  his  fourth  year,  and  one  daughter  at  the 

Whitaker,  James  M.,  M.  D.,  assistant 
superintendent  of  the  Georgia  state  sani- 
tarium, at  Milledgeville,  is  one  of  the 
representative  members  of  his  profession 
in  the  state,  as  his  position  implies.  He 
was  born  on  a plantation  in  Baldwin 
county,  Ga.,  Oct.  11,  1845,  a son  of  Sam- 
uel E.  and  Susan  C.  (Murph)  Whitaker, 
the  former  born  in  Washington  county, 
Ga.,  April  25,  1817,  and  the  latter  in 
Baldwin  county,  March  20,  1823.  The 
father,  whose  life  vocation  was  that  of 
farming,  died  June  29,  1887.  He  was  a 
son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Canty)  Whitaker,  the  former  born  in 
1787  and  the  latter  in  1790.  The  mother  of  Doctor  Whitaker  died 
March  23,  1849,  when  he  was  but  four  years  of  age ; she  was  a 
daughter  of  George  and  Mary  (Marshall)  Murph.  Doctor  Whita- 
ker attended  a preparatory  school  at  Midway,  Baldwin  county, 
and  in  the  same  place  he  was  a student  in  Oglethorpe  university 
prior  to  and  during  the  first  of  the  Civil  war.  In  July,  1863,  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  years,  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service,  be- 


age  of  fourteen  years. 


5G0 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


coming  a sergeant  in  the  command  known  as  the  Terrell  artillery, 
of  which  he  continued  a member  until  the  close  of  the  war.  On 
Dec.  11,  1864,  during  the  siege  of  Savannah,  he  was  wounded. 
When  the  Federal  troops  entered  the  city  he  was  in  the  hospital, 
where  he  was  captured  on  the  21st  of  the  same  month,  and  held  as 
a prisoner  of  war  until  May  10,  1865,  when  he  was  paroled,  at 
Savannah.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  resumed  his  educational 
work,  as  a student  in  a school  at  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  conducted  by 
Hon.  Allen  D.  Candler,  later  governor  of  the  state.  He  decided 
to  fit  himself  for  the  medical  profession  and  finally  entered  the 
medical  department  of  the  University  of  Georgia  at  Augusta, 
where  he  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine, 
as  a member  of  the  class  of  1870.  Thereafter  he  was  engaged  in 
the  general  practice  of  his  profession,  in  Baldwin,  Hancock  and 
Washington  counties,  until  March,  1S79,  when  he  became  assistant 
surgeon  in  the  Georgia  state  sanitarium,  of  which  he  has  been 
assistant  superintendent  for  the  past  twenty  years,  rendering  most 
effective  service  professionally  and  as  an  executive  officer.  He  is 
president  of  the  medical  society  of  the  Georgia  state  sanitarium 
and  is  a member  of  the  Medical  Association  of  Georgia.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  allegiance,  is  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  South,  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity. On  Dec.  18,  1873,  Doctor  Whitaker  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Mamie  Ella  Leonard,  near  Marianna,  Jackson  county, 
Fla.  She  was  born  in  Russell  county,  Ala.,  Dec.  27,  1853,  and  was 
a resident  of  Florida  prior  to  her  marriage.  She  died  Jan.  25,  1893, 
survived  by  four  children:  Jessie  Davis  is  now  the  wife  of  Rev. 
James  A.  Ansley,  Jr.,  a clergyman  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  church, 
now  residing  at  Americus,  Ga. ; Samuel  Leonard,  is  a pharmacist 
by  profession  and  resides  in  the  city  of  Atlanta ; Susan  Victoria  is 
the  wife  of  Lieut. -Col.  A.  H.  Marchant,  a member  of  the  military 
staff  of  Governor  Terrell;  and  Miss  Marie  Murph  Whitaker  re- 
mains with  her  father. 

White,  a post-hamlet  of  Bartow  county,  is  near  the  base  of  Pine 
Log  mountain,  about  seven  miles  northeast  of  Cass  Station  on 
the  Western  & Atlantic  railroad. 

White  County  is  located  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  state 
and  is  one  of  the  smallest  counties  of  Georgia,  having  an  area  of 
243  square  miles.  It  was  created  in  1857,  from  territory  taken 
from  the  counties  of  Lumpkin  and  Habersham,  and  is  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Towns  county,  on  the  east  by  Habersham,  on  the 
south  by  Hall,  on  the  west  by  Lumpkin  and  on  the  northwest  by 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


561 


"Union.  For  more  than  three-quarters  of  a century  White  county 
has  been  one  of  the  principal  mining  districts  of  Georgia.  In  the 
early  part  of  the  ninteenth  century  a tradition  became  prevalent 
among  the  settlers  along  the  frontier  of  the  Cherokee  country 
that  the  Indians  knew  of  the  existence  of  gold  in  that  section, 
that  they  had  sometimes  used  it  for  bullets,  but  that  they  were 
forbidden  by  the  laws  of  their  tribe  from  making  its  whereabouts 
known  to  the  whites  under  penalty  of  death.  In  October,  1828, 
.a  negro  slave  found  some  grains  of  gold  in  the  sands  of  Bear 
Creek,  in  what  is  rfow  White  county.  The  amount  was  so  insig- 
nificant, however,  that  but  little  attention  was  paid  to  the  discovery 
until  the  same  negro  found  in  the  sands  of  the  Nacoochee  river  a 
nugget  worth  several  hundred  dollars.  Immediately  the  excitement 
•spread  and  numerous  gold  seekers  started  for  the  new  El  Dorado. 
The  government  sent  troops  to  prevent  an  intrusion  upon  the  lands 
■of  the  Cherokees,  but  the  number  of  the  adventurers  increased 
-so  rapidly  that  all  efforts  of  the  military  were  without  avail.  Soon 
after  the  discovery  of  the  nugget  on  the  Nacoochee,  gold  was  found 
■on  the  Chestatee  river,  at  a place  known  as  “Leather’s  Ford.” 
Bands  of  prospectors  also  established  camps  at  various  other  places 
in  that  part  of  the  state,  and  the  demand  for  the  gold  bearing  lands 
"became  so  great  that  the  United  States  government  was  compelled 
to  remove  the  Indians.  In  1833  the  lands  were  divided  by  lottery 
among  the  free  white  male  population,  forty  acres  of  mineral,  or 
■one  hundred  and  sixty  of  agricultural  land,  going  to  each  ticket 
holder.  Many  of  the  mineral  allotments  proved  to  be  worthless, 
while  gold  was  afterward  found  in  paying  quantities  on  some  of 
the  farms.  A mint  was  erected  at  Dahlonega  by  the  United  States 
and  for  many  years  Georgia  was  one  of  the  leading  gold  producing 
sections  of  the  country,  White  county  being  in  the  midst  of  the 
mining  region.  The  county  was  named  in  honor  of  Col.  John 
White  of  Chatham  county,  who  was  a distinguished  soldier  in  the 
American  army  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  Cleveland,  the 
■county  seat,  was  named  for  the  Hon.  Benjamin  Cleveland,  who 
for  many  years  was  a prominent  figure  in  the  Georgia  legislature. 

In  White  county  is  the  beautiful  Nacoochee  valley,  with  which 
is  connected  an  Indian  legend,  as  follows : Nacoochee,  or  the 

“Evening  Star,”  was  the  daughter  of  a celebrated  Cherokee  chief. 
Sautee,  a young  brave  of  the  Choctaws,  wooed  and  won  her  in 
spite  of  the  enmity  between  the  tribes.  One  dark  night  the  Indian 
maiden  eloped  with  her  lover.  The  irate  father  organized  a search- 
ing party  of  a hundred  of  his  bravest  warriors  and  started  in  pur- 


36-111 


562 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


suit.  After  several  days  the  lovers  were  discovered  in  their  hiding- 
place  on  the  slope  of  Mount  'Yonah.  Nacoochee’s  father  com- 
manded his  young  men  to  throw  Sautee  over  the  precipice,  but  no 
sooner  was  the  command  executed  than  Nacoochee  voluntarily 
flung  herself  after  her  lover.  They  were  buried  in  one  grave  on  the 
banks  of  the  Chattahoochee  and  a mound  raised  over  them  to  mark 
the  spot.  Another  valley  near  by  bears  the  name  of  Sautee. 

White,  Rev.  George,  a native  of  Charleston,  S.  C.,  removed  to 
Georgia  and  for  many  years  made  Savannah  his  home.  As  princi- 
pal of  the  Chatham  academy,  a school  that  had  been  established 
in  the  old  colonial  days,  and  having  under  him  a fine  corps  of  as- 
sistant teachers,  he  had  the  honor  of  leading  in  the  paths  of  knowl- 
edge many  of  the  sons  and  daughters  of  Georgia’s  most  distin- 
guished families.  Of  his  two  hundred  and  fifty  pupils  he  knew 
each  one  personally  and  manifested  in  many  ways  his  interest  in 
them  all,  and  they  in  turn  felt  honored  in  having  had  him  for  their 
teacher.  Doctor  White  was  the  author  of  a very  valuable  work, 
“The  Statistics  of  Georgia,”  a short  time  after  the  publication  of 
which  he  compiled  the  “Historical  Collections  of  Georgia,”  a most 
valuable  work  to  the  people  of  that  state.  After  devoting  to  teach- 
ing a great  many  of  the  best  years  of  his  life,  he  determined  to  give 
himself  exclusively  to  the  ministry.  For  several  years  he  was 
rector  of  the  Episcopal  church  in  Marietta,  Ga.,  removing  after- 
ward to  Memphis,  T’enn.,  where  he  spent  several  years  of  faithful 
service  as  rector  of  Calvary  parish.  A man  of  strong  constitution, 
he  passed  through  two  or  three  epidemics  each  of  Asiatic  cholera 
and  yellow  fever  in  Memphis,  standing  bravely  to  his  post,  minis- 
tering to  the  sick  and  burying  the  dead,  performing  the  funeral 
service  himself  for  his  own  sons.  Through  all  the  trials  and  joys 
of  his  life  the  wife  of  his  young  manhood  and  old  age  for  more 
than  sixty  years  walked  by  his  side,  and  full  of  years  and  honors 
they  passed  from  the  stage  of  earthly  existence  to  the  reward  that 
awaits  all  the  faithful. 

White,  James,  has  been  cashier  of  the  National  bank  of  Athens 
for  more  than  thirty  years  and  is  one  of  the  honored  citizens  and 
prominent  business  men  of  that  thriving  little  city.  He  was  born 
in  Clarke  county,  Ga.,  Aug.  28,  1839,  a son  of  John  and  Jeanette 
(Richards)  White,  both  natives  of  Ireland,  where  the  father  was 
born  in  the  year  1800,  his  death  occurring  in  1881.  Further  data 
regarding  the  parents  are  given  in  the  sketch  of  the  life  of  their 
son  John  R.,  appearing  in  this  publication.  James  White  has  con- 
tinued resident  of  Clarke  county  from  the  time  of  his  birth.  His 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


563 


preparatory  educational  discipline  was  secured  in  the  common 
schools  of  Athens  and  this  was  supplemented  by  a course  in  the 
University  of  Georgia.  In  1858  he  became  identified  with  the  oper- 
ation of  a cotton  mill  owned  by  bis 
father  and  he  has  ever  since  been  con- 
nected more  or  less  intimately  with  the 
cotton  manufacturing  industry.  When 
the  Civil  war  was  ravaging  the  country 
he  manifested  his  loyalty  to  the  cause  of 
the  Confederacy  by  enlisting  in  Adams’ 
battalion  of  Georgia  infantry,  of  which 
he  became  captain  and  served  with  this 
command  from  1863  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  then  resumed  his  associa- 
tion with  the  cotton  factory,  to  which 
he  gave  his  attention  until  187;3,  when 
he  was  chosen  cashier  of  the  National  bank  of  Athens,  of  which 
responsible  executive  office  he  has  since  remained  the  in- 
cumbent, his  able  administration  having  been  largely  instru- 
mental in  building  up  the  large  and  representative  business  con- 
trolled by  this  old  and  substantial  monetary  institution.  Mr. 
White  has  valuable  plantation  interests  in  his  native  county  and 
is  still  interested  in  the  cotton  manufacturing  industry,  being  one  of 
the  stockholders  of  the  Georgia  Manufacturing  Company,  whose 
fine  plant  is  located  in  Athens.  In  politics  Mr.  White  is  unswerv- 
ing in  his  support  of  the  cause  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  he 
has  ever  taken  a public-spirited  interest  in  local  affairs.  He  has 
never  been  a seeker  of  official  preferment  but  has  served  most 
efficiently  as  justice  of  the  peace.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church.  In  1884  Mr.  White  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Julia  D.  Ashton,  daughter  of  John  D.  Ashton, 
of  Waynesboro,  Ga.,  and  of  the  eight  children  of  this  union  only 
trvo  are  living — Rosina  and  James.  The  former  is  now  the  wife  of 
William  F.  Bradshaw,  of  Kentucky. 

White,  Rev.  John  E.,  pastor  of  the  Second  Baptist  church  of 
Atlanta,  was  born  near  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Dec.  19,  1868.  He  is  the 
eldest  son  of  the  Rev.  James  M,  and  Marth  (Ellington)  White, 
the  former  a member  of  the  clergy  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  the 
latter  was  a daughter  of  Rev.  John  F.  Ellington,  of  the  same 
religious  body.  Rev.  James  M.  White  was  a gallant  officer  of 
Hampton's  Legion  in  the  Confederate  service  during  the  Civil 
war.  Rev.  John  E.  White,  after  due  preliminary  discipline,  en- 


564 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


tcred  Wake  Forest  college,  at  Wake  Forest,  N.  C.,  where  he  was 
graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1890,  with  college  honors 
and  received  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  He  had  fitted  him- 
self for  the  practice  of  law,  but  in  1891, 
while  a teacher  in  Mars  Hill  college,  in 
the  mountains  of  western  North  Carolina, 
he  gave  himself  up  to  the  leading  of  the 
divine  Master,  began  to  preach  the  gos- 
pel and  was  soon  called  into  prominent 
service.  Before  his  ordination,  in  1892, 
he  succeeded  Dr.  Henry  W.  Battle  as 
pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  church  at 
Wilson,  N.  C.  From  this  church  he 
went  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Baptist 
church  at  Edenton,  that  state,  in 
1893.  In  1895  he  was  unanimously 
elected  state  mission  secretary  by  the  North  Carolina  Bap- 
tist state  convention,  at  Greensboro,  succeeding  the  distin- 
guished Dr.  Columbus  Durham.  Under  his  leadership  the  state 
mission  work  more  than  doubled  in  the  five  years  of  his  incum- 
bency. In  1900  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Second  Baptist 
church  of  Atlanta,  to  succeed  Dr.  Henry  McDonald,  and  he  entered 
upon  the  work  of  this  pastorate  on  Jan.  1,  1901.  His  labors  here 
have  been  attended  with  beneficent  results  in  the  furthering  of 
both  the  spiritual  and  temporal  welfare  of  the  church.  The  Second 
Baptist  church  is  one  of  the  important  ones  of  the  city,  having 
celebrated  its  semi-centennial  in  1894,  and  its  beautiful  edifice  is 
one  of  the  finest  in  the  South,  having  been  dedicated  in  October, 
1893,  by  Rev.  John  A.  Broadus,  D.  D.  In  his  foreword  in  a most 
interesting  history  of  the  church  issued  in  the  year  of  the  semi-cen- 
tennial thereof  the  author,  M.  L.  Brittain,  speaks  as  follows : “The 
Second  Baptist  church  of  Atlanta  presents  a remarkable  record  of 
achievement  during  the  fifty  years  of  her  life.  She  may  rightfully 
be  called  a ‘Mother  in  Israel,’  for  as  a direct  result  of  the  zeal  and 
liberality  of  her  members  she  has  founded  and  fostered  eight  mis- 
sion stations  until  they  have  become  self-supporting  churches. 
These  eight,  with  the  founder,  have  a Baptist  membership  of  5,242, 
an  attendance  upon  their  Sunday  schools  of  4,432,  own  property 
valued  at  $261,500,  and  last  year  contributed  for  religious  purposes 
more  than  $89,000.  In  benevolence  no  less  than  in  missionary  zeal 
the  Second  church  has  been  a leader.  Since  the  war  she  has  con- 
tributed more  than  $500,000  to  the  various  causes  fostered  by  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


565 


denomination  in  the  state  and  south,  and  in  a single  year  one  of 
her  members,  Gov.  Joseph  E.  Brown,  gave  $101,000  to  two  educa- 
tional institutions.  The  personnel  of  her  congregations  has  also 
been  notable.  Niot  only  has  she  had  in  constant  attendance  govern- 
ors, mayors,  chief  justices  and  other  laymen  distinguished  in 
public  life,  but  such  ministers  as  H.  H.  Tucker,  David  Shaver, 
Shaler  G.  Hillyer,  I.  T.  Tichenor  and  F.  H.  Kerfoot  have  added  the 
charm  of  their  cultured  grace  to  her  services.”  In  politics  Mr. 
White  is  an  independent  Democrat,  sympathizing  with  peculiar 
conditions  of  his  native  South,  but  he  is  also  in  sympathy  with  the 
Southern  spirit  that  is  disposed  to  break  away  from  provincialism 
and  prejudice  growing  out  of  the  Civil  war.  He  is  at  the  head  of 
the  law  and  order  committee  of  Atlanta  Ministers.  He  married 
on  Oct.  12,  1902,  Miss  Effie  L.  Grass  of  N.  C.  Three  children,  two 
boys  and  a girl,  have  been  born  to  this  union.  He  is  a member  of 
the  Home  mission  board  of  the  Southern  Baptist  convention ; 
chairman  of  the  committee  in  direction  of  Southern  Baptist  work 
among  negroes ; also  of  the  committee  in  direction  of  the  educa- 
tional work  in  the  southern  mountain  region,  and  has  written 
several  valuable  tracts  on  these  subjects. 

White,  John  R.,  president  of  the  Na- 
tional bank  of  Athens,  an  honored  vet- 
eran of  the  Confederate  service  in  the 
Civil  war,  and  known  as  one  of  the 
representative  citizens  of  Clarke  county, 
was  born  in  that  county,  Jan.  11,  1847. 
He  maintains  his  home  at  Whitehall,  an 
attractive  village  located  five  miles  south 
of  Athens,  and  is  a son  of  John  and  Jean- 
ette (Richards)  White,  both  of  whom 
were  born  and  reared  in  County  Antrim, 
Ireland,  representatives  of  stanch  old 
families  of  the  fair  Emerald  Isle,  where 
they  were  married  and  whence  they  immigrated  to  America  in 
1836.  Having  had  excellent  technical  experience  and  training, 
Mr.  White  forthwith  took  charge  of  the  cotton  mills  of  the  Geor- 
gia Manufacturing  Company,  at  Whitehall,  which  were  among 
the  oldest  in  the  state,  dating  their  establishment  back  to  1829. 
In  1854  he  erected  a mill  of  his  own,  and  operated  it  for  a number 
of  years.  In  1866  he  organized  the  National  bank  of  Athens,  of 
which  he  was  president  for  a term  of  years.  He  was  one  of  the 
prominent  and  honored  citizens  of  that  section  of  the  state  and  was 


566 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


a resident  of  Whitehall  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1881,  his  widow  passing  away  in  1893,  at  a venerable  age.  John 
R.  White,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch,  secured  his  early 
educational  training  in  private  schools  in  Athens,  after  which  he 
entered  the  University  of  Georgia,  from  which  he  withdrew  in  1862, 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  to  tender  his  services  in  defense  of  the 
cause  of  the  Confederacy.  He  became  a private  in  Company  F, 
Third  regiment,  Georgia  state  troops,  with  which  he  served 
several  months.  Later  he  was  a member  of  Company  A,  Adams’ 
battalion  and  was  on  duty  with  that  command  during  Sherman’s 
memorable  march  through  Georgia,  serving  both  in  this  state  and 
in  South  Carolina.  Since  the  war  he  has  had  a successful  career 
as  a manufacturer  and  banker.  He  is  president  of  the  Georgia 
Manufacturing  Company,  owning  and  operating  the  pioneer  cotton 
mills  of  Whitehall ; president  of  the  Whitehall  yarn  mills  and  of  the 
Athens  foundry  and  machine  works,  the  Athens  Compress  Com- 
pany and  the  National  bank  of  Athens,  being  also  a member  of  the 
directorate  of  the  Southern  Mutual  Insurance  Company.  Another 
publication  has  spoken  of  Mr.  White  as  follows : “His  career  is 

a striking  exemplification  of  the  fact  that  the  Confederate  boys  of 
1861-5  are  amply  qualified  to  build  up  a ‘new  south’  of  industrial 
supremacy  upon  the  ruins  of  the  old  system  that  was  destroyed  by 
war.  He  is  deeply  interested  in  everything  touching  the  Confed- 
eracy which  he  served.’’  Mr.  White  is  a Democrat  in  his  political 
allegiance  but  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  office,  having  de- 
clined nomination  for  the  state  senate  in  1904.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  On  April  25,  1882,  Mr. 
White  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lillie  Paine,  daughter  of 
Capt.  James  G.  and  Fannie  R.  Paine,  of  Newton  county,  Ga.  Her 
father  was  a member  of  the  staff  of  Gen.  N.  B.  Forrest  in  the  Civil 
war  and  was  a son  of  the  honored  Bishop  Paine,  of  Mississippi. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  have  four  children,  namely:  John  R.,  Jr., 

Hugh  W.,  Robert  P.  and  Sallie  Fannie. 

Whitehead,  Amos  Grattan,  M.  D.,  who  died  at  his  home  in 
Waynesboro,  March  23,  1904,  was  one  of  the  distinguished  physi- 
cians and  surgeons  of  Georgia,  being  a man  of  scholarly  attain- 
ments and  one  who  was  in  the  most  significant  sense  humanity’s 
friend.  The  graciousness  and  kindliness  of  gentle  breeding  were 
his,  he  commanded  the  unreserved  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him, 
and  he  honored  his  native  state  through  his  service  as  a loyal 
soldier  of  the  Confederacy  in  the  Civil  war.  The  progenitors  of  the 
Whitehead  family  in  America  were  Scotch  Presbyterians  who,  on 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


567 


account  of  religious  troubles  in  Scotland,  sought  refuge  in  the 
north  of  Ireland  in  the  seventeenth  century.  From  Ireland  Will- 
iam Whitehead  immigrated  to  America  about  the  year  1700  and 
settled  in  Virginia.  Three  of  his  grandsons,  John,  Amos  and 
Caleb,  removed  to  Georgia  in  1764  and  took  up  their  residence  in 
Burke  county,  securing,  under  the  provisions  of  the  land  system  of 
the  time,  a tract  of  land  extending  fifteen  miles  along  the  west 
line  of  Brier  creek.  They  thus  became  siezed  of  large  tracts  of 
land,  and  naturally  became  extensive  planters,  being  numbered 
among  the  wealthy  and  influential  men  of  the  locality  and  period. 
John  Whitehead  made  his  home  on  a finely  improved  plantation, 
which  according  to  the  custom  of  the  day,  he  named  Spread  Oak 
plantation.  In  a room  of  the  old  mansion  on  this  plantation  three 
generations  of  the  family  were  born.  In  the  line  of  direct  descent 
to  the  subject  of  this  memoir  these  generations  were  represented 
by  William,  son  of  John;  John  P.  C.,  son  of  William;  and  the 
latter's  son  Amos  Grattan,  whose  name  initiates  this  article.  Will- 
iam Whitehead  was  born  Nov.  29,  1773.  and  he  continued  to  reside 
on  the  old  plantation  until  his  death,  in  November,  1816.  John  P. 
C.  Whitehead  was  born  June  6,  1813,  and  he  likewise  held  pre- 
cedence as  one  of  the  substantial  planters  of  Burke  county,  passing 
the  closing  years  of  his  life  on  his  fine  plantation,  “Waverly,”  not  far 
distant  from  the  place  of  his  birth,  Amos  Grattan  Whitehead,  sub- 
ject of  this  tribute,  was  born  Feb.  14,  1841.  His  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Mary  Ann  Dent,  was  likewise  of  Scotch-Pres- 
byterian  ancestry,  being  a daughter  of  Dr.  John  Dent,  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Medical  College  of  Georgia  at  Augusta,  and  for 
many  years  one  of  the  most  prominent  physician  and  surgeons  of 
that  city.  He  was  born  in  Maryland,  Feb.  15,  1792,  and  died  in 
Augusta,  of  yellow  fever,  in  1839.  Dr.  Amos  G.  Whitehead  was 
the  only  one  of  the  children  of  John  P.  C.  and  Mary  Ann  (Dent) 
Whitehead  who  attained  maturity.  He  passed  his  boyhood  and 
youth  on  the  Spread  Oak  plantation.  After  due  preliminary  train- 
ing he  entered  the  University  of  Georgia  in  which  he  was  graduated 
at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  and  while  he  had  also  taken  one 
course  of  lectures  in  the  Medical  College  of  Georgia,  prior  to  the 
outbread  of  the  Civil  war,  he  promptly  subordinated  all  personal 
ambitions  of  a professional  nature  to  tender  his  services  in  defense 
of  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy,  and  enlisted  as  a member  of  the 
Clinch  Rifles,  which  constituted  Company  A,  of  the  Fifth  Georgia 
regiment.  After  serving  one  year  he  was  appointed  aide-de-camp 
on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Montgomery  Gardner  and  at  the  close  of  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


568 

war  he  was  in  command  of  a battery  of  artillery,  with  the  rank  of 
captain.  He  participated  in  a number  of  the  most  important 
battles  of  the  great  conflict  and  after  its  close  returned  to  Augusta,, 
when  he  resumed  his  long  interrupted  studies  in  the  Medical  Col- 
lege of  Georgia,  in  which  he  was  graduated,  duly  receiving  his 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  In  March,  1866,  he  located  in 
Waynesboro,  where  he  was  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  until  his  death  and  gained  precedence  as  one  of  the 
most  able  physicians  and  surgeons  of  this  part  of  the  state.  He 
served  as  president  of  the  Medical  Association  of  Georgia  one  term, 
always  held  the  high  regard  of  his  professional  confreres,  and  was 
a type  of  strong,  noble  manhood,  making  his  life  count  for  good  ini 
all  its  relations.  He  was  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the 
Knights  of  Honor,  the  American  Legion  of  Honor,  the  Protected 
Home  Circle,  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  United  Confederate 
Veterans.  He  was  a stanch  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  was  essentially  public-spirited.  He  con- 
trolled a large  and  representative  practice  in  Burke  county,  and 
also  had  valuable  plantation  interests  and  a beautiful  home  ini 
Waynesboro,  where  his  widow  still  resides.  Dr.  Whitehead  was 
twice  married — first  to  Miss  Tallulah  Neyland,  who  died,  leaving 
one  daughter,  Marian  Wallace,  who  became  the  wife  of  Clarence 
Rowland  and  is  now  deceased,  being  survived  by  one  son,  Amos- 
Grattan  Rowland,  named  in  honor  of  his  maternal  grandfather. 
On  Oct.  25,  1887,  Dr.  Whitehead  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mrs. 
Florence  Byne  Routzahn,  daughter  of  Edmund  and  Charlotte 
(Young)  Byne.  The  Byne  family  is  of  French  Huguenot  lineage 
and  finds  representation  as  one  of  the  old  and  honored  families  of 
Burke  county.  Edmund  Byne  was  an  extensive  planter,  an  elder 
in  the  Presbyterian  church  and  a man  of  great  piety.  He  passed 
his  entire  life  in  Burke  county,  where  his  death  occurred  on  Nov. 
16,  1894.  His  widow  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight 
years.  She  is  a daughter  of  Maj.  Willis  Young,  a wealthy  planter 
and  slave-owner  of  Screven  county,  who  served  as  an  officer  in  the 
war  of  1812.  He  attained  the  venerable  age  of  ninety  years.  Mrs. 
Whitehead  has  two  daughters  by  her  first  marriage:  Haidee  Eloise,. 
wife  of  Judson  S.  McElmurray,  of  Waynesboro;  and  Madeline, 
wife  of  James  H.  Whitehead  (see  sketch).  Mrs.  Whitehead  has 
three  grandchildren.  No  children  were  born  of  her  marriage  to- 
Doctor  Whitehead.  She  is  a devoted  member  of  the  Presbyterian! 
church  and  is  prominent  in  the  social  life  of  the  community. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


569 


Whitehead,  James  H.,  a leading  mer- 
chant of  Waynesboro  and  one  of  the 
extensive  planters  of  Burke  county,  is  a 
native  of  that  county,  having  been  born 
on  the  old  family  plantation,  Nov.  19, 
1866,  a son  of  John  P.  C.  and  Margaret 
(Harper)  Whitehead,  the  former  born  at 
Spread  Oak,  this  county,  June  6,  1813, 
and  the  latter  in  Augusta,  Ga.,  Sept.  13, 
1828.  Their  marriage  was  solemnized 
Oct.  25,  1855.  The  father  was  a represent- 
ative citizen  of  Burke  county,  where  he 
was  a successful  planter  and  he  went 
forth  to  do  loyal  service  as  a soldier  in  the  Confederate  ranks  during 
the  war  between  the  states.  He  died  on  his  plantation,  “Waverly,” 
Dec.  21,  1884,  and  his  widow  passed  the  closing  years  of  her  life 
in  Waynesboro,  where  she  died  Jan.  8,  1897.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  the  only  surviving  son,  and  there  are  two  daughters 
living — Susan  D.,  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  Lloyd  J.  Belt,  of  Millen,  Ga., 
and  Mary  Ann,  wife  of  L.  D.  Hill,  of  Gough,  Burke  county.  John 
P.  C.  Whitehead  was  a son  of  William  and  Susan  (Dowse)  White- 
head,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  at  Spread  Oak,  Burke  county, 
Ga.,  Nov.  29,  1773,  and  the  latter  in  Liberty  county,  Ga.,  Jan.  17, 
1777.  The  former  died  Dec.  1,  1816,  his  wife  having  passed  away 
on  October  3 of  the  same  year.  William  Whitehead  was  a son  of 
John  Ball  and  Mary  Louisa  (Winn)  Whitehead,  the  former  born 
March  8,  1741,  and  the  latter  in  1747.  They  were  married  Dec.  13, 
1768,  and  Mr.  Whitehead  died  in  1809,  his  wife  having  been  summon- 
ed to  the  life  eternal  in  1S07.  From  the  date  here  entered  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  family  was  early  founded  in  Georgia,  with  whose 
annals  the  name  has  been  intimately  and  honorably  linked  from 
the  colonial  epoch  to  the  present  day.  James  PI.  Whitehead,  the 
immediate  subject  of  this  sketch,  attended  Waynesboro  academy 
and  later  continued  his  studies  in  a military  school  in  Milledgeville. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  left  school  and  became  a clerk  in  a 
mercantile  establishment  in  Waynesboro.  He  was  thus  employed 
for  several  years  and  then  engaged  in  the  same  line  of  enterprise 
on  his  own  responsibility.  He  has  built  up  a large  and  prosperous 
general  merchandise  business  and  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  in- 
fluential business  men  of  Waynesboro.  He  also  gives  a general 
supervision  to  his  plantation  interests,  owning  not  only  a portion 
of  the  fine  old  homestead,  “Waverly,”  but  also  much  other  valu- 


570 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


able  real  estate  in  the  county,  and  he  is  also  a member  of  the 
directorate  of  the  Citizens’  bank.  In  politics  he  gives  his  allegiance 
to  the  Democratic  party  and  for  several  years  was  a member  of  the 
Burke  Light  Infantry,  in  which  he  served  as  second  lieutenant. 
On  Nov.  17,  1895,  Mr.  Whitehead  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Callie  McElmurray,  who  died  June  IS,  1898,  leaving-  no  children, 
and  on  March  17,  1903,  he  wedded  Miss  Madeline  Routzahn. 

Whitehead,  Joseph  Brown,  late  presi- 
dent of  the  Atlanta  and  Western  Coca- 
Cola  Bottling  Companies,  and  otherwise 
prominently  identified  with  the  business 
interests  of  Georgia’s  capital  city,  was 
born  at  Oxford,  Lafayette  county,  Miss., 
Feb.  28,  1864.  He  was  a son  of  Rev. 
Richard  Hugh  and  Mary  Amanda  (Con- 
key)  Whitehead,  the  former  born  in 
Carroll  county,  Miss.,  in  1836,  and  the 
latter  at  Bigbyville,  Maury  county,  Tenn., 
in  1835.  Rev.  Richard  H.  Whitehead  was 
for  many  years  engaged  in  active  minis- 
terial work  as  a clergyman  of  the  Baptist  church.  At  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service  and  continued 
in  defense  of  the  southern  cause  until  physical  disability  com- 
pelled him  to  retire  from  the  army.  Zebina  Curtis  Conkey,  a 
maternal  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  a soldier 
in  the  War  of  1812.  He  was  captured  by  the  British  and  held 
for  a short  time  in  a Canadian  prison,  after  which  he  was  released 
by  exchange.  Rev.  Joseph  Brown,  maternal  great-grandfather  of 
Mr.  Whitehead,  was  actively  concerned  in  breaking  up  the  Indian 
raids  in  the  State  of  Tennessee  during  the  pioneer  days  and  in 
more  than  one  instance  compelled  the  red  men  to  sue  for  peace. 
In  recognition  of  his  efforts  in  this  connection  he  was  made  a 
colonel  and  his  name  is  prominently  mentioned  in  the  histories 
of  Tennessee.  Col.  James  Brown,  father  of  Rev.  Joseph  Brown, 
was  a soldier  in  the  North  Carolina  line  in  the  Revolutionary  war 
and  piloted  Gen.  Nathaniel  Greene  in  a number  of  his  masterly 
maneuvers  about  the  Dan  and  Deep  rivers.  For  his  bravery  and 
effective  service  as  a guide  he  was  promoted  from  the  ranks,  and 
a tract  of  land  in  Tennessee  was  granted  to  him  by  the  government. 
While  making  his  way  to  this  land  in  a small  boat  he  was  massa- 
cred by  Indians  near  Knoxville,  Tenn.  He  married  Jane  Gillespie, 
whose  two  brothers  were  officers  in  the  Continental  army  during 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


571 


the  Revolution,  and  were  prominent  in  the  colonial  and  early  state 
history  of  North  Carolina.  Jane  Gillespie  was  a descendant  of  that 
Gillespie  family  of  Scotland,  of  which  several  members  were  noted 
in  the  religious  and  educational  history  of  that  country.  Joshua 
Conkey,  another  great-great-grandfather  of  Mr.  Whitehead,  was 
an  ensign  in  the  American  army  during  the  Revolution,  and  his 
father  James  Conkey,  likewise  served  with  the  Continental  forces 
in  the  struggle  for  independence.  James  and  Joshua  Conkey  are 
buried  in  an  ancient  cemetery  at  Canton,  N.  Y.  Joseph  B.  White- 
head  was  educated  at  the  University  of  Mississippi,  where  he 
graduated  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws  in  the  class  of  1888. 
Soon  after  receiving  his  degree  he  went  to  Chattanooga,  Tenn., 
where  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  He  rose  rapidly  as  an  attorney,  and  while  a resident 
of  Chattanooga  he  held  several  important  public  positions.  In 
1901  he  removed  to  Atlanta  and  became  associated  with  the  Coca- 
Cola  Bottling  Company.  In  a short  time  he  demonstrated  his 
capability  as  a business  man  and  rose  rapidly  until  he  occupied 
the  important  position  of  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  company. 
In  addition  to  this  he  became  president  of  the  Atlanta  and  Western 
Bottling  Company;  was  president  at  the  time  of  his  death  of  the 
Bowden  Lithia  Springs  Company,  and  treasurer  of  the  Ponce  de 
Leon  Park  Company.  He  was  a stanch  adherent  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party;  was  a member  of  the  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon  college 
fraternity,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Capital  City  and  Atlanta 
Athletic  clubs,  and  belonged  to  the  Ponce  de  Leon  Baptist  church. 
Mr.  Whitehead’s  death  occurred  on  Monday  morning,  Aug.  27, 
1906,  at  Thaxton,  Va.,  after  an  illness  of  little  more  than  a week, 
pneumonia  being  the  cause  of  his  demise.  The  Atlanta  Journal, 
in  commenting  on  the  sad  event,  pays  this  tribute  to  him  as  a 
man  and  a citizen : “He  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  cap- 

able and  reliable  business  men  of  Atlanta,  and  his  death  has 
deprived  the  city  of  one  of  its  stanchest  and  most  valuable  citizens. 
He  was  a man  who  took  a deep  interest  in  all  religious  affairs,  and 
was  one  of  the  chief  supporters  and  best  known  members  of  the 
Pbnce  de  Leon  Avenue  Baptist  church.”  On  Nov.  8,  1894,  Mr. 
Whitehead  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lettie  Pate,  daughter 
of  Maj.  Cornelius  and  Elizabeth  (Stagg)  Pate,  of  Bedford,  Va., 
and  it  was  while  on  a vacation  to  his  wife's  home  that  he  was 
summoned  from  his  labors  on  earth  to  his  eternal  rest.  Mrs.  White- 
head  and  two  sons,  Joseph  Brown  and  Conkey  Whitehead,  survive 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


572 

the  beloved  husband  and  father,  and  in  their  bereavement  received 
the  sympathy  of  a large  circle  of  friends. 

White  House. — There  were  two  places  known  by  this  name  in 
Revolutionary  days.  One  was  McKay’s  trading  house,  a half  mile 
west  of  the  town  of  Augusta,  and  the  other  stood  near  Ogeechee 
Ferry  in  Liberty  county.  At  the  latter  a skirmish  occurred  on  June 
28,  1779,  between  Major  Baker  and  30  men,  who  were  on  their  way 
to  Sunbury,  and  a company  of  Georgia  Royalists  under  Captain 
Goldsmith,  in  which  several  of  the  Tories  were  killed  and  wounded. 
Among  the  former  was  Lieutenant  Gray,  whose  head  was  almost 
completely  severed  from  his  body  by  a single  blow  from  the  sword 
of  Robert  Sallette. 

In  the  fall  of  17S1  the  British  had  a garrison  there  commanded 
by  Captain  Johnston.  Colonel  Jackson  was  ordered  to  reduce  the 
post.  Taking  Stallings’  dragoons,  Carr’s  volunteers  and  McKay's 
riflemen  he  made  a descent  upon  the  place  on  November  18th, 
captured  the  pickets  and  summoned  Johnston  to  surrender.  The 
demand  was  promptly  complied  with,  but  just  as  Johnston  was  in 
the  act  of  handing  his  sword  to  Jackson,  Captain  Goldsmith,  who 
had  been  defeated  at  the  same  place  the  year  before,  and  who  had 
long  terrorized  that  part  of  the  country,  was  killed  by  Patrick  Carr. 
Thinking  a massacre  was  imminent,  Johnston  rushed  into  the 
house,  ordered  his  men  to  resume  their  arms,  and  in  the  end  Jack- 
son  was  compelled  to  retire. 

White  Plains,  an  incorporated  town  in  Greene  county,  is  about 
twelve  miles  southeast  of  Greensboro,  and  is  the  terminus  of  a 
branch  of  the  Georgia  railroad.  The  population  in  1900  was  290. 
It  has  important  mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  a few  manu- 
factories, a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  good 
educational  and  religious  advantages,  an  express  office,  etc. 

White  Sulphur  Springs,  a village  in  the  southwestern  part  of 
Meriwether  county,  is  known  to  railroad  men  as  Brandywine  Sta- 
tion. The  town  derives  its  name  from  the  mineral  springs  near, 
and  is  a popular  health  resort.  The  population  in  1900  was  125. 
It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  express  and  telegraph  service,  some 
mercantile  interests,  and  good  educational  and  religious  advantages. 

Whitefield,  George,  evangelist,  was  born  on  Dec.  16,  1714,  at 
Gloucester,  England,  where  his  mother  was  hostess  of  the  Bull  inn. 
His  boyhood  was  spent  in  assisting  his  mother  and  in  attending 
the  grammar  school  in  his  native  town.  When  he  was  about 
eighteen  years  old  he  was  admitted  to  Pembroke  college,  Oxford, 
as  a servitor — that  is,  one  who  receives  part  of  his  support  from 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


573 


the  college  funds.  He  graduated  in  1736,  and  on  June  20,  of 
that  year,  was  ordained  deacon  in  Gloucester  cathedral,  on  which 
occasion  he  preached  his  first  sermon.  From  that  time  until  he 
was  twenty-three  years  of  age  he  preached  in  the  small  towns  and 
then  went  to  London.  While  in  college  he  had  formed  the  acquaint- 
ance of  John  and  Charles  Wesley,  and  had  become  a member 
of  the  young  men’s  club  they  had  organized,  the  members  of  which 
were  derisively  termed  “Methodists.”  Shortly  after  his  visit  to 
London  he  began  to  disregard  the  liturgy  of  the  church  and  was 
denied  admission  to  the  houses  of  worship.  He  ' then  took  to 
preaching  in  the  open  air,  his  audiences  frequently  numbering  into 
thousands.  His  work  became  so  great  that  he  sent  for  John  Wes- 
ley to  come  and  help  him.  The  two  worked  together  until  in  1738, 
when  Whitefield  decided  to  visit  America.  He  arrived  at  Savannah 
in  May,  of  that  year,  but  soon  returned  to  England  to  raise  funds 
to  aid  the  colony.  The  next  summer  he  again  returned  to  America 
and  shortly  after  founded  the  orphan  house  at  Bethesda.  He 
made  several  other  voyages  to  England  and  finally  died  at  New- 
buryport,  Mass.,  Sept.  30,  1770. 

Whitehall,  a town  in  the  southern  part  of  Clarke  county,  on  the 
Central  of  Georgia  railway,  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legis- 
lature in  1891.  It  had  in  1900  a population  of  660.  It  has  express 
and  telegraph  offices,  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free 
delivery,  stores,  churches  and  schools,  and  two  cotton  mills  with 
12,000  and  2,500  spindles,  respectively. 

Whitely,  Richard  H.,  lawyer  and  politician,  was  born  in  County 
Down,  Ireland,  Dec.  22,  1830,  but  came  to  Georgia  with  his  parents 
when  he  was  only  six  years  old.  He  educated  himself  and  began 
life  as  a manufacturer.  Subsequently  he  studied  law  and  in  1860 
was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  was  opposed  to  secession,  but  after 
the  passage  of  the  ordinance  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  army  and 
rose  to  the  rank  of  major.  In  1868  he  was  a delegate  to  the  con- 
stitutional convention ; contested  the  election  to  Congress  the  same 
year  with  Nelson  Tift  and  was  seated  on  Feb.  9,  1871.  Fie  was 
reelected  in  1870,  1872  and  1874,  but  was  defeated  in  the  two  follow- 
ing elections.  He  died  at  Boulder,  Col.,  Sept.  26,  1890. 

Whitemarsh  Island,  orr  the  Georgia  coast,  is  about  twelve  miles 
in  a direct  line  southeast  of  Savannah,  though  the  distance  by  water 
is  much  more.  During  the  war  between  the  States  there  were 
several  small  affairs  on  this  island.  On  two  successive  nights, 
March  30-31,  1862,  scouting  expeditions  to  Whitemarsh  and  Wil- 
mington islands  under  the  command  of  Capt.  J.  T.  Crawford,  of 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


574 

the  Thirteenth  Georgia,  captured  a barge  with  a six-pouncler  can- 
non, killed  one  of  the  enemy  and  captured  18,  two  of  whom  sub- 
sequently died  from  their  wounds.  Captain  Crawford  had  one  man 
severely  wounded.  On  April  16,  1862,  a reconnoisance  of  White- 
marsh  Island  was  made  by  seven  companies  from  the  Eighth  Michi- 
gan infantry,  (Col.  W.  M.  Fenton),  escorting  the  topographical  en- 
gineer, Lieutenant  Wilson.  This  force  encountered  part  of  the 
Thirteenth  Georgia  regiment  and  a spirited  skirmish  followed. 
Captains  Crawford  and  McCalley  made  a vigorous  attack  upon  a 
detachment  of  the  Federals,  but  the  main  body  of  the  Michigan 
men  came  up  in  time  to  save  the  day  and  in  turn  gave  the  Geor- 
gians a lively  chase.  Colonel  Douglas  arrived  on  the  scene  with 
Confederate  reinforcements  and  drove  the  Federals  back.  The 
Thirteenth  Georgia  lost  in  this  affair  4 killed  and  15  wounded  out 
of  something  less  than  100  engaged.  Colonel  Fenton  reported  his 
loss  at  10  killed  and  35  wounded  and  his  total  strength  at  300.  On 
Feb.  22,  1S64,  just  after  the  battle  of  Olustee,  Fla.,  a considerable 
Federal  force  made  a demonstration  on  Whitemarsh  Island,  but 
were  driven  off  by  a detachment  of  the  Fifty-seventh  Georgia  under 
Captains  Tucker  and  Turner  and  a section  of  Maxwell’s  battery 
under  Lieutenant  Richardson. 

Whiteoak,  a village  of  Camden  county,  is  on  the  Seaboard  Air 
Line  railroad,  about  five  miles  north  of  the  Satilla  river,  and  in  1900 
had  a population  of  61.  It  has  some  mercantile  and  shipping 
interests,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  and  a money  order  post- 
office. 

Whitepath,  a post-hamlet  of  Gilmer  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Atlanta,  Knoxville  & Northern  railroad,  about  six  miles  northeast 
of  Ellijay. 

Whitesburg,  an  incorporated  town  in  the  southeastern  part  of 
Carrol  county,  is  on  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  and  is  not  far 
from  the  Chattahoochee  river.  It  reported  a population  of  296  in 
1900,  has  important  shipping  interests,  several  mercantile  concerns, 
a money  order  postoffice,  with  several  free  delivery  routes  radiating 
from  it,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  etc.  Besides  the  public 
schools  the  Hutcheson  collegiate  institute,  a preparatory,  coeduca- 
tional school  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  is  located  here. 

Whitesville,  a town  in  the  northern  part  of  Harris  county,  with 
a population  of  126  in  1900,  is  about  six  miles  northwest  of  Hamil- 
ton. It  is  the  chief  trading  center  for  that  part  of  the  county,  has 
a money  order  postoffice  and  good  school  and  church  privileges. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


575 

Whitewater,  a post-village  of  Crawford  county,  is  fifteen  miles 
east  of  Knoxville,  and  not  far  from  the  Houston  county  line.  Byron 
is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Whitfield  County  was  created  in  1867  and  was  named  for  George 
Whitefield,  the  celebrated  preacher  and  founder  of  the  Bethesda 
Orphan  Home  near  Savannah.  It  lies  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  State  of  Tennessee, 
on  the  east  by  Murray  county,  on  the  south  by  Gordon  and  on  the 
west  by  Catoosa  and  Walker.  The  county  is  well  watered  by 
numerous  small  streams  and  two  great  railways  provide  for  both 
travel  and  shipping.  The  principal  productions  are  cotton,  pota- 
toes, peas  and  the  cereals.  Market  gardening  is  carried  on  to  some 
extent  and  many  acres  are  planted  to  apple,  plum,  pear,  peach, 
quince  and  cherry  orchards.  The  forests  are  made  up  of  pine,  pop- 
lar, maple,  cherry  and  oak  trees  and  some  lumber  is  exported  each 
year.  Whitfield  county  is  rich  in  minerals.  Iron,  bauxite,  man- 
ganese, silica,  marble,  sandstone,  limestone  and  clay  are  found. 
Dalton,  the  county  seat,  is  extensively  engaged  in  manufacturing. 
Tilton,  Tunnel  Hill,  and  Cohutta  are  other  towns.  The  population 
in  1900  was  14,509,  a gain  of  1,593  since  1890. 

Whitley,  a post-town  of  Irwin  county,  is  on  the  Seaboard  Air 
Line  railroad,  about  half-way  between  Fitzgerald  and  O’cilla,  and  in 
1900  had  a population  of  100.  It  has  some  stores  with  a good  local 
trade  and  does  some  shipping. 

Whitney,  Ely,  inventor,  was  born  at  Westborough,  Mass.,  Dec. 
8,  1765.  His  parents  being  in  humble  circumstances  he  learned  the 
trade  of  nail-maker,  and  in  this  way  saved  enough  to  attend  Yale 
college,  where  he  graduated  in  1792.  Soon  after  this  he  went  to 
Georgia  to  take  a position  as  private  tutor,  but  upon  his  arrival 
found  the  place  had  been  filled.  At  the  invitation  of  General 
Greene’s  widow  he  made  bis  home  for  a time  at  Mulberry  Grove. 
At  that  time  the  question  of  separating  the  seed  from  the  fiber  was 
engaging  the  attention  of  the  cotton  planters  and  at  Mrs.  Greene’s 
suggestion  Whitney  undertook  to  invent  a machine  to  do  the  work. 
He  knew  but  little  about  the  cotton  plant,  but  he  shut  himself  in 
his  room,  with  some  of  the  uncleaned  fiber,  made  his  own  tools  and 
during  the  winter  completed  bis  machine  which  he  called  a cotton- 
gin.  When  he  exhibited  bis  invention  to  some  planters  in  the 
spring  of  1793  they  were  highly  pleased,  for  they  saw  that  it  solved 
the  problem  of  cleaning  cotton.  One  night  the  building  where 
the  machine  was  kept  was  broken  open  and  it  was  carried  away. 
Before  he  could  build  another,  upon  which  to  secure  a patent,  a 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


•576 

number  of  gins  had  been  constructed  and  were  in  use.  Several  of 
the  Southern  states  paid  him  bonuses  or  royalties  on  the  invention, 
but  all  the  money  he  received  in  this  way  was  swallowed  up  in 
litigation  growing  out  of  the  infringement  of  his  patent.  Instead 
of  reaping  the  reward  of  his  genius  he  was  compelled  to  seek  other 
lines  of  business  in  order  to  obtain  a livelihood.  The  introduction 
of  the  cotton-gin  increased  the  exports  from  190,000  pounds  in  1791 
to  41,000,000  in  1803.  Whitney  died  at  New  Haven,  Conn.,  on 
Jan.  8,  1825.  He  was  not  a Georgian,  but  the  invention  that  revolu- 
tionized the  cotton  industry  was  invented  on  Georgia  soil  and  is 
a part  of  her  history. 

Wier,  a post-hamlet-  of  Lumpkin  county,  is  fifteen  miles  north- 
east of  Jasper,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Wiggins’  Hill.  — About  the  middle  of  April,  1781,  Colonel  Brown, 
of  the  British  army,  sent  Captain  Wylly  to  reconnoiter  the  Ameri- 
can positions.  He  ascertained  that  Colonel  Harden,  with  a con- 
siderable force,  was  marching  to  attack  Brown  and  reported  to 
that  officer.  Brown  camped  in  a field  at  Wiggins’  Hill  and  during 
the  night  was  attacked  by  Harden,  who  had  in  the  meantime  been 
reinforced  by  Johnston  and  McKay.  After  a sharp  fight  of  half 
an  hour,  in  which  no  decided  advantage  was  gained  by  either  side, 
the  Americans  withdrew,  having  suffered  a slight  loss. 

Wight,  Edwin  Leigh,  proprietor  of  the  Belmont  stock  farm,  near 
Marietta,  and  identified  with  other  important  business  enterprises, 
was  born  at  Sofkee,  Decatur  county,  Ga.,  Oct.  4,  1846.  He  is  a son 
of  Samuel  B.  and  Clara  S.  Wight,  and  is  a descendant  of  one  of  the 
oldest  families  in  America.  In  1636  Thomas  Wight  left  the  Isle 
of  Wight,  on  the  southern  coast  of  England,  and  came  to  America. 
He  settled  at  Dedham,  near  Boston,  Mass.,  and  he  and  his  son 
became  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  town  and  colony,  assisting 
materially  in  raising  funds  to  build  the  “Old  Brick  College”  at 
Cambridge,  an  institution  which  afterward  acquired  a world-wide 
fame  as  Harvard  university.  The  house  built  and  occupied  by 
Thomas  Wight  remained  standing  until  1830,  when  it  was  torn 
down,  after  having  sheltered  several  successive  generations  of  the 
family.  The  place  is  still  owned  by  one  of  the  descendants  of 
Thomas  Wight.  Many  of  the  family  served  in  the  Continental 
army  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  In  1829  Henry  Wight,  grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  came  with  his  family  from 
Bristol,  R.  I.,  and  located  in  Decatur  county,  Ga.  At  that  time 
Samuel  B.  Wight  was  but  eight  years  of  age,  having  been  born  at 
Bristol  in  1821.  Henry  Wight  continued  to  live  in  Decatur  county 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


577 


until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1885.  When  the  Civil  war 
broke  out  Samuel  B.  Wight  enlisted  in  the  Sixteenth  Georgia 
regiment,  and  was  made  quartermaster  with  the  rank  of  captain, 
lie  was  captured  in  1864  and  remained  a prisoner  at  Johnson's 
island  in  Lake  Erie  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  died  at  Albany, 
Ga.,  Dec.  15,  1888.  Edwin  L.  Wight  left  Decatur  county  with  his 
father  in  1850  and  lived  in  Newton,  Baker  county,  until  1858,  when 
the  family  removed  to  Albany.  In  1861  he  went  to  Lawrenceville, 
Gwinnett  county,  and  shortly  afterward  entered  the  University  of 
Georgia  as  a student.  He  was  too  young  to  enlist  at  the  beginning 
of  the  war,  but  in  1863  he  left  the  university  to  become  a soldier  in 
the  Confederate  ranks.  In  May,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Company  Iv, 
Thirteenth  Georgia  cavalry,  commanded  by  Col.  Samuel  J.  Winn, 
•of  Lawrenceville,  and  remained  in  active  service  until  the  end  of 
the  conflict.  In  July,  1865,  he  became  associated  with  his 
father  in  the  wholesale  drygoods  business  in  Atlanta,  under 
the  firm  name  of  S.  B.  Wight  & Son.  The  following  year 
he  returned  to  Newton,  where  he  engaged  in  mercantile 
pursuits,  and  also  held  large  interests  as  a planter.  In 
1873  he  removed  to  Albany  and  entered  the  firm  of  Welch 
& Bacon,  cotton  factors,  with  which  he  continued  until  1881, 
when  he  engaged  in  the  same  line  of  business  at  Albany  on  his 
■own  account.  In  1887  he  formed  a partnership  with  Morris  Wes- 
losky,  under  the  firm  name  of  Wight  & Weslosky,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  handling  groceries  on  a wholesale  basis.  The  firm  con- 
trolled a large  trade  in  this  line  at  Albany  and  later  at  Cordele 
until  its  dissolution  in  1900,  when  Colonel  Wight  retired.  About 
that  time  he  purchased  a farm  fifteen  miles  north  of  Atlanta  on 
the  line  of  the  Western  & Atlantic  railroad,  and  began  work  on 
what  has  since  become  noted  as  the  “Belmont  stock  farm,”  devoted 
to  raising  thoroughbred  stock  and  fine  poultry.  The  products  of 
this  farm  have  been  shipped  to  all  parts  of  Canada  on  the  north ; 
to  Brazil,  South  America,  on  the  south,  and  to  the  Sandwich 
Islands  on  the  west.  It  is  beyond  question  one  of  the  leading 
stock  farms  in  the  United  States,  and  as  an  object  lesson  to  the 
farmers  of  the  South  it  has  accomplished  a great  work.  In  1876 
Colonel  Wight  began  the  fire  and  marine  insurance  business  at 
Albany,  under  the  firm  name  of  E.  L.  Wight  & Co.  In  this  line 
he  soon  built  up  a successful  patronage  and  has  ever  since  con- 
tinued to  hold  his  interest  in  the  business,  his  office  now  being  in 
Atlanta.  In  the  course  of  Ins  career  he  has  been  identified  with 
>other  prominent  business  concerns.  He  was  president  of  the  bank 


37— III 


578 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


of  the  Wight  & Weslosky  Company  at  Cordele ; president  of  the 
Exchange  and  Albany  Savings  and  Trust  banks,  both  of  which  he 
was  influential  in  organizing;  was  president  of  the  Albany  Steam- 
boat and  Navigation  Company;  the  Albany  and  Newton  Telephone 
Company;  manager  of  the  Albany  Edison  Electric  Light  Company; 
for  four  years  was  president  of  the  Albany  Chautauqua;  was  for 
fifteen  years  a member  of  the  Fire  Company,  of  Albany,  and  was 
for  two  years  chief  of  the  fire  department  of  that  city.  In  addition 
to  the  concerns  specifically  mentioned  he  has  been  a stockholder 
or  active  participant  in  the  management  of  numerous  others. 
Colonel  Wight  has  been  intimately  connected  with  the  military 
affairs  of  his  native  state.  Besides  his  two  years’  service  in  the 
Confederate  army  he  has  been  one  of  the  most  active  and  inter- 
ested citizens  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  Georgia  militia.  On  Jan.  31, 
1876,  he  was  made  second  lieutenant  of  the  Albany  Guards,  and 
on  March  27,  1877,  became  captain  of  the  company.  On  Feb.  1, 
1883,  he  was  appointed  aide-de-camp  to  Gov.  Alexander  H.  Ste- 
phens, and  on  April  12,  1884,  was  commissioned  captain  of  the 
Jackson  Light  Artillery.  He  again  became  captain  of  the  Albany 
Guards  on  Feb.  1,  1888,  and  held  this  position  until  March  19, 
1890,  when  he  organized  the  Seventh  battalion  of  infantry  and 
was  elected  lieutenant-colonel.  The  Fourth  Georgia  regiment  was 
formed  soon  after  this,  and  he  became  colonel  of  that  organization 
on  Sept.  15,  1891,  holding  the  position  until  1893,  when  he  was 
retired  at  his  own  request,  with  the  rank  of  Colonel.  He  held  a 
commission  under  every  governor  since  the  war,  up  to  the  time 
of  his  retirement,  with  the  exception  of  Governor  Bullock.  In 
fraternal  circles  Colonel  Wight  is  well  known,  as  he  is  a Knight 
Templar  Mason,  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks,  and  several  other  fraternal  societies.  On  Nov.  24, 
1874,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Colonel  Wight  and  Miss  Mary  M. 
Billingsley,  daughter  of  Col.  Francis  Billingsley,  a leading  citizen 
of  Albany.  To  this  marriage  have  been  born  two  children:  Edwin 
L.,  Jr.,  and  Ruby.  The  son  is  a graduate  of  the  Georgia  School  of 
Technology  and  the  daughter  of  Lucy  Cobb  institute.  Both  grad- 
uated the  same  year  and  both  carried  off  first  honors  of  their 
classes. 

Wilborn,  a post-hamlet  of  Franklin  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Elberton  & Toccoa  division  of  the  Southern  railroad,  about  four 
miles  northwest  of  Lavonia. 

Wilcox,  a post-town  in  Coffee  county,  is  in  the  valley  of  Little 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


579 


Hurricane  creek,  fifteen  miles  northeast  of  Douglas.  The  popula- 
tion in  1900  was  132.  It  is  the  chief  trading  point  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  county.  Nicholls  is  the  most  convenient  railroad 
station. 

Wilcox  County  was  created  on  Dec.  22,  1857,  from  Dooly,  Irwin, 
and  Pulaski,  and  was  named  for  Gen.  Mark  Wilcox,  of  Telfair 
county,  who  for  many  years  represented  his  district  in  the  Georgia 
legislature.  In  August,  1905,  a portion  was  set  off  to  form  the 
county  of  Turner.  Prior  to  this  time  it  was  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Pulaski,  on  the  east  by  Dodge  and  Telfair,  on  the  south  by 
Irwin  and  on  the  west  by  Dooly.  The  Ocmulgee  river  runs  along 
the  eastern  border,  the  Allapaha  on  the  southwest,  and  these  rivers 
with  their  tributaries  water  the  land.  All  the  streams  have  an 
abundance  of  fish  and  the  Ocmulgee  gives  water  transportation. 
Two  divisions  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line,  the  Hawkinsville  & Flor- 
ida Southern,  the  Atlantic  & Birmingham,  and  the  Fitzgerald, 
Ocmulgee  & Red  Bluff  railroads  amply  provide  for  transportation. 
The  surface  is  level  and  the  soil,  especially  in  the  bottoms  and 
along  the  streams,  produces  good  crops  of  cotton,  potatoes,  sugar- 
cane, field  and  ground  peas  and  the  cereals.  The  county  is  one 
of  the  finest  peach  and  grape  sections  of  the  state  and  the  inhab- 
itants are  taking  hold  of  this  industry  with  great  zeal.  There  is 
much  timber  land  in  this  part  of  the  country  and  the  preparation  of 
lumber  and  naval  stores  for  the  market  furnishes  occupation  for 
many  people.  Abbeville  is  the  county  seat.  Seville  and  Rochelle 
are  other  towns  which  are  growing  rapidly.  The  population  of 
the  county  in  1900  was  11.097,  an  increase  of  3,117  in  ten  years. 

Wilcox,  George  Ansley,  M.  D.,  one  of 
the  distinguished  representatives  of  the 
medical  profession  in  the  state,  is  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  Augusta,  where  he  is  a member  of  the 
faculty  of  the  medical  department  of  the 
University  of  Georgia,  occupying  the 
chair  of  medical  and  surgical  diseases  of 
women.  He  was  born  in  the  city  which 
is  now  his  home,  May  29,  1849,  a son  of 
Jonathan  S.  and  Sarah  J.  (Ansley)  Wil- 
cox, the  former  born  in  Madison,  New 
Haven  county.  Conn.,  in  1822,  and  the 
latter  in  Augusta,  Ga.,  in  1824,  being  a daughter  of  Jesse  and 
Catherine  (Urcjuhart)  Ansley.  The  paternal  ancestors  of  Doctor 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


5 SO 

Wilcox  were  numbered  among  the  first  Puritan  settlers  of  New 
England,  whither  they  came  from  Maidstone,  County  Kent,  Eng- 
land, in  1G35.  The  great-great-grandfather,  Capt.  Daniel  Hand, 
of  the  Connecticut  colony,  was  commissioned  captain  of  Company 
6,  Seventh  regiment  of  militia  in  the  Connecticut  colony  and  as 
such  entered  the  Revolutionary  army,  serving  under  Washington 
in  the  first  Long  Island  campaign  and  later  in  various  parts  of  the 
state  of  New  York.  His  name  is  inscribed  on  the  soldiers’  monu- 
ment in  Madison,  Conn.,  with  his  army  record,  under  date  of 
1775-83.  Doctor  Wilcox  secured  his  early  educational  instruction 
in  Summerville  academy  at  Augusta,  and  the  Hopkins  grammar 
school,  New  Haven,  Conn.  His  classical  education  was  received 
in  the  University  of  Virginia,  and  in  1871  he  was  graduated  in  the 
medical  department  of  the  University  of  New  York,  duly  receiving 
his  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  Immediately  after  he  entered, 
by  appointment  as  interne,  upon  a regular  hospital  course,  later 
taking  special  post-graduate  courses  in  the  larger  hospitals  ot 
New  York  city.  By  competitive  examination  he  was  made  surgeon 
of  the  New  York  state  naval  school  ship,  “Mercury,”  for  a cruise 
of  nine  months — to  the  islands  of  the  north  and  south  Atlantic 
ocean  and  to  Africa  and  South  America  and  the  West  Indies.  A 
noteworthy  feature  of  this  cruise  was  the  scientific  daily  deep-sea 
soundings  and  charting  of  the  ocean  bed  made  along  the  equator 
from  the  African  coast  to  South  America.  In  1885  Doctor  Wilcox 
was  appointed  demonstrator  of  anatomy  and  lecturer  on  nervous 
diseases  in  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Georgia, 
and  had  conferred  upon  him  the  honorary  degree  of  this  insti- 
tution. In  the  years  following  he  has  held  successfully,  as  pro- 
fessor, the  chairs  of  obstetrics,  materia  medica,  therapeutics 
and  gynecology ; and  medical  and  surgical  diseases  of  women 
in  the  same  institution,  being  still  incumbent  of  the  chair 
last  designated  and  being  one  of  the  valued  members  of  the  faculty 
of  this  well  conducted  branch  of  the  state  university.  He  was 
also  given  the  honorary  degree  of  the  University  of  Georgia.  He 
is  gynecologist  to  the  Augusta  city  and  Lamar  hospitals ; is  a 
member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  medical  department  of  the 
University  of  Georgia  and  is  identified  with  the  American  medical 
association,  the  Georgia  medical  association  and  the  Richmond 
county  medical  society.  Pie  is  a Plaster  Mason  and  a member  of 
Upsilon  Chapter,  Delta  Psi  fraternity,  University  of  Virginia.  In 
politics  he  is  a conservative  Democrat  and  is  a ruling  elder  in  the 
First  Presbyterian  church  of  Augusta.  On  Nov.  5,  1872,  was  sol- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


581 


emnized  the  marriage  of  Doctor  Wilcox  to  Miss  Ida  C.  Van  Epps, 
daughter  of  Amos  C.  and  Caroline  L.  (Howard)  Van  Epps,  of 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  of  this  union  five  children  have  been  born : How- 
ard Van  Epps  Wilcox  married  Miss  Ella  Russell  Wright,  of 
Augusta;  George  Hand  Wilcox  married  Miss  Frances  Isham,  of 
Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Catherine  is  deceased;  and  Irma  and  Everard 
are  the  younger  children.  Doctor  Wilcox  has  two  living  sisters— - 
Mrs.  Graham  C.  Dunlop,  of  Montreal,  Canada,  and  Miss  Sarah  J. 
Wilcox,  of  Augusta;  Mrs.  Wilcox  had  two  brothers — Judge  How- 
ard Van  Epps,  who  resides  in  the  city  of  Atlanta,  and  George  C., 
who  is  deceased. 

Wild,  a post-hamlet  of  Lumpkin  county,  is  about  three  miles 
northeast  of  Dahlonega.  Lula  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Wilde,  Richard  Henry,  was  born  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  in  1789. 
He  came  to  Georgia  when  he  was  quite  young,  studied  law  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Augusta  in  1809.  He  served  as  attorney- 
general  of  the  state  and  was  elected  representative  in  Congress  in 
1814,  1822,  1826  and  1832.  In  1S43  he  removed  to  New  Orleans, 
where  he  became  professor  of  law  in  the  University  of  Louisiana. 
He  is  well  and  favorably  known  by  his  poems,  the  most  popular 
of  which  is  “My  Life  is  Like  the  Summer  Rose/’  He  died  in  New 
Orleans  Sept.  10,  1847. 

Wilder,  Joseph  John,  for  many  years  a prominent  figure  in  the 
commercial  and  political  life  of  Savannah,  Ga.,  was  born  in  that 
city,  Jan.  5,  1844,  and  died  at  Oakton,  Marietta,  Ga.,  Sept.  10,  1900. 
Joseph  John  Wilder’s  first  ancestor  in  America  was  Thomas  Wilder 
of  Sulham  House,  Berks,  England,  who  emigrated  to  Massachu- 
setts prior  to  1640,  and  whose  son,  Capt.  Thomas  Wilder,  served 
in  King  William’s  war  (1689-1697),  and  in  Queen  Anne’s  war 
(1701-1713).  Among  his  ancestors  was  Capt.  David  Wilder  who 
served  in  the  French  and  Indian  wars  prior  to  the  Revolution, 
and  who  was  captain  in  the  twenty-third  regiment  of  foot  in  the 
Continental  army.  His  powder-horn,  with  the  inscription  that  he 
was  serving  in  camps  near  Ticonderoga  in  the  year  1760,  is  still 
in  the  possession  of  the  family.  Joseph  John  Wilder  was  a son 
of  John  Randolph  and  Anne  Drucilla  (Lewis)  Wilder.  The  father 
was  born  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  March  18,  1S16.  and  the  mother  in 
Liberty  county,  Ga.,  in  1818.  Both  parents  died  in  Oakton,  Mari- 
etta, the  father,  on  Nov.  1,  1879,  and  the  mother  on  May  22,  1877. 
After  attending  the  home  school,  Mr.  Wilder  spent  some  time  in 
Europe  where  he  went  to  an  English  school  in  Darmstadt,  and 
afterwards  to  the  Universities  of  Bonn  and  Heidelberg  in  Germany, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


58  2 

and  in  Paris,  France.  Mr.  Wilder  was  a merchant  of  marked 
ability  and  strict  integrity,  honored  and  respected.  He  engaged 
in  business  in  Savannah,  succeeding  his  father,  John  Randolph 
Wilder,  of  the  firm  of  Wilder  & Co.,  which  for  many  years,  and  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death,  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  shipping 
and  cotton  exporting  houses  in  Savannah.  In  1887  he  served  as 
a member  of  the  board  of  aldermen  of  that  city,  and  was  for  a time 
chairman  of  the  board.  In  1879  he  succeeded  his  father  as  consul 
of  the  Russian  government  in  Savannah  and  held  that  position 
until  his  death.  He  was  a member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
church  and  in  politics  was  a Democrat.  He  was  married  on  June 
9,  1870,  to  Georgia  Page  (King)  Smith,  daughter  of  Hon.  Thomas 
Butler  King  and  Anna  Matilda  Page  of  Retreat,  St.  Simons  island. 
Anne  Page,  the  only  child  of  Joseph  John  Wilder  and  Georgia 
Page  King,  his  wife,  was  born  on  April  15,  1873,  and  was  married 
to  Hon.  Jefferson  Randolph  Anderson  of  Savannah,  Ga.,  on  Nov. 
27,  1895. 

Wildwood,  a post-village  of  Dade  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Alabama  Great  Southern  railroad,  not  far  from  the  Tennessee  line. 

Wiley,  (sometimes  spelled  Wylie)  is  a postoffice  and  railroad 
station  on  the  Tallulah  Falls  railway,  about  six  miles  south  of 
Clarkesville,  in  Rabun  count}’. 

Wiley,  Charles  M.,  ordinary  of  Bibb 
county,  is  one  of  the  best  known  and 
most  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  the  city 
of  Macon,  an  honored  veteran  of  the  Civil 
war  and  is  the  present  major-general 
commanding  the  United  Confederate 
Veterans  of  Georgia,  this  being  the  high- 
est office  of  the  organization  in  each  of 
the  southern  states.  Colonel  Wiley,  as 
he  is  familiarly  known,  was  born  in 
Macon,  July  30,  1841,  a son  of  Dr.  John 
B.  and  Ann  (Clopton)  Wiley,  the  former 
born  in  Hancock  and  the  latter  in  Put- 
nam county,  Ga.  The  maiden  name  of  John  B.  Wiley’s  mother 
was  Ann  Jack  and  she  was  a member  of  a family  which  found 
numerous  representatives  in  the  Continental  line  during  the  war 
of  the  Revolution.  One  of  the  number,  Captain  Jack,  carried  the 
original  Declaration  of  Independence,  commonly  known  as  the 
Mecklenburg  declaration,  from  Mecklenburg  county,  N.  C.,  to 
Philadelphia,  the  same  having  been  of  the  same  tenor  as  the  final 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


583 


•declaration  which  was  made  and  signed  in  that  city.  Dr.  John  B. 
Wiley  was  graduated  in  Jefferson  medical  college,  Philadelphia, 
and  also  in  a medical  college  in  the  city  of  New  York,  thereafter 
being  engaged  in  active  practice  in  Macon  for  many  years.  He 
became  one  of  the  leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of  that  part  of 
the  state  and  continued  to  reside  in  Macon  until  his  death,  June  10, 
1861,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years.  His  widow  long  survived  him, 
her  death  occurring,  in  the  same  city,  in  1894.  Col.  Charles  M. 
Wiley  secured  his  early  educational  training  in  the  schools  of 
Bibb  county,  after  which  he  was  a student  in  the  Georgia  military 
institute  for  a period  of  three  years.  Immediately  upon  leaving 
school  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  army,  and  after  serving  for 
ten  months  with  Company  B,  Second  Georgia  battalion,  he  was 
promoted  to  the  adjutancy  of  the  Forty-fourth  Georgia,  with  which 
regiment  he  served  for  two  and  one-half  years.  He  took  part  in 
numerous  engagements  in  the  Valley  of  Virginia,  was  at  Seven 
Pines,  in  both  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  all  the  fighting  around 
Richmond,  and  many  other  hard  fought  engagements.  For  some 
time  he  was  in  command  of  a company  of  scouts  and  sharpshooters, 
continuing  in  service  until  the  close  of  the  war,  although  he  was 
severely  wounded  in  the  right  thigh  and  has  never  recovered  from 
the  effects  of  the  injury.  He  was  promoted  to  captain,  but  never 
received  his  commission  as  such.  After  the  war  he  became  identi- 
fied with  agricultural  pursuits  in  Houston,  Bibb  and  Putnam 
counties  and  conducted  his  large  plantation  interests  under  his 
ownership  and  personal  supervision  until  1882,  when  he  became 
chief  of  police  of  Macon  and  retained  this  office  until  1889,  giving 
a most  able  and  satisfactory  administration.  He  was  then  elected 
judge  of  the  court  of  ordinary  of  Bibb  county,  in  which  office  he 
has  since  continued  to  serve,  with  marked  discrimination  and  gen- 
eral efficiency.  In  his  political  views  Colonel  Wiley  has  never 
faltered  in  his  allegiance  to  the  Democracy.  Fie  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  and  he  is  one 
of  the  most  popular  members  of  the  United  Confederate  Veterans 
of  Georgia,  being  major-general  in  command  of  the  state  organiza- 
tion, as  before  noted,  and  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the 
Confederate  soldiers’  home  of  Georgia,  having  been  reappointed  to 
this  office  in  January,  1906,  for  a term  of  five  years.  He  is  also  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  served 
as  grand  commander  of  the  grand  commandery  of  Knights  Tem- 
plars of  Georgia,  and  takes  a deep  interest  in  the  other  bodies  of 
the  time-honored  fraternity.  He  has  also  held  high  official  posi- 


584 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


tion  in  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  On  Dec.  15,  1863,  Colonel  Wiley 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Reid,  daughter  of  Col. 
Sidney  A.  and  Louisa  (Jordan)  Reid,  of  Eatonton,  Putnam  county, 
Ga.,  and  of  the  six  children  of  this  union  four  died  in  infancy. 
Mamie  A.  is  the  wife  of  Lawson  Brown,  president  of  the  Brown 
Wagon  Company  of  Macon,  Ga. ; they  have  one  son,  Lawson 
Brown,  Jr.  Sidney  Reid  Wiley,  the  only  son,  enlisted  in  the  Macon 
volunteers  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Spanish-American  war,  his  com- 
pany later  becoming  Company  F of  the  First  Georgia  volunteer 
infantry.  He  served  a short  time  as  private  and  was  then  com- 
missioned first  lieutenant  and  later  captain  of  Company  A,  Third 
United  States  volunteers,  commanded  by  Col.  Patrick  H.  Ray  of 
the  United  States  army,  with  which  he  served  eight  months  in  Cuba. 
When  he  returned  he  was  broken  down  in  health,  having  con- 
tracted tuberculosis.  He  was  mustered  out  in  May,  1899,  at  Macon, 
and  his  death  occurred  on  Sept.  13,  1902,  as  the  direct  result  of 
the  exposures  and  other  hardships  endured  by  him  while  serving 
as  a soldier  in  Cuba.  He  is  survived  by  his  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Judith  Gamble,  a duaghter  of  Dr.  J.  B.  Gamble,  a Baptist 
minister. 

Wiley,  Robert  Carnes,  M.  D.,  of  Sparta,  is  a leading  physician 
and  surgeon  of  that  part  of  the  state  and  is  a native  of  Hancock 
county,  where  he  was  born  on  Feb.  14,  1854,  a son  of  Samuel  Harris 
and  Sarah  E.  (Carnes)  Wiley,  both  of  whom  were  likewise  born  in 
Hancock  county,  of  which  Sparta  is  the  county  seat.  Doctor 
Wiley  attended  the  Rockby  School,  in  Hancock  county,  under  the 
tuition  of  Col.  R.  M.  Johnston,  and  later  was  a student  in  Mount 
Zion  seminary,  under  Rev.  C.  B.  Beman.  His  technical  training  for 
the  profession  in  which  he  has  been  so  earnest  and  successful  a 
Avorker,  was  secured  in  the  Medical  College  of  Georgia  in  Augusta, 
this  being  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Georgia. 
He  was  there  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1877,  dtdy 
receiving  his  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine,  and  initiated  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  in  his  native  county.  In  1889  he  located  in 
Sparta,  where  be  has  since  been  engaged  in  successful  practice,  and 
has  a large  and  representative  support.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Georgia  State  medical  association  and  keeps  abreast  of  the  advances 
made  in  his  profession,  both  as  a physician  and  surgeon.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a Democrat  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he  is  a ruling  elder.  On  Jan.  8,  1890, 
Doctor  Wiley  Avas  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Margaret  W.  David- 
son, a native  of  Lexington,  Va. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


585 


Wilkes  County  was.  created  in  1777,  from  land,  acquired  from  the 
Indians  in  1773,  and  was  named  for  John  Wilkes,  a great  champion 
of  American  liberty  in  the  British  house  of  commons.  In  1790  a 
part  of  it  was  set  off  to  Elbert,  part  to  Warren  in  1793,  part  to 
Lincoln  in  1796,  part  to  Greene  in  1802  and  still  other  parts  to 
Taliaferro  in  1825  and  1828.  At  the  convention  which  met  at  Au- 
gusta in  1788  to  ratify  the  United  States  constitution,  Wilkes 
county  was  represented  by  George  Mathews,  Florence  Sullivan  and 
John  King.  It  is  situated  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Elbert  county,  on  the  east  by  Lincoln,  on 
the  south  by  McDuffie,  Warren  and  Taliaferro,  on  the  southwest 
by  Taliaferro  and  on  the  west  and  northwest  by  Oglethorpe.  Broad 
and  Little  rivers  with  several  creeks  drain  the  land  and  provide 
ample  water-power  for  the  factories  of  the  county.  The  surface 
is  rolling,  and  the  climate  is  subject  to  great  changes.  The  soil  is 
light,  and  while  it  is  fertile,  is  not  lasting.  Cotton,  sweet  and  Irish 
potatoes,  sugar-cane,  sorghum,  wheat,  corn,  and  peas  are  the  prin- 
cipal productions.  Apples,  peaches,  and  cherries  are  cultivated 
extensively.  There  is  still  much  timber  in  the  county  and  many 
saw-mills  are  busy  getting  out  lumber  for  the  market.  In  July, 
1901,  gold  was  discovered  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county.  From 
one  thousand  pounds  of  dirt,  submitted  to  the  stamping  mills,  $1,500 
worth  of  gold  was  obtained.  Other  minerals  of  the  county  are  iron, 
soapstone,  granite  and  quartz.  Washington,  the  county  seat,  is 
noted  for  its  beauty.  There  is  little  opportunity  for  travel  or  the 
shipping  of  freight,  the  railroads  being  confined  to  a short  line, 
connecting  Washington  with  the  main  line  of  the  Georgia,  at  Bar- 
nett. The  population  in  1900  was  20,866,  an  increase  of  2,785  in  ten 
years.  Being  one  of  the  oldest  counties  in  the  state,  Wilkes  is 
indissolubly  connected  with  the  names  of  many  of  Georgia’s  most 
noted  citizens.  Gen.  Elijah  Clarke,  Col.  John  Dooly,  Col.  John 
Graves,  Col.  Nicholas  Long,  Peter  Early,  Matthew  Talbot,  Benja- 
min Taliaferro,  Stephen  Heard,  Duncan  and  John  A.  Campbell, 
the  Rev.  Jesse  Mercer  and  Robert  Toombs  were  all  residents  of  the 
county.  The  wife  of  Elijah  Clarke,  one  of  the  most  noted  Revolu- 
tionary heroines,  died  in  Wilkes  county  in  1827,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety  years.  Washington  is  known  as  the  home  of  the 
remarkable  woman,  Mrs.  HillhOuse,  who,  when  left  a widow  and 
without  means,  assumed  charge  of  a newspaper,  wrote  editorials, 
set  type  and  did  the  state  printing,  so  that  she  was  able  to  educate 
her  three  children,  and  at  her  death,  leave  each  of  them  a legacy  of 
$10,000. 


586 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Wilkins,  Willis  Jackson,  D.  D.  S.,  is 

engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  Eastman  and  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  representative  dental  surgeons  of 
Dodge  county.  He  was  born  in  Suf- 
folk, Nansemond  county,  Va.,  May  26, 
1869,  a son  of  Josiah  and  Georgiana 
(Skinner)  Wilkins,  both  of  whom  were 


the  Old  Dominion 
passed  their  entire 
death  occurring  in 
the  mother  having 
1894;  they  rest  side 
Nansemond  countv. 


likewise  native  of 
state,  where  they 
lives,  the  father’s 
March,  1901,  and 
passed  away  May  4, 
by  side  in  the  cemetery  of  Cypress  Chapel, 

Josiah  Wilkins  served  as  a valiant  soldier  of  the  Confederacy  during 
practically  the  entire  period  of  the  Civil  war  as  a member 
of  a company  of  sharpshooters  from  Virginia.  He  had  three 
brothers  and  two  sisters  and  all  are  now  deceased  except  one  of 
the  sisters,  Lucy,  who  is  the  wife  of  Abraham  Griffin,  of  Nansemond 
county.  After  duly  availing  himself  of  the  advantages  of  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  state  Doctor  Wilkins  continued  his 
studies  for  two  years  in  the  Suffolk  military  academy,  after  which 
he  was  identified  with  mercantile  pursuits  for  several  years.  He 
then  came  to  Georgia  and  entered  the  Atlanta  dental  college,  in 
which  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1902,  receiving 
his  degree  of  Doctor  of  Dental  Surgery.  He  established  himself 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Jesup,  Wayne  county,  where  he 
met  with  excellent  success,  and  remained  there  until  March,  1906, 
when  he  took  up  his  residence  in  the  thriving  little  city  of  Eastman, 
where  his  ability  has  gained  for  him  prompt  recognition,  insuring 
him  a large  and  prosperous  professional  business.  In  politics  the 
doctor  gives  an  unswerving  support  to  the  Democratic  party  and 
fraternally  he  is  identified  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  On  April 
9,  1902,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Doctor  Wilkins  to  Miss 
Lillian  Jarrell,  of  Butler,  Taylor  county,  Ga.,  and  she  was  summoned 
to  the  life  eternal  Sept.  22,  1905,  survived  by  two  children — Willis 
Jarrell,  born  Sept.  6,  1903,  and  Luther  Hill,  born  June  16,  1905. 
In  conclusion  it  may  be  stated  that  Doctor  Wilkins  is  one  of  a 
family  of  nine  children,  all  of  whom  are  living  except  one:  William 
Thomas,  Theodore  Scott,  Eoline,  Joseph  Henry,  Annie  Lou,  Geor- 
gia Ophelia,  Willis  Jackson,  Mattie  Gertrude  and  Abram  L.  Eoline 
is  the  wife  of  S.  A.  Baker,  of  Jesup,  Ga. ; Annie  Lou  is  deceased ; 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


587 


Georgia  O.  is  the  wife  of  M.  E.  Gay,  of  Suffolk,  Va. ; Mattie  G. 
is  the  wife  of  D.  L.  Harrell,  of  Cypress  Chapel,  Va. ; and  Abram  L. 
is  a successful  physician  and  surgeon  of  Eastman,  Ga. 

Wilkinson  County  was  laid  out  by  the  lottery  act  of  1803,  and 
organized  in  1805.  A part  of  it  was  added  to  Baldwin  in  1807  and  a 
part  set  off  to  Twiggs  in  1809.  The  first  superior  court  in  the  county 
was  held  in  1808,  Judge  Peter  Early  presiding.  It  was  named  for 
Gen.  James  Wilkinson,  a soldier  of  the  Revolution  and  the  war  of 
1812.  It  lies  in  the  central  part  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Baldwin,  on  the  northeast  by  Baldwin,  Washington  and 
Johnson,  on  the  southeast  by  Laurens,  on  the  southwest  by  Twiggs 
and  on  the  northwest  by  Jones.  The  Oconee  river  flows  along  the 
northeastern  boundary  and  several  tributaries  of  this  stream  cross 
the  surface.  In  the  northeastern  part  there  is  also  a pond  or  lake 
of  considerable  size.  All  the  streams  abound  in  fish,  and  numerous 
mills  and  factories  are  distributed  along  the  banks.  The  main 
line  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railway  and  a branch  of  the  same  sys- 
tem traverse  the  county,  providing  excellent  facilities  for  transpor- 
tation. There  is  a diversity  of  soil,  but  the  average  crops  are  wheat, 
corn,  potatoes,  field  and  ground  peas,  cotton  and  sugar-cane.  Veg- 
etables, berries,  melons  and  fruits  are  raised,  but  very  few  are 
marketed.  Forests  of  long  leaf  pine  grow  on  the  gray  land,  oak 
and  hickory  on  the  red  lands,  along  the  streams  is  an  abundance  of 
swamp  timber  and  the  annual  output  of  lumber  is  considerable. 
Wilkinson  county  has  little  mineral  wealth.  There  is  an  abundant 
supply  of  rotten  limestone,  some  of  which  becomes  very  hard  when 
exposed  to  the  air  and  which  is  much  used  in  the  construction  of 
chimneys.  Gordon  is  the  largest  town,  and  Irwinton  is  the  county 
seat.  The  population  in  1900  was  11,440,  a gain  of  659  since  1890. 

Wilkinson,  John  Robert,  ordinary  and  judge  of  the  court  of  ordi- 
nary of  Fulton  county,  is  a well  known  and  honored  citizen  of 
Atlanta  and  one  of  the  most  prominent  representatives  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  in  the  South.  He  was  born  at  Newnan,  Coweta 
county,  Ga.,  June  20,  1856,  a son  of  Maj.  Urial  Baylis  Wilkinson 
and  Amelia  T.  (Spratlin)  Wilkinson,  whose  marriage  was  solem- 
nized, in  Greenville,  Ga.,  Jan.  23,  1845.  Major  Wilkinson  was  born 
in  Wilkes  county,  Ga.,  May  13,  1819,  and  died  at  Newnan,  Coweta 
county,  Dec.  21,  1897.  His  wife  was  born  in  Wilkes  county,  April 
17,  1829,  and  died  at  College  Park,  Fulton  county,  in  May,  1894. 
Maj.  Urial  B.  Wilkinson  was  a son  of  Thomas  B.  and  Lucy 
(Crosby)  Wilkinson,  the  latter  a daughter  of  Urial  Crosby.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Thomas  Wilkinson,  was  a resident  of  York, 


588 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Va.,  and  the  direct  line  of  descent  is  traced  back  from  the  latter 
through  Lawrence  Wilkinson,  a son  of  William  Wilkinson,  who 
married  a daughter  of  Sir  John  Conyers  and  settled  in  Providence, 

R.  I.,  in  the  early  colonial  era.  Amelia  T. 
Wilkinson  was  a daughter  of  Henry  and 
Mary  (Johnson)  Spratlin,  and  a grand- 
daughter of  James  and  Martha  (Calla- 
way) Spratlin,  the  maternal  line  of  Calla- 
way being  traced  back  to  Caleb  Callaway, 
1660,  and  through  the  Hills,  of  Washing- 
ton, Wilkes  county,  to  Abraham  Hill, 
who  was  born  in  Northumberland  county, 
Va.,  in  1698,  a son  of  Henry  Hill,  who 
was  born  in  1650.  Both  branches  of  Judge 
Wilkinson’s  family  trace  to  English  ori- 
gin. Maj.  Urial  Wilkinson  was  promi- 
joiin  k.  wilkinmin.  nently  identified  with  public  and  political 
affairs  in  both  Heard  and  Coweta  counties  from  the  time  of  attain- 
ing his  legal  majority.  He  was  cool,  far-seeing,  clear-headed,  a safe 
adviser  and  a good  organizer.  Few  men  had  more  influence  in 
giving  direction  to  and  controlling  elections  in  the  counties  in  which 
he  lived.  He  never  sought  public  office,  yet  he  was  frequently 
called  upon  by  his  fellow  citizens  to  fill 
positions  of  honor  and  trust.  In  his  early 
manhood  he  was  chosen  justice  of  the 
peace;  he  also  served  as  judge  of  the  in- 
ferior court  in  Heard  county;  as  clerk  of 
the  court  of  ordinary  of  said  county  in 
1849;  and  later  in  life  was  judge  of  the 
court  of  ordinary  in  Coweta  county.  At 
the  inception  of  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted 
in  the  Confederate  service,  but  soon  after- 
ward Gov.  Joseph  E.  Brown  appointed 
him  commissioner  of  the  Confederate 
States,  under  impressment  act  of  the  Con- 
federate Congress.  He  was  also  depositary  MAj.  urial  b.  wilkinson. 
of  the  Confederate  government,  having 

been  appointed  to  his  office  by  the  secretary  of  the  treasury 
of  the  Confederacy.  In  1880  he  was  elected  to  represent  Coweta 
county  in  the  state  legislature,  polling  the  largest  vote  ever  given 
in  said  county  up  to  that  time.  He  was  untiring  in  his  labors  while 
in  the  legislature,  and  during  a session  of  one  hundred  and  sixteen 
days  was  not  once  absent  from  his  seat,  while  he  drafted  and  pre- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


589 


sented  many  of  the  most  important  bills  presented  in  the  house 
during  his  term.  Major  Wilkinson  was  a consistent  and  zealous 
member  of  the  Baptist  church,  with  which  he  identified  himself  in 
1S38.  In  1851  he  was  ordained  a deacon,  and  for  nearly  forty  years 
he  served  as  clerk  of  the  Western  Baptist  association  of  Georgia. 
He  built  the  military  school  at  Manchester,  Fulton  county,  but  died 
before  the  institution  had  been  formally  established.  Judge  John 
R.  Wilkinson,  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch,  secured  his  early 
education  in  the  schools  of  Newnan,  Coweta  county.  In  the  autumn 
of  1874  he  matriculated  in  Mercer  university,  as  a sophomore  and 
continued  his  studies  in  that  institution  through  about  one-half 
of  the  junior  year,  when  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  his  college 
work  by  reason  of  the  weak  condition  of  his  eyes.  In  1876  he  was 
elected  cashier  of  the  People’s  bank  at  Newnan  and  retained  this 
position  eight  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which,  in  1884,  he  removed 
to  Atlanta,  having  been  previously  engaged  for  a short  time  in  the 
mercantile  business  in  Newnan.  After  taking  up  his  residence  in 
Atlanta  he  became  identified  with  the  wholesale  paper  and  paper- 
products  business,  disposing  of  his  interests  in  this  line  of  enter- 
prise in  1887.  Judge  Wilkinson  has  been  a stanch  and  zealous 
worker  in  the  cause  of  the  Democratic  party.  In  1890-91  he  served 
as  deputy  clerk  of  the  city  council  of  Atlanta,  and  in  1900  he  was 
elected  ordinary  of  Fulton  county  and  judge  of  the  court  of  ordin- 
ary, being  chosen  as  his  own  successor  in  1904,  for  a second  term 
of  four  years.  He  and  his  wife  are  valued  members  of  the  First 
Baptist  church,  with  which  denomination  he  has  been  identified 
since  1868,  when  he  joined  the  church  at  Newnan.  In  1904  he  was 
ordained  a deacon  of  the  First  Baptist  church  of  Atlanta.  Judge 
Wilkinson  has  attained  the  maximum  degree  in  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity and  has  held  distinguished  preferment  in  the  various  bodies  of 
the  order.  He  is  past  master  of  Gate  City  Lodge,  No.  2,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons;  past  high  priest  of  Mount  Zion  Chapter,  No.  16, 
Royal  Arch  Masons;  past  thrice  illustrious  master  of  Jason  Burr 
Council,  No.  13,  Royal  and  Select  Masters ; past  eminent  com- 
mander of  Atlanta  Commandery,  No.  9,  Knights  Templar;  is 
chief  rabban  of  Yraarab  Temple,  Ancient  Arabic  Order,  Nobles  of 
the  Mystic  Shrine;  and  secretary  of  the  board  of  the  Masonic  Tem- 
ple Company,  all  of  Atlanta.  In  October,  1901,  he  received  the 
thirty-third  or  highest  degree  of  the  Ancient  and  Accepted  Scottish 
Rite,  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  was  made  special  deputy  of  the 
Rite  for  Atlanta.  In  the  national  capital,  in  1901,  he  was  also 
elected  chancellor  of  the  body  of  Knights  Commander  of  the  Court 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


590 

of  Honor,  was  reelected  in  1903  and  is  now  the  incumbent  of  the 
office.  In  1903  the  Royal  Order  of  Scotland  was  conferred  upon 
him.  In  1905  he  was  elected  grand  royal-arch  captain  of  the 
Georgia  grand  chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  in  the  same 
year  he  was  chosen  grand  conductor  of  the  grand  council  of  the 
state.  He  is  grand  representative  of  Quebec  near  the  grand  chap- 
ter of  Georgia ; grand  representative  of  Mississippi  near  the  grand 
council  of  Georgia  ; and  grand  representative  of  Maryland  near  the 
grand  commander  of  Knights  Templar  of  Georgia.  On  Nov.  26, 
1878,  Judge  Wilkinson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Annie  Wade 
Wood,  daughter  of  Capt. Winston  B.  and  Maria  L.  (Dent)  Wood, 
of  Newnan.  Of  this  union  have  been  born  four  children,  of  whom 
two  are  living — William  Barrett,  born  in  1881,  and  Harry  Eugene, 
born  in  1891.  Grady  Wade  and  John  R.,  Jr.,  died  in  infancy. 

Willacoochee,  a town  in  Coffee  county,  is  on  the  Atlantic  Coast 
Line  railway  between  Waycross  and  Tifton.  It  was  incorporated 
by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1889.  The  population  in  1900  was  471, 
and  of  the  entire  Willacoochee  district  2,754.  It  has  express  and 
telegraph  offices,  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery, 
a bank,  stores,  schools,  churches,  saw  mills,  and  a heavy  trade  in  all 
pine  products. 

Willard,  a post-village  of  Putnam  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Covington  branch  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  about  ten 
miles  northwest  of  Eatonton.  It  has  a few  stores,  with  good  local 
trade,  and  does  some  shipping,  both  by  freight  and  express. 

Willcox,  Charles  Henry,  a representa- 
tive citizen  and  business  man  of  Savan- 
nah, was  born  in  Bristol,  R.  I.,  July  1, 
1836,  a son  of  Charles  and  Mary  C. 
(Bourne)  Willcox,  both  of  whom  were 
born  in  Sandwich,  Mass.,  the  former  in 
1797  and  the  latter  in  1806.  The  re- 
spective families  were  early  founded  in 
New  England  and  representatives  of  each 
were  found  enrolled  as  patriot  soldiers 
in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  including 
both  grandfathers  of  him  whose  name 
initiates  this  sketch.  Charles  Henry 
Willcox  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  state  of  Massachusetts  and 
he  became  a resident  of  South  Carolina  in  1856.  When  the  Civil 
war  was  precipitated  he  was  among  the  first  to  offer  his  services 
in  defense  of  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy.  In  January,  1861,  he 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


591 


enlisted  as  a private  in  the  Beaufort  artillery,  with  which  he  took 
part  in  the  engagement  at  Port  Royal,  where  he  was  wounded,  but 
he  continued  with  his  command  and  participated  in  the  various 
other  engagements  along  the  coast  until  he  was  promoted  to  the 
office  of  quartermaster,  in  1SG2,  thereafter  serving  in  this  capacity 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  receiving  his  parole  at  Greensboro,  N.  C. 
Mr.  Willcox  took  up  his  residence  in  Savannah,  Ga.,  in  the  year 
1881,  and  in  addition  to  having  valuable  plantation  interests  in 
South  Carolina,  he  has  been  president  of  the  Savannah  Guano 
Company  for  the  past  quarter  of  a century.  He  is  senior  partner 
in  the  firm  of  Willcox,  Ives  & Co.,  which  was  organized  in  1881 
and  which  has  a finely  equipped  plant  in  Savannah,  affording  em- 
ployment to  a corps  of  from  150  to  300  persons.  He  is  also  a mem- 
ber of  the  Willcox-Ives  Oil  Company  and  was  formerly  one  of  the 
chief  stockholders  and  general  manager  of  the  Standard  Fuel  Sup- 
ply Company,  which  was  organized  in  1900.  Mr.  Willcox  is  a 
stanch  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  but  for 
many  years  past  he  has  not  been  an  active  factor  in  political  affairs. 
He  has  been  tendered  nomination  for  various  offices  of  public  trust 
but  has  not  responded  favorably  to  such  overtures,  preferring  to 
devote  his  undivided  attention  to  his  various  business  interests. 
On  Feb.  2,  1873,  Mr.  Willcox  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ella 
F.  Miles,  daughter  of  the  late  Louis  Miles,  of  Edgefield,  S.  C.,  and 
they  have  five  children — Charles  L.,  Mary  E.,  Myra  A.,  Arthur 
Lyman,  and  Albert  Miles.  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  W.  T.  Beckham 
and  Myra  A.  is  the  wife  of  D.  Y.  Beckham. 

Willett,  a post-village  of  Muscogee  county,  with  a population  of 
84  in  1900,  is  about  three  miles  southeast  of  Columbus,  which  is 
the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Williams,  George  W.,  senior  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Williams 
& Blackshear.  of  Dublin,  and  representative  of  Laurens  county  in 
the  State  legislature,  was  born  in  Excelsior,  Bulloch  county,  Ga., 
Aug.  1,  1866,  a son  of  Rev.  Robert  J.  and  Margaret  B.  Williams, 
both  born  in  Bulloch  county.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  each  was 
a patriot  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  Rev.  Robert  J. 
Williams  and  all  of  his  brothers,  three  in  number,  served  as 
valiant  soldiers  of  the  Confederacy  in  the  Civil  war.  Rev. 
Robert  J.  Williams  was  a member  of  the  Forty-seventh  Georgia 
volunteer  infantry,  in  which  he  served  as  first  lieutenant,  taking 
part  in  a number  of  important  engagements,  including  the  seven 
days’  fight  in  front  of  Richmond,  and  also  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga.  He  is  a clergyman  of  the  Baptist  church  and  he  and  his 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


592 

wife  now  live  at  Soperton,  Ga.  George  W.  Williams  completed 
the  curriculum  of  the  high  school  in  his  native  town  and  thereafter 
took  a partial  course  in  Mercer  university,  after  which  he  studied 

law  under  excellent  preceptorship,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1892.  He  has 
been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Dublin  since  1901,  and  the  firm 
of  which  he  is  a member  controls  one 
of  the  largest  and  most  profitable  law 
practices  in  middle  Georgia.  Mr.  Will- 
iams accords  an  uncompromising  alleg- 
iance to  the  Democratic  party.  Governor 
Atkinson  appointed  him  solicitor  of  the 
county  court  of  Bulloch  county  in  1894, 
and  he  served  in  this  office  for  four  years. 
In  April,  1904,  he  was  nominated  for  rep- 
resentative of  Laurens  county  in  the  State  legislature,  and  in  the 
ensuing  election  he  defeated,  by  a large  majority,  a strong  opponent. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Georgia  bar  association,  and  is  affiliated 
with  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Dublin.  On  Feb. 
11,  1890,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Josephine  H.  Roach, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Tom  S.  and  Josephine  (Brady)  Roach,  of  Black, 
Bulloch  county,  and  four  children  were  born  of  this  union : Bar- 
nett W.,  George  W.,  Jr.,  Tom  Roach,  and  Joe  Lester.  Tom  Roach 
Williams  died  on  April  1,  1905,  aged  six  years,  and  in  his  memory 
his  parents  have  installed  a large  collection  of  books  for  children 
in  the  Carnesde  librarv  in  Dublin. 

Williams,  Jesse  Parker,  of  Savannah, 
Ga.,  stands  in  the  front  rank  of  those 
sons  of  the  South  who  by  strong  men- 
tality, indomitable  industry,  sterling  in- 
tegrity and  sagacious  foresight  have 
accumulated  large  fortunes  and  lead  in 
the  development  of  this  section  of  the 
country.  His  work  has  been  that  of  an 
up-builder,  an  organizer  of  industry,  a 
planner  of  new  business  movements.  His 
efforts  have  been  exerted  along  carefully 
considered  lines,  with  definite  objects  in 
view, 'and  have  been  unceasing  until  suc- 
Knowing  no  discouragement,  confident  of 


cess  has  crowned  them. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


593 


the  ultimate  fruition  of  his  hopes,  Mr.  Williams  has  pressed  for- 
ward undaunted  where  other  men,  with  less  confidence  and  deter- 
mination, would  have  fallen  back  and  abandoned  their  projects. 
As  with  other  leaders  who,  in  this  generation,  have  been  instru- 
mental in  organizing  anew  the  great  vital  forces  of  the  South,  Mr. 
Williams  stands  as  an  example  to  the  young  men  of  Georgia,  as 
an  evidence  of  the  rich  rewards  awaiting  intelligence  and  energy 
when  properly  applied.  He  has  thoroughly  demonstrated  the  truth 
of  the  old  adage  that  opportunities  lie  at  every  man’s  door,  and  that 
success  is  merely  the  harvest  that  comes  from  the  skilful  use  of 
them.  The  foundations  of  Mr.  Williams’  fortune  were  laid  without 
the  aid  of  influential  friends.  He  began  his  business  career  facing 
the  adverse  conditions  created  by  the  Civil  war,  with  no  capital 
beyond  his  brains,  his  industry,  and  a reputation  for  strict  integrity 
in  all  things  that  entitled  him  to  the  confidence  of  the  commercial 
world.  On  this  safe  basis  he  builded,  slowly  at  first,  then  more 
rapidly  as  the  arena  of  his  operations  broadened,  until  to-day  he 
stands  the  peer  of  any  business  man  in  the  South,  a recognized 
exponent  of  all  that  is  best  in  the  commercial  activities  of  his  state 
and  section.  There  is  nothing  in  Mr.  Williams’  success  that  is  to 
be  attributed  to  “chance.”  He  has  never  played  the  part  of  a mere 
speculator,  has  never  sought  to  build  up  his  prosperity  at  the  ex- 
pense of  others.  The  trend  of  his  business  life  has  been  toward 
helping  others  while  promoting  his  own  interests,  to  keep  before 
him  the  public  weal  as  well  as  his  private  aims.  Every  man  who 
has  assisted  in  the  carrying  out  of  his  plans  has  profited  in  pro- 
portion to  the  efforts  he  has  put  forth.  To-day  scores  of  men  in 
the  South  who  are  prosperous  in  business  acknowledge  their  debt 
of  gratitude  to  Mr.  Williams.  This  is  probably  the  most  satis- 
factory feature  of  his  entire  career.  In  a day  when  the  finger  of 
condemnation  is  pointed  at  so  many  fortunes  acquired  by  immoral, 
even  if  not  unlawful,  means,  it  is  a satisfaction  to  dwell  on  the  fact 
that  Mr.  Williams’  entire  life  stands  as  an  open  book  for  the  scru- 
tiny of  the  world.  He  has  not  profited  by  the  ruin  or  injury  of 
others,  or  by  schemes  that  were  doubtful  in  character,  but  has 
walked  steadfastly  along  the  safe  old  lines  of  business  probity  and 
straight  dealing  with  his  fellowmen.  Mr.  Williams’  life  exempli- 
fies those  sterling  traits  of  character  which  so  strongly  marked  the 
original  stock  of  the  “Old  Dominion”  and  the  “Old  North  State.” 
For  generations  back  his  ancestors  were  among  the  sturdy  sons 
of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina.  Disciplined  in  the  rugged  life  of 
the  pioneer,  honoring  that  which  is  pure  and  true,  full  of  vigor  and 


38 — III 


594 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


strength  and  courage,  stanch  in  their  adherence  to  principle,  they 
bred  a race  of  men  well  calculated  to  withstand  the  stress  of  war 
and  of  evil  days  of  which  the  South  was  to  enter.  Mr.  Williams 
was  born  in  Wayne  county,  N.  C.,  sixty-four  years  ago.  His  father, 
Mack  Williams,  a native  of  that  state,  was  the  son  of  Charles  Wil- 
liams, a captain  of  North  Carolina  cavalry  in  the  war  of  1S12.  His 
great-grandfather,  George  Williams,  was  a Virginia  soldier  of  the 
Revolution.  On  the  maternal  side  also  Mr.  Williams  is  descended 
from  an  old  and  distinguished  Virginia  family,  the  Parkers,  a family 
whose  name  often  appears  in  the  annals  of  the  state,  in  war  as  well 
as  in  peace.  His  grandmother,  Elizabeth  Parker,  was  born  in 
Nansemond  county,  Va.,  removing  to  North  Carolina  after  her 
marriage.  From  both  sides  Mr.  Williams  doubtless  inherited  the 
love  of  military  life  which  displayed  itself  in  the  struggle  between 
the  states.  As  with  so  many  thousands  of  the  youth  of  the  South, 
Mr.  Williams’  higher  education  was  broken  into  by  that  sanguinary 
conflict.  He  had  finished  a two  years’  course  (1858-59)  at  the 
Franklin  military  institute,  and  become  a student  at  the  University 
of  Virginia,  when  the  news  of  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter  swept  a 
whirlwind  of  enthusiasm  over  North  Carolina  and  her  sister  states. 
Books  were  cast  aside  at  once.  Returning  home  immediately  he 
enlisted  as  a private  in  the  Twentieth  North  Carolina  infantry  and 
served  in  that  capacity  for  a year.  While  at  home  on  a furlough 
Private  Williams  organized  a company  and  tendered  it  to  the  gov- 
ernor of  North  Carolina.  Its  services  were  at  once  accepted  and 
he  was  commissioned  its  captain.  This  company  then  became  part 
of  the  Fifty-fifth  North  Carolina  infantry.  After  serving  the  Con- 
federacy in  this  position  for  a year  Captain  Williams  resigned  his 
command,  about  March  1,  1863,  and  returned  home.  After  a short 
rest  he  was  appointed  adjutant  of  Nethercott’s  battalion  of  Part- 
isan Rangers.  After  a few  months’  service  this  office  was  resigned 
and  Captain  Williams  organized  another  company  at  Ivenston,  N. 
C.,  received  his  commission  as  its  commanding  officer,  and  served 
with  it  until  the  close  of  hostilities.  This  company  was  made  a 
part  of  Nethercott’s  battalion,  which  was  afterwards  consolidated 
with  Wright’s  battalion  and  formed  the  Sixty-sixth  regiment  of 
North  Carolina  infantry.  During  his  four  years’  service  in  the 
Confederate  army,  which  terminated  with  the  surrender  of  Johns- 
ton’s army,  Captain  Williams  was  engaged  in  numerous  skirmishes 
and  battles  in  North  Carolina  and  Virginia.  He  enjoyed  the  con- 
fidence of  his  superior  officers  and  of  the  men  under  his  command. 
At  Washington,  Walthall  Junction,  the  second  Cold  Harbor,  Peters- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


595 


burg,  Fort  Harrison,  Wilmington,  Wise’s  Fork  and  Bentonville 
his  company  fought  valiantly.  Its  losses  were  heavy  and  at  the 
surrender  there  was  but  a fragment  of  its  original  strength  to  lay 
down  arms  and  return  to  the  paths  of  peace.  At  Petersburg,  from 
June  15  to  September  6,  his  company  lay  in  the  trenches  within 
136  yards  of  the  Federals  in  Fort  Stedman,  probably  being  the 
nearest  to  the  enemy  along  the  whole  Confederate  line  of  entrench- 
ments. At  other  battle  points  Captain  Williams  and  his  men  were 
similarly  honored  with  positions  of  great  danger  and  never  failed 
to  reflect  credit  upon  themselves  and  North  Carolina  by  the  un- 
flinching performance  of  their  duty  in  the  face  of  great  odds.  In 
the  period  of  military  service,  as  in  the  forty  years  of  business 
struggles  that  were  to  follow,  Captain  Williams  displayed  the  same 
traits  of  character— cool  determination,  sagacious  planning,  un- 
daunted courage,  and  a high  moral  sense  of  personal  responsibility. 
The  years  of  warfare  were  a fitting  preparation  for  the  four  decades 
of  progressive  business  life  on  which  he  at  once  entered  when  the 
sword  was  laid  down  at  Greensboro.  There  was  no  time  for  idle- 
ness for  Captain  Williams  after  hostilities  ceased.  He  accepted 
a position  as  bookkeeper  for  a firm  at  Conway,  S.  C.,  and  remained 
there  for  two  years.  In  1868  he  engaged  in  the  lumber  business 
at  Port  Haralson,  S.  C.,  and  two  years  later  in  the  mercantile  line 
at  the  same  place.  Inside  of  ten  years  Captain  Williams,  as  he  is 
still  generally  known  to  his  friends,  had  secured  a firm  financial 
footing,  had  established  a credit  that  was  never  impaired,  and  had 
reached  that  point  in  his  career  where  he  could  safely  enter  broader 
fields  and  undertake  business  on  a larger  scale  than  heretofore.  To 
that  end  he  removed  to  Savannah,  Ga.,  in  1879,  and  on  December 
10  entered  the  naval  stores  commission  business  there,  later  combin- 
ing the  handling  of  cotton  with  that  of  naval  stores.  For  twenty- 
six  years  he  has  continued  in  this  line,  the  firm  irow  being  the  oldest 
naval  stores  commission  house  in  the  South.  At  first  the  firm  was 
Williams  & Watson.  Two  years  later,  in  1882,  the  late  C.  L.  Chess- 
nutt  succeeded  to  Mr.  Watson’s  interest,  the  firm  name  becoming 
J.  P.  Williams  & Co.  Soon  after  this  Mr.  J.  A.  G.  Carson  succeeded 
Mr.  Chessnutt.  The  firm  name  remained  unchanged  until  1897 
when  the  concern  was  incorporated  as  The  J.  P.  Williams  Company. 
At  the  advent  of  Mr.  Carson  a wholesale  grocery  business  was 
added,  this  house  being  the  first  naval  stores  firm  to  add  that  im- 
portant branch  to  its  business,  an  example  the  others  soon  followed. 
The  development  of  the  business  was  steady,  every  year  seeing  a 
decided  increase  in  the  volume  of  naval  stores  and  cotton  handled. 


596 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


For  the  past  twenty  years  the  house  has  been  recognized  as  fore- 
most in  its  line.  Even  in  the  face  of  the  strongest  competition, 
such  as  has  marked  recent  years,  there  has  been  a constant  expan- 
sion of  its  business  and  a strengthening  of  its  commanding  trade 
position.  The  firm  name  stands  as  a synonym  for  fair  dealings 
and  for  strict  adherence  to  rigid  probity  in  every  transaction.  The 
absolute  confidence  felt  in  it  by  the  producing  trade  is  the  strong- 
est testimonial  that  could  be  desired  as  to  the  principles  espoused 
by  Mr.  Williams  and  his  business  associates.  As  a far  seeing 
business  man  Mr.  Williams  appreciated  the  fact  that  the  rapid 
destruction  of  the  pine  timber  of  the  South  must  soon  result  in  an 
enormous  appreciation  of  timber  land  values.  He  accordingly  be- 
came a large  investor  in  such  properties.  To  that  end  he  organized 
the  Williams  Investment  Company  and  The  J.  P.  Williams  Land 
Company.  These  two  companies  have  handled  in  all  over  700,000 
acres  of  pine  lands.  The  former  has  been  liquidated,  the  latter 
continues  in  active  business,  controlling  large  and  increasingly 
valuable  tracts.  Enormous  profits  have  resulted  from  Mr.  Williams’ 
keen  appreciation  of  the  future  results  of  the  naval  stores  and  lum- 
ber inroads  on  the  pine  forests.  Through  the  instrumentality  of 
these  land  companies  his  house  has  also  been  in  position  to  protect 
the  interests  of  its  customers  among  naval  stores  producers,  pro- 
viding them  with  timber  lands  when  their  farms  were  exhausted. 
The  opportunity  to  buy  timber  lands  cheap  was  open  to  all,  but  it 
was  the  sagacious  foresight,  the  penetrating  intelligence  of  men 
like  Mr.  Williams  that  led  them  to  seize  the  possibilities  and  utilize 
them  to  their  own  and  others  benefit.  The  control  of  large  areas 
of  timber  lands  in  the  natural  course  of  events  led  Mr.  Williams 
into  the  railroad  sphere.  He  was  one  of  the  chief  promoters  of  the 
Middle  Georgia  & Atlantic  railroad,  which  became  merged  into 
the  Central  of  Georgia  railway.  The  successful  completion  of  this 
road  was  largely  due  to  Mr.  Williams’  efforts.  His  experience  in 
this  enterprise  was  of  value  to  him  later.  About  eight  years  ago 
he  began  the  construction  of  what  is  now  known  as  the  Georgia, 
Florida  & Alabama  railroad,  but  which  for  several  years  was 
operated  as  the  Georgia  Pine.  Originally  constructed  from  Bain- 
bridge  to  Arlington,  this  road  has  been  extended  by  degrees  until 
it  is  now  170  miles  in  length,  from  Carrabelle,  Fla.,  to  Cuthbert, 
Ga.,  with  a steamship  line  from  Carrabelle  to  Apalachicola,  and  a 
branch  rail  line  to  Quincy,  Fla.  Plans  have  been  completed  for 
further  extensions  of  this  railroad  enterprise,  which  will  give  it  a 
better  outlet  and  assist  materially  in  the  development  of  the  virgin 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


597 


territory  through  which  it  now  runs.  The  expansion  of  the  busi- 
ness of  the  Georgia,  Florida  & Alabama  railroad  has  been  little 
short  of  phenomenal.  Striking  boldly  out  into  an  entirely  new 
section,  confident  that  he  had  correctly  estimated  the  possibilities 
it  offered  as  a naval  stores,  lumber  and  agricultural  district,  Mr. 
Williams  has.  had  his  predictions  abundantly  justified  by  actual 
results.  The  railroad,  of  which  he  is  president,  the  main  owner 
and  the  dominating  spirit,  has  enjoyed  a growing  and  profitable 
business  almost  from  its  opening.  The  country  through  which  it 
runs  is  rapidly  filling  up  with  settlers,  a liberal  policy  marking 
Mr.  Williams’  management  of  its  destinies,  and  the  entire  territory 
it  has  opened  up  gives  promise  of  becoming  one  of  the  garden 
spots  of  the  south.  At  Carrabelle  Mr.  Williams’  enterprise  is 
developing  one  of  the  most  promising  harbors  of  the  south,  pos- 
sessing wonderful  natural  advantages,  and  the  commerce  of  which 
is  growing  with  rapid  strides.  AVhile  much  of  Mr.  Williams’  time 
in  late  years  has  been  occupied  in  the  promotion  of  this  railroad 
he  has  not  allowed  it  to  entirely  absorb  his  business  life.  In 
Savannah  he  has  held  positions  of  honor  and  responsibility.  One 
term  he  served  as  an  alderman  of  the  city.  When  a tank  company 
was  organized  for  the  protection  of  the  producers  of  naval  stores 
Mr.  Williams  was  elected  its  president.  In  the  Savannah  cotton 
exchange  he  has  rendered  valuable  service  as  director,  vice-presi- 
dent and  president.  One  of  the  organizers  of  the  Savannah  board 
of  trade,  he  served  it  as  a director  for  some  years,  then  as  vice- 
president,  declining  the  presidency  because  of  the  pressure  of  busi- 
ness. In  the  advancement  of  Savannah’s  interests  he  assisted  in 
the  organization  of  the  Tybee  Hotel  Company  and  the  Tybee 
Island  Beach  Company.  In  the  banking  life  of  the  city  he  has  also 
shown  his  public  spirit.  Assisting  in  the  organization  of  the 
National  bank  of  Savannah  and  of  the  Oglethorpe  Savings  and 
Trust  Company,  he  served  the  former  as  director  for  a number  of 
years,  and  is  still  a director  of  the  latter  institution.  He  is  also 
a director  of  the  Savannah  Trust  Company  and  of  the  Central 
Trust  and  Banking  Corporation  of  Atlanta.  Despite  the  continued 
claims  on  his  time  by  the  numerous  business  engagements  of  so 
active  a commercial  career,  Mr.  Williams  has  not  failed  in  his 
duty  toward  the  moral  and  spiritual  side  of  life..  An  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  he  has  liberally  assisted  its 
various  benevolences.  In  its  educational  work  he  has  taken  a 
prominent  part  in  connection  with  Emory  college  at  Oxford,  Ga., 
serving  as  chairman  of  the  trustees  of  that  institution  for  some 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


598 

years,  and  has  given  unstintedly  of  his  time  and  means  to  its  ad- 
vancement. Three  of  the  finest  and  most  modern  buildings  at 
Emory  are  largely  the  result  of  his  personal  efforts  and  financial 
aid.  In  Savannah  he  has  been  chairman  of  the  Trustees  of  the 
Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  and  to  him  is  mainly  due  the 
credit  for  the  initiation  of  the  building  project  which  is  now  giving 
to  the  association  one  of  the  finest  homes  for  work  of  this  character 
in  the  South.  He  is  also  president  of  the  North  Carolina  society  of 
Savannah  and  a Mason  of  many  years’  standing.  Mr.  Williams 
has  been  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  Miss  Olivia  Rowena 
Outland,  of  South  Carolina,  and  his  second  wife,  who  still  lives, 
Miss  Cora  B.  Taylor,  also  of  that  state.  He  has  a beautiful  home 
in  Savannah  and  is  erecting  a commodious  mansion  at  Statesboro, 
Ga.,  for  occasional  use.  Although  in  his  sixty-fourth  year  Mr. 
Williams  to-day  is  as  alert  as  in  his  younger  manhood,  has  the 
same  keen  interest  in  the  manifold  activities  of  his  life,  and  finds 
the  sphere  of  his  usefulness  to  his  fellow  men  broadening  with 
each  year.  Appreciating  that  wealth  judiciously  used  for  the 
development  of  the  country  is  wealth  well  applied,  he  is  devoting 
large  sums  to  the  promotion  of  his  railroad,  pursuing  a broad, 
generous  policy  toward  all  of  the  interests  with  which  he  comes 
in  contact.  His  remaining  years  promise  to  be  full  of  usefulness 
and  to  add  to  the  well  earned  reputation  that  nearly  a half  century 
of  honorable  business  achievements  have  won  for  him. 

Williams,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  See  Memorial  Day. 

Williams,  Robert  J.,  of  Swainsboro,  is  one  of  the  leading  mem- 
bers of  the  Emanuel  county  bar  and  an  ex-member  of  the  state 
senate.  He  was  born  on  the  home  plantation  of  his  parents,  in 
Emanuel  county,  Sept.  11,  1855,  a son  of  Stephen  M.  and  Carrie 
E.  (Pughsley)  Williams,  both  natives  of  Georgia,  the  former  born 
in  Telfair  county  in  December,  1826,  and  the  latter  in  Jefferson 
county  in  December,  1836.  The  father  was  a prosperous  planter 
and  honored  citizen  of  Emanuel  county,  where  his  death  occurred 
m November,  1891.  His  widow  now  makes  her  home  in  Dublin, 
Laurens  county.  Stephen  M.  Williams  was  a son  of  James 
Williams,  who  came  to  Georgia  from  North  Carolina,  and  his 
widow  is  a daughter  of  Robert  J.  and  Mary  (Welch)  Pughsley, 
the  former  a son  of  Dr.  John  Pughsley,  an  able  physician  and 
surgeon,  who  came  to  America  from  France.  Robert  J.  Williams  se- 
cured his  early  educational  training  in  the  country  schools  of  Eman- 
uel county  and  continued  his  studies  in  the  Swainsboro  high  school 
until  he  had  reached  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  For  several  years 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


599 


he  was  a successful  and  popular  teacher  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
county,  and  in  the  meantime  he  took  up  the  study  of  laAV  under 
the  late  Col.  Joseph  Camp,  of  Swainsboro.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1880,  has  since  maintained  his  professional  headquarters 
in  Swainsboro,  and  has  built  up  an  excellent  practice  in  the  courts 
of  Emanuel  and  adjoining  counties.  He  is  counsel  for  the  Still- 
more  Air  Line  railroad  and  has  other  important  professional  rela- 
tions. In  politics  Mr.  Williams  has  ever  accorded  an  uncompro- 
mising allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party;  represented  his 
district  in  the  state  senate  in  1903-4;  was  president  of  the  board  of 
education  of  Swainsboro  for  several  years ; and  during  the  earlier 
part  of  his  professional  career  he  held  the  office  of  solicitor  of  the 
county  courts.  He  is  a Royal  Arch  Mason  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South.  He  is  the 
owner  of  a valuable  plantation  in  Emanuel  county,  the  same  being 
widely  known  by  reason  of  having  within  its  limits  Coleman  lake, 
which  is  celebrated  for  its  fine  fishing.  On  Nov.  15,  1885,  Mr. 
Williams  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Mollie  E.  Moring,  widow 
of  Preston  B.  Moring  and  a daughter  of  the  late  Col.  Joseph  Camp, 
previously  mentioned  as  the  preceptor  of  Mr.  Williams,  and  this 
union  has  been  blessed  by  five  children:  Ida  Belle,  Robbie  Jewel, 
Marv  Leigfh,  Felix  Carleton  and  Carrie  E. 

Williams,  Robert  Timothy,  clerk  of  the 
city  council  of  Hazlehurst,  Jeff  Davis 
county,  is  also  incumbent  of  the  offices 
of  justice  of  the  peace  and  notary  public, 
and  is  one  of  the  well  known  and  popular 
citizens  of  the  new  county,  which  was 
organized  in  1905.  Mr,  Williams  was 
born  in  Telfair  county,  Ga.,  Sept.  24, 
1852,  a son  of  Robert  Timothy  and 
Amanda  (Quinn)  Williams,  both  of 
whom  were  likewise  natives  of  Telfair 
county,  where  the  former  was  born  Sept. 
20,  1834,  and  the  latter  July  4,  1835.  Her 
father  served  as  a soldier  in  the  Seminole  Indian  war  in  1835,  as 
captain  of  his  company  and  continued  resident  of  Telfair  county 
until  his  death,  in  1865.  In  1855  Robert  T.  Williams,  Sr.,  re- 
moved to  Arkansas  and  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service 
at  the  outset  of  the  Civil  war,  as  first  lieutenant  in  the  company 
known  as  the  Washita  Grays,  in  the  regiment  commanded  by 
Colonel  Hawthorne.  In  the  battle  of  Little  Rock  he  received  a 


600 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


wound  in  the  thigh  and  was  sent  home  on  furlough.  After  his 
recovery  he  rejoined  his  regiment  and  was  soon  afterward  trans- 
ferred to  Company  Iv,  Fourth  Georgia  cavalry.  He  was  first 
lieutenant  of  his  company  and  was  with  his  regiment  in  the  en- 
gagement at  Ocean  Pond  and  in  various  other  conflicts  along  the 
Florida  coast.  The  regiment  was  then  ordered  to  the  northern 
part  of  Georgia  to  assist  in  General  Hood’s  campaign,  but  later 
returned  to  the  eastern  coast  and  was  stationed  for  some  time  at 
Fancy  Bluff,  where  it  was  engaged  in  constructing  barriers  to  stop' 
navigation,  afterward  being  detailed  to  apprehend  stragglers  who 
were  leaving  the  army.  The  command  was  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
city  of  Savannah  at  the  time  of  Lee’s  surrender  and  Lieutenant 
Williams  then  took  up  his  residence  in  what  is  now  Jeff  Davis 
county,  G where  he  became  identified  with  the  lumber  industry 
and  also  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  passed  away  July  6, 
1888,  at  Hazlehurst,  his  death  resulting  from  a stroke  of  paralysis 
which  came  to  him  as  he  was  delivering  a political  speech  in  support 
of  the  cause  of  the  Democratic  party,  the  campaign  of  that  year  hav- 
ing been  one  of  the  most  strenuous  in  the  history  of  the  state.  The 
Populists  made  an  attempt  to  break  the  strength  of  the  Democratic 
party.  Mr.  Williams’  predictions  as  to  the  outcome  have  all  proven 
true  and  his  words  are  often  recalled  in  local  political  circles  when 
issues  of  importance  are  brought  forth.  His  widow  now  resides 
with  her  only  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The  only  daughter 
is  Mrs.  Ann  G.  McGinty,  of  Hazlehurst.  Robert  T.  Williams,  Jr., 
to  whom  this  review  is  dedicated,  secured  his  early  educational 
training  in  the  common  schools  and  was  thereafter  a student  for 
three  years  in  an  academy  at  Spring  Hill,  Montgomery  county, 
conducted  by  R.  F.  Ratchford.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years 
he  engaged  in  the  saw-mill  business  for  two  years,  after  which 
he  devoted  his  attention  to  farming  during  the  summer  seasons 
and  in  getting  out  timber  during  the  winters,  thus  continuing  for 
twenty-four  years.  He  then  located  in  Hazlehurst,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  hotel  business  one  year,  after  which  he  passed  two 
years  on  his  farm.  At  the  expiration  of  this  period  he  again  located 
in  Hazlehurst,  where  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  offices — notary 
public,  justice  of  the  peace  and  clerk  of  the  city  council — of  which 
he  has  since  remained  continuously  the  incumbent.  In  politics  Mr. 
Williams  is  a Democrat  of  the  old-school  type  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  affiliated  with 
Hazlehurst  Lodge,  No.  283,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  Hazle- 
hurst Chapter,  Royal  Arch  Masons ; and  Llazlehurst  Lodge,  No. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


601 


215,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  as  well  as  with  the  local 
organization  of  the  Knights  of  Honor.  He  served  two  terms  as 
a member  of  the  board  of  aldermen  and  was  mayor  of  the  city 
one  term.  In  1886-7  his  father  represented  Appling  county,  of 
which  Jeff  Davis  county  was  then  a part,  in  the  state  legislature. 
He  was  one  of  the  foremost  lawyers  of  the  Brunswick  circuit,  hav- 
ing been  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1876.  He  was  also  a physician, 
having  been  graduated  in  a medical  college  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  in 
1854,  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  prior  to  and  after 
the  Civil  war.  Later  he  took  up  the  study  of  law  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar,  as  noted.  He  was  judge  of  the  inferior  court  of  Appling 
county  and  in  1864  was  elected  to  the  state  senate,  but  was  not 
permitted  to  take  his  seat,  as  he  had  not  then  been  continuously 
resident  of  the  state  for  a year.  On  May  4,  1876,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lucretia  Hall,  daughter 
of  Jehu  and  Catherine  (Johnson)  Hall,  of  Graham,  Ga.,  and  of  the 
eleven  children  of  this  union  five  are  living:  Roger  resides  in  Jeff 
Davis  county,  is  married  and  has  one  daughter,  Fleta ; May  is  the 
wife  of  J.  R.  Williams,  of  Hazlehurst ; Lola  is  the  wife  of  W.  H. 
Brown,  of  Bulloch  county,  and  they  have  one  child,  Arthur;  and 
Ruth  and  Edna  remain  at  the  parental  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wil- 
liams also  have  as  a member  of  their  home  circle  their  little  grand- 
daughter Ida,  daughter  of  their  deceased  daughter,  Mrs.  Kate  Wil- 
liams. 

Williamsburg,  a town  in  the  southern  part  of  Calhoun  county, 
was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  on  Aug.  4,  18S7.  It  is 
on  the  Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  about  half-way  between  Arling- 
ton and  Leary,  has  an  express  office,  mercantile  and  shipping 
interests,  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  42. 

Williamson,  a village  in  Pike  county,  is  at  the  junction  of  two 
divisions  of  the  Southern  railway  system,  about  five  miles  north- 
west of  Zebulon.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free 
delivery,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  mercantile  and  shipping 
interests,  and  in  1900  had  a population  of  167. 

Williamson,  Andrew,  a native  of  South  Carolina,  sometimes  called 
the  “Benedict  Arnold  of  the  South,”  was,  in  the  early  days  of  the 
Revolution,  a brigadier-general  in  the  American  army.  While  in 
command  of  some  300  men  at  Augusta  he  pretended  to  be  in  favor 
of  uniting  his  forces  with  those  under  Gen.  Elijah  Clarke  for  the 
suppression  of  the  Tories  in  Georgia  and  the  Upper  Carolinas.  At 
the  same  time  he  held  the  king’s  protection  in  his  pocket.  He  was 
an  illiterate  man,  could  not  read  or  write,  and  left  the  details  of  his 


602 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


correspondence,  etc.,  to  his  aide-de-camp,  Malcolm  Brown,  who 
was  also  a Tory  at  heart.  When  the  British  forces,  under  Campbell 
and  Brown,  approached  Augusta,  Williamson  disbanded  his  men, 
advising  them  to  seek  the  royal  protection.  For  this  he  was  re- 
warded by  a colonel's  commission  in  the  British  army. 

Williamson,  William  Wayne,  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Williamson  & 
Rauers,  shipping,  freighting  and  com- 
mission agents,  Savannah,  was  born  in 
that  city,  Sept.  1,  1854,  his  ancestors,  as 
represented  in  the  Williamson,  Wayne, 
Gordon  and  McQueen  families,  having 
been  prominently  identified  with  the  early 
history  of  Savannah.  In  early  manhood, 
when  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  Mr. 
Williamson  joined  the  Savannah  Volun- 
teer Guards,  and  after  filling  every  minor 
grade  he  finally,  in  1901,  became  the 
major  and  active  commanding  officer  of  this  time-honored  organ- 
ization. During  his  military  career  of  thirty-two  years  he  has 
been  actively  concerned  in  many  military  affairs.  For  four  years 
he  was  captain  of  the  celebrated  Georgia  state  team  of  marksmen 
in  the  contests  at  Sea  Girt,  N.  J.  He  is  well  known  in  business 
circles  and  the  firm  of  which  he  is  a member  controls  a large  and 
important  business,  being  Savannah  agents  for  the  Hansa  line  of 
steamers  to  Bremen  and  Hamburg  and  the  North  German  Lloyd 
line  to  Bremen.  He  has  twice  served  as  president  of  the  Savannah 
cotton  exchange  and  is  at  the  present  time  president  of  the  Savan- 
nah chamber  of  commerce,  a director  of  the  Savannah  National 
bank,  one  of  the  commissioners  of  pilotage  and  the  incumbent  of 
other  positions  of  executive  trust.  In  1904  Mr.  Williamson  mar- 
ried Miss  Corinne  Heyward,  of  South  Carolina.  They  have  no 
children. 

Willingham,  a town  in  Worth  county,  is  about  six  miles  south- 
west of  Isabella,  and  is  a station  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  rail- 
way. The  population  in  1900  was  233.  It  has  some  mercantile 
interests,  a money  order  postoffice,  express  and  telegraph  service, 
and  does  considerable  shipping. 

Willingham,  Benjamin  K.,  one  of  the  successful  commission 
merchants  of  Augusta,  was  born  in  Thomson,  McDuffie  county, 
Ga.,  Jan.  8,  1880,  a son  of  Benjamin  H.  and  Susie  (Hundley)  Will- 
ingham, the  former  born  in  McDuffie  county,  in  1856,  and  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


603 


latter  in  Warren  county,  in  1861.  They  now  reside  in  Thomson, 
where  the  father  is  engaged  in  the  cotton  and  fertilizer  business. 
Both  Benjamin  A.  Willingham  and  William  B.  Hundley,  paternal 
and  maternal  grandfathers  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  were 
soldiers  in  the  Confederate  service  during  the  Civil  war,  the  former 
having  been  a first  lieutenant  and  the  latter  a major.  Many  other 
relatives  of  Mr.  Willingham,  in  direct  and  collateral  lines,  were 
likewise  loyal  defenders  of  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy.  His 
great-grandfather,  Dr.  William  Jones,  was  a surgeon  in  the  service. 
Mr.  Willingham  was  graduated  in  the  high  school  at  Thomson  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  years,  and  thereafter  was  for  two  and  one-half 
years  a student  in  the  Georgia  school  of  technology,  at  Atlanta. 
Upon  leaving  this  institution  he  entered  the  office  of  F.  J.  Cooledge 
& Bro.,  wholesale  plate-glass  dealers  and  paint  manufacturers, 
Atlanta,  and  from  1902  to  1905  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Amer- 
ican Cotton  Oil  Company  in  Augusta,  being  cashier  for  two  and 
one-half  years.  On  Aug.  30,  1905,  he  resigned  his  office  and  en- 
gaged in  the  wholesale  produce  business  at  585  Broad  street  and 
also  does  a general  commission  business,  the  enterprise  showing 
a very  satisfactory  and  continuous  growth  since  its  establishment. 
Mr.  Willingham  is  a Democrat  in  politics  and  is  affiliated  with 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  On  Feb.  23,  1904, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Katrina  Shields,  of  Thomson, 
and  they  have  a daughter,  Linda  Bragg',  who  was  born  on  April 
21,  1905. 

Willingham,  Benjamin  Lawton,  pres- 
ident of  the  Piedmont  Cotton  Company, 
and  the  Willingham-Tift  Lumber  Com- 
pany, of  Atlanta,  is  one  of  the  progressive 
business  men  and  loyal  citizens  of  the 
capital  city,  and  a scion  of  stanch  South- 
ern stock.  He  was  born  in  Allendale, 
Barnwell  District,  S.  C.,  Nov.  24,  1856, 
that  state  also  being  the  birthplace  of 
his  parents,  Thomas  H.  and  Cecilia 
(Baynard)  Willingham.  Both  families 
were  early  founded  in  South  Carolina, 
whither  the  original  progenitors  in 
America  came  from  England  in  the  colonial  epoch  of  our  national 
history.  Thomas  H.  Willingham  was  a successful  planter  in 
Barnwell  district  and  during  the  war  between  the  states  he  loyally 
supported  the  Confederacy.  After  the  close  of  the  war,  he  came 


601 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


to  Georgia  and  located  at  Albany,  Dougherty  county,  where  he 
became  a very  extensive  planter.  He  passed  the  closing  years  of 
his  life  in  Atlanta,  where  he  died  in  1891,  his  widow  now  making 
her  home  with  her  son,  Benjamin  L.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
Thomas  H.  and  Cecilia  Willingham  were  the  parents  of  seventeen 
children,  and  of  the  number,  twelve  are  living,  namely:  Mrs. 

E.  H.  Bacon,  Mrs.  T.  O.  B.  Wood,  Mrs.  W.  W.  Bacon,  Mrs. 
C.  J.  Daniel,  Benjamin  L.,  William  B.,  Mrs.  H.  H.  Tift,  Mrs. 
W.  Y.  Pickard,  Winborn  J.,  Baynard,  Mrs.  William  Lawrence, 
and  Mrs.  I.  W.  Myers.  Benjamin  L.  Willingham  was  reared  on 
the  homestead  plantation,  and  was  afforded  good  educational 
advantages.  He  completed  a thorough  course  in  Mercer  university 
at  Macon,  Ga.,  graduating  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1878,  with 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  Immediately  after  his  graduation, 
he  took  up  his  residence  in  Atlanta,  where  for  two  years  he  was 
employed  in  the  retail  carpet  establishment  of  Lathrop  & Fain, 
after  which  he  was  for  several  years  employed  as  warehouseman 
by  the  Maddox-Rucker  Banking  Company,  of  that  city.  In  1887, 
he  was  admitted  to  membership  in  this  firm,  and  is  still  a director 
and  stockholder  therein.  In  January,  1905,  Mr.  Willingham  organ- 
ized the  Willingham-Tift  Lumber  Company,  of  which  he  is  presi- 
dent, the  company  having  large  and  well  equipped  yards  on  Mur- 
phy avenue,  at  McCalls  Crossing.  In  1901,  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  Piedmont  Cotton  Company,  which  is  capitalized  for 
$100,000,  and  which  has  fine  modern  mills,  giving  a large  annual 
output.  Mr.  Willingham  exercises  his  franchise  in  support  of  the 
principles  and  policies  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  First  Baptist  church,  of  which  he  has  been  a 
member  for  the  past  twenty-five  years;  he  is  also  a member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  On  June  20,  1887,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Margaret  S.  Wood,  daughter  of  Dr.  J.  B.  Wood,  of  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  and  they  have  four  children,  Carolyne,  Emmie,  Judson 
and  Henry. 

Willis,  a post-hamlet  of  Twiggs  county,  is  located  a short  dis- 
tance south  of  Gallemore,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Willis,  Edward,  was  born  in  Georgia  and  sent  to  West  Point  as  a 
cadet  from  that  state.  He  had  not  yet  completed  his  course  when 
Georgia  seceded,  but  he  at  once  hurried  home  and  offered  his  serv- 
ices to  the  state.  In  July,  1861,  he  was  appointed  adjutant  of  the 
Twelfth  Georgia  regiment  and  ordered  to  West  Virginia.  After 
the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  in  December,  1862,  in  which  Colonel 
Scott  was  killed,  he  was  advanced  to  the  rank  of  colonel.  He  fell 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


605 


while  leading  a brigade  at  North  Anna  river,  in  May,  1864.  The 
day  after  his  death  a commission  arrived  making  him  a brigadier- 
general. 

Willis,  Francis,  was  a native  of  Frederick  county,  Ya.  At  the 
close  of  the  Revolution  he  settled  in  Georgia  and  was  elected  to 
Congress  from  that  state  in  1790.  He  subsequently  removed  to 
Maury  county,  Tenn.,  where  he  died  in  1829. 

Willow,  a post-hamlet  of  Lumpkin  county,  is  not  far  from  the 
White  county  line.  Lula  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Wills. — All  persons  of  mature  age  and  sound  mind  may  devise  and 
dispose  of  property  by  will.  Wills  must  be  in  writing  (except 
verbal  or  nuncupative  wills)  and  must  be  executed  in  the  presence 
of  three  witnesses,  called  for  that  purpose  by  the  testator.  These 
witnesses  must  sign,  and  certify  that  they  signed,  in  the  presence 
of  the  testator  and  of  each  other.  Wills  of  citizens  of  other  states, 
disposing  of  property  in  Georgia,  when  executed  according  to  the 
laws  of  the  state  where  the  testator  lived  at  the  time  the  will  was 
made  and  probated  in  that  state,  may  be  admitted  to  probate  in 
Georgia.  In  order  to  admit  a will  of  this  character  to  probate  an 
authenticated  copy  of  it  must  be  presented,  and  must  be  accompanied 
by  the  certificate  of  the  governor  of  the  state  where  it  was  executed, 
under  the  seal  of  state,  and  setting  forth  that  the  will  was  pro- 
bated in  a court  where  the  judicial  officer  had  original  jurisdiction 
of  the  subject-matter.  Wills  made  by  citizens  of  Georgia  in  other 
states  must  be  executed  and  probated  according  to  the  laws  of 
Georgia.  Wills  are  probated  in  the  court  of  ordinary  in  the  county 
where  the  testator  resided  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Wilmer,  Rev.  Cary  Breckinridge,  D.  D., 
rector  of  St.  Luke's  Episcopal  church  in 
the  city  of  Atlanta/and  president  of  the 
standing  committee  of  the  Diocese  of 
Georgia,  is  a scion  of  distinguished  Vir- 
ginia stock,  and  is  himself  a native  of  the 
Old  Dominion,  having  been  born  in  Will- 
iamsburg, June  2,  1859.  The  family  name 
has  been  prominent  for  many  3rears  in 
connection  with  the  history  of  the  Prot- 
estant Episcopal  church.  His  father,  Rev. 
George  Thornton  Wilmer,  D.  D.,  was 
rector,  at  different  times,  of  various 
churches  in  the  South,  including  the  historic  old  Bruton  parish,  Will- 
iamsburg, Va.,  and  was  professor  of  logic  and  belles-lettres  at 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


GOG 

William  and  Mary  college,  and  afterward  at  the  University  of  the 
South.  His  father,  also  a clergyman,  Rev.  William  Holland  Wil- 
mer,  D.  D.,  began  in  1819  the  publication,  in  Washington,  D.  C., 
of  the  “Washington  Theological  Repertory”;  was  rector  of  Saint 
Paul’s  church,  Alexandria;  rector  of  St.  John's  church,  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. ; one  of  the  originators  of  the  “Education  Society  of  the 
District  of  Columbia”  ; founded  the  theological  seminary  at  Alex- 
andria, in  which  he  was  professor  of  systematic  theology,  ecclesias- 
tical history  and  church  polity ; was  author  of  the  Episcopal  Manual 
and  various  tracts ; president  of  the  house  of  clerical  and  lay  depu- 
ties of  the  general  convention,  and  died  in  1827  while  president  of 
William  and  Mary  college,  and  rector  of  Bruton  parish.  An  uncle 
of  Dr.  William  H.  Wilmer,  the  Rev.  James  J.  Wilmer,  was  secre- 
tary of  the  first  meeting  of  the  clergy  of  the  Church  of  England  in 
the  United  States  (1783),  and  it  was  on  his  motion  that  the  “Church 
of  England  in  the  Colonies”  adopted  the  name,  since  so  much  dis- 
cussed, of  “Protestant  Episcopal  church.”  Two  other  members  of 
the  same  family  were  the  Rt.  Rev.  Joseph  Pere  Bell  Wilmer,  D.  D., 
Bishop  of  Louisiana  from  1866  to  1878,  and  Rt.  Rev.  Richard  Hooker 
Wilmer,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Bishop  of  Alabama  from  1862  to  1900.  On 
the  maternal  side,  Doctor  Wilmer  is  descended  from  Robert  Saun- 
ders, president  of  William  college  and  professor  of  mathematics, 
and  from  John  Page,  who  rendered  various  services  to  his  country 
in  Congress  and  in  the  field,  and  succeeded  James  Monroe  as  gov- 
ernor of  Virginia.  Another  of  Doctor  Wilmer’s  forbears  was  Maj. 
Richard  Cox,  of  the  American  army  during  the  Revolution,  and 
member  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati.  Cary  Breckinridge  Wil- 
mer, the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  graduated  from  William  and 
Mary  college  in  1875,  receiving  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts. 
After  teaching  school  for  several  years,  he  began  the  work  of  pre- 
paring himself  for  the  high  calling  with  which  the  family  name  has 
been  so  long  and  eminently  linked.  Spending  one  year  in  the  theolog- 
ical department  of  Kenyon  college,  he  was  ordered  deacon  in  1884  by 
Bishop  Young  of  Florida,  and  priest  by  Bishop  Whipple  in  1886. 
He  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  the  University 
of  the  South  in  1905.  Doctor  Wilmer  held  parochial  charges  in 
Florida,  Ohio  and  Virginia  before  coming  to  Atlanta  in  1900 ; has 
been  president  of  the  standing  committee  since  1905 ; is  a member 
of  the  Symposium,  Unity  and  Heptagon  clubs  of  Atlanta;  chap- 
lain of  the  Fifth  regiment  of  Georgia  state  troops;  secretary  of  the 
Georgia  child  labor  committee,  and  member  of  the  American 
Academy  of  Political  and  Social  Science.  On  Jan.  23,  1905,  was 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


607 


solemnized  the  marriage  of  Doctor  Wilmer  to  Mrs.  Kate  Phillips 
Ammons,  daughter  of  Dr.  N.  D.  and  Kate  Jordan  Phillips,  of  Gaines- 
ville, Fla. 

Wilmington  Island,  an  island  off  the  Georgia  coast,  is  divided 
from  Whitemarsh  island  by  a narrow,  but  deep  inlet.  On  March 
30,  1862,  a Confederate  scouting  party  became  engaged  in  a skir- 
mish with  a body  of  Federal  troops  on  this  and  Whitemarsh 
island  (q.  v.). 

Wilmot,  a post-village  in  Catoosa  county,  with  a population  of 
98  in  1900,  is  located  about  four  miles  west  of  Tunnel  Hill,  which 
is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Wilscot,  a post-hamlet  of  Fannin  county,  is  in  the  valley  of  the 
Toccoa  river,  about  five  miles  southeast  of  Blueridge,  which  is  the 
most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Wilson,  Augusta  Evans,  novelist,  was  a native  of  Georgia,  having 
been  born  at  Columbus  in  1835.  She  spent  her  childhood  in  Texas 
and  at  Mobile,  Ala.,  where  her  parents  settled  in  1841.  She  was 
educated  at  home,  under  her  mother’s  supervision,  and  began  her 
literary  life  when  only  fifteen  years  of  age.  Her  first  book,  “Inez,” 
met  with  a cordial  reception,  and  was  soon  followed  by  “Beulah.” 
Her  third  volume,  “Macaria,”  was  written  by  the  bedside  of  Con- 
federate soldiers,  in  the  private  hospital  which  she  had  established 
for  them  at  Camp  Beulah,  near  Mobile.  Her  later  works  are 
“Infelis,”  “Vashti,”  “St.  Elmo,”  and  “At  the  Mercy  of  Tiberius.” 

Wilson,  Claudius  Charles,  one  of  Geor- 
gia’s distinguished  sons,  was  a man  of  sig- 
nal nobility  of  character  and  left  his 
impress  upon  the  annals  of  the  state.  It 
was  his  destiny  to  sacrifice  his  life  in  the 
cause  of  the  Confederacy  during  the  Civil 
war,  in  which  he  rose  to  the  rank  of  brig- 
adier-general. He  had  been  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  honored  members  of 
the  bar  of  the  city  of  Savannah  prior  to 
entering  the  Confederate  service.  He  was 
born  in  Effingham  county,  Ga.,  Oct.  1, 
1831,  a son  of  Dr.  Josiah  Stewart  Wilson, 
who  was  born  in  Liberty  county,  as  was  also  the  latter’s  father, 
Maj.  Josiah  T.  Wilson,  who  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  Gen. 
Claudius  C.  Wilson  was  a great-grandson  of  Gen.  Daniel  Stewart,  of 
Liberty  county,  Ga.,  who  served  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  was 
a member  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  St.  John’s  parish,  and 


€08 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


was  a valiant  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  in  which  he  served  with 
the  rank  of  brigadier-general.  In  the  summer  of  1848  General 
Wilson  entered  the  sophomore  class  of  Emory  college,  Oxford,  Ga., 
and  in  this  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1851,  with  the  highest 
honors  of  his  class.  In  the  following  winter  he  read  law  under 
Col.  James  M.  Smith,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Savannah  in 
1852.  Possessing  a mind  naturally  analytical  and  rarely  cultivated, 
and  having  exceptional  powers  of  eloquence,  he  soon  rose  to  a posi- 
tion of  eminence  in  his  profession.  In  1860  he  was  elected  solicitor- 
general  of  the  eastern  circuit  of  Georgia,  but  resigned  this  office 
after  a short  period  to  resume  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Savannah  as  a member  of  the  firm  of  Wilson,  Norwood  & Lester, 
with  which  he  continued  to  be  identified  until  the  Civil  war  was 
precipitated  on  a divided  nation.  In  August,  1861,  he  entered  the 
military  service  of  the  Confederate  States,  and  was  elected  colonel 
of  the  Twenty- fifth  regiment  of  Georgia  volunteers,  which  had  been 
raised  through  his  personal  efforts,  and  in  the  spring  of  1862,  upon 
the  reorganization  of  the  regiment  under  the  conscript  law,  he  was 
reelected  its  colonel.  The  regiment  was  stationed  at  Tybee  island 
until  its  evacuation  by  the  Confederates,  after  which  the  command 
did  service  on  the  coast  of  North  and  South  Carolina  and  around 
Savannah  during  the  remainder  of  1862  and  the  early  part  of  1863, 
Colonel  Wilson  acting  as  brigadier  commander  during  the  greater 
part  of  this  time.  In  May,  1863,  he  was  ordered  to  Mississippi  with 
his  regiment,  which  there  became  a 'part  of  Gen.  W.  H.  T.  Walker’s 
brigade.  On  the  promotion  of  General  Walker  to  the  rank  of 
major-general,  Colonel  Wilson  assumed  command  of  the  brigade, 
comprising  the  Twenty-fifth,  Twenty-ninth  and  Thirtieth  Georgia 
regiments.  In  this  position  he  served  with  distinction  in  the  move- 
ments for  the  relief  of  Vicksburg  and  in  the  battles  around  Jackson, 
Miss.,  as  well  as  during  the  retreat  of  Johnston’s  army-  In  August, 
1863,  General  Walker  was  ordered  to  join  General  Bragg’s  forces- 
with  his  command  in  the  Chattanooga  campaign,  and  it  was  on  the 
sanguinary  field  of  Chickamauga  that  Colonel  Wilson,  in  command 
of  his  brigade,  won  for  himself  imperishable  honor.  John  Allen 
Wyeth,  in  his  “Life  of  General  Lorrest,”  thus  speaks  of  Wilson’s 
command  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga:  “It  was  Col.  Claudius  C. 
Wilson’s  brigade  which  came  to  the  rescue,  and  at  Lorrest’s  request 
the  Georgians  swung  into  line  immediately  on  his  left  and  never 
waited  a moment.  They  were  not  going  to  yield  the  palm  to  Lor- 
rest’s and  Pegram’s  horsemen.  These  veterans  of  other  bloody  fields 
moved  forward  rapidly  and  with  directness  to  close  range  before 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


609 


they  delivered  their  well  aimed  volleys  into  the  Union  line,  which 
yielded  under  pressure  and  was  pursued  by  all.”  Forrest  was  elated 
at  the  conduct  of  Wilson’s  men,  and  in  his  general  report  spoke  as 
follows : “They  advanced  in  gallant  style,  driving  back  the  enemy, 
capturing  a battery  of  artillery,  my  dismounted  cavalry  advancing 
with  them,  and  I must  say  that  the  fighting  and  gallant  charges  of 
the  two  brigades  (Wilson’s  and  Ector’s)  excited  my  astonishment. 
They  broke  the  enemy’s  lines  and  could  not  be  halted  nor  withdrawn 
until  nearly  surrounded.”  Maj.  Gen.  W.  H.  T.  Walker  says  in  his 
official  report  of  this  battle : “I  may  be  permitted  in  my  own  division, 
which  was  commanded  on  Sunday  by  General  Gist,  to  state  that 
Colonel  Wilson,  who  commanded  a brigade  on  both  Saturday  and 
Sunday  and  who  is  the  oldest  colonel  from  Georgia,  is  entitled,  from 
long  service  with  the  brigade  and  from  gallant  conduct,  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Georgia  brigade  he  now  commands,  in  the  capacity  of 
brigadier-general.”  The  gallant  conduct  of  Colonel  Wilson  in  this 
battle  caused  his  promotion  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general,  but  he 
was  not  long  permitted  to  enjoy  the  distinction.  His  commission 
as  such  was  signed  by  President  Davis  on  Nov.  16,  1863,  just  ten 
days  before  the  death  of  Colonel  Wilson,  reaching  the  headquarters 
of  General  Walker  after  the  recipient  of  the  honor  had  passed  to 
the  eternal  life.  This  commission,  as  well  as  his  commission  as 
colonel  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Georgia,  is  in  the  Georgia  room  of  the 
Confederate  museum  in  Richmond,  Va.  Immediately  after  the  bat- 
tle of  Chickamauga,  General  Wilson  succumbed  to  camp  fever,  and 
while  he  was  being  removed  to  a place  of  greater  safety  he  died, 
near  Ringgold,  Ga.,  Nov.  26,  1863,  leaving  to  his  state  the  precious 
legacy  of  a noble  record  of  valor  and  devotion  to  duty.  On  Sept. 
14,  1852,  he  married  Miss  Katharine  McDuffie  Morrison,  daughter 
of  John  Morrison,  of  Augusta,  Ga.  Her  death  occurred  in  May, 
1904.  Of  the  four  children,  two  are  living,  both  being  residents  of 
Savannah- — John  M.  and  Anna  Belle,  the  latter  being  the  wife  of 
Maj.  Edward  Karow. 

Wilson,  Frank  Cheatham,  D.  D.  S.,  one  of  the  leading  represent- 
atives of  the  dental  profession  in  Savannah,  was  born  near  Egypt, 
Effingham  county,  Ga.,  Dec.  19,  1864,  and  is  a son  of  Stephen  Alfred 
Wilson  and  Tabitha  Ann  Wilson,  of  whom  individual  mention  is 
made  in  this  compilation,  together  with  ample  genealogical  data, 
so  that  recapitulation  is  not  necessary  in  the  present  connection. 
Doctor  Wilson  passed  his  boyhood  days  on  the  old  homestead 
plantation  and  after  a due  preliminary  training,  entered  the  North 
Georgia  Agricultural  College  in  1881,  from  which  he  was  graduated 


39— in 


610 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


as  a member  of  the  class  of  1885.  Later,  in  properly  fortifying  him- 
self for  his  chosen  profession,  he  was  matriculated  in  the  Baltimore 
Dental  College,  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 

1891,  with  first  honor.  Since  that  time  he 
has  been  successfully  established  in  prac- 
tice in  Savannah,  where  his  clientele  is  of 
representative  character.  He  was  in  the 
Spanish-American  war,  first  lieutenant 
of  Company  C (Savannah  Volunteer 
Guards),  Second  Georgia  Volunteer  In- 
fantry. The  command  was  mustered  into 
service  at  Griffin,  Georgia,  in  May,  1898, 
and  was  stationed  in  turn  at  Tampa,  Flor- 
ida, and  Huntsville,  Alabama,  not  be- 
ing called  into  active  service.  He 
resigned  from  the  command  September  10, 
1898,  after  the  close  of  the  war.  He  is  a Democrat  in  politics  and  is 
identified  with  numerous  professional,  fraternal,  sportsmen’s  and 
social  organizations,  notably  the  following:  Sigma  Alpha  Epsilon, 
a college  fraternity;  Landrum  Lodge,  No.  48,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons ; Georgia  State  Dental  Association ; National  Dental  Asso- 
ciation; southern  branch  of  the  National  Dental  Association;  Carte- 
ret Gun  Club,  of  New  York;  Riverton  Gun  Club,  of  Philadelphia; 
Forest  City  Gun  Club,  of  Savannah  ; Savannah  Rifle  Association, 
Savannah  Volunteer  Guards'  Club,  Savannah  Yacht  Club,  Georgia 
Hussars’  Club  and  the  Oglethorpe  Club.  He  was  a member  of 
every  team  that  represented  the  state  of  Georgia  in  the  national 
military  matches  for  ten  years  and  won  first  place  in  contest  for 
places  on  the  team  each  year  but  one.  His  standing  as  a marks- 
man, with  both  rifle  and  shotgun,  has  given  him  national  celebrity 
in  both  military  and  sporting  circles.  At  Sea  Girt,  New  Jersey,  in 
1894-5-6-7,  he  won  the  Trenton  Inter-State  Fair  Trophies  and  gold 
medals  each  year,  his  scores  being  64,  67,  68,  70,  out  of  a possible 
70,  respectively;  seven  shots  at  200  yards  and  seven  shots  300 
yards  each  year.  He  won  the  match  known  as  the  “All  Comers’ 
Match”  three  years  in  succession,  and  in  1899  he  won  the  “Presi- 
dent’s Match”  and  medal,  with  the  incidental  title  of  “Championship 
of  America.”  In  1899,  he  also  won  the  great  “Wimbleton  Cup,” 
thirty  shots  at  one  thousand  yards,  on  a score  of  one  hundred  and 
forty  out  of  a possible  one  hundred  and  fifty,  his  being  the  greatest 
“scratch”  score  ever  made  in  this  celebrated  match.  He  made 
twenty  “fives”  and  ten  “fours.”  This  cup  was  given  in  1875  to  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


611 


National  Rifle  Association  of  America  by  the  National  Rifle  Asso- 
ciation of  Great  Britain,  to  be  contested  for  annually,  at  one 
thousand  yards.  He  has  made  many  perfect  scores  of  fifty  in  ten 
shots,  off-shoulder,  at  two  hundred  yards.  In  the  "All  Comers’  ” 
match,  m Savannah,  in  1897,  he  made  twenty-one  "bulls”  in  twenty- 
two  shots,  off-shoulder,  the  world’s  record  for  this  style  of  shooting 
with  the  Springfield  rifle.  At  Sea  Girt,  New  Jersey,  1896,  he  made 
in  forty  shots,  on  the  “skirmish,"  one  hundred  and  eighty-nine  out 
of  a possible  two  hundred,— the  record  for  this  style  of  shooting. 
He  is  the  only  person  who  is  known  to  have  made  any  marked  suc- 
cess with  both  rifle  and  shotgun.  In  1902,  at  Garden  City,  Long 
Island,  he  won  the  championship  of  the  United  States  with  the  shot- 
gun, killing  ninety-six  selected  live  pigeons  released  from  a set  of 
five  traps,  his  victory  bringing  him  a fine  trophy,  a loving  cup,  cost- 
ing three  hundred  dollars.  Prior  to  this  he  had  killed  one  hundred 
and  seven  pigeons  under  like  conditions,  without  a miss,  any  bird 
able  to  fly  out  of  a thirty  yards  boundary,  after  released  and  being 
shot  at,  being  scored  a miss.  This  is  also  the  record  for  “consecu- 
tive kills,”  as  the  previous  record  was  eighty-eight.  On  the  30th 
of  June,  1903,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Sofie  Brice  Dun- 
ham, daughter  of  William  A.  and  Sarah  Brice  (Keener)  Dunning- 
ton,  of  Baltimore,  Maryland.  They  have  no  children. 

Wilson,  Stephen  Alfred,  who  was  a prominent  and  influential 
citizen  of  Effingham  county,  and  a scion  of  honored  pioneer  families 
of  Georgia,  was  born  in  that  county  on  Sept.  3,  1829,  and  died  May 
3,  1897.  He  was  the  son  of  Elihu  and  Catherine  (Tullis)  Wilson, 
both  natives  of  Effingham  county.  James  Wilson  who  was  the 
grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to  America  shortly 
before  the  Revolution,  served  in  the  Continental  army  as  captain  in 
the  Tenth  North  Carolina  regiment,  and  later  as  captain-lieutenant 
in  the  Fourth  South  Carolina  artillery.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at 
Charleston  in  May,  1780.  For  his  services  he  received  grants  of  land 
in  several  counties  in  Georgia,  whither  he  removed  and  settled  in 
Effingham  county,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days. 
The  name  of  his  first  wife  is  not  known,  but  she  left  three  sons, 
John,  James  and  Jesse.  Anne  Gordon,  who  had  been  twice  widowed, 
was  the  maiden  name  of  his  second  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married 
before  he  came  to  Georgia.  Elihu  Wilson  was  also  an  extensive 
planter,  and  served  at  Fort  Jackson  during  the  war  of  1812.  When 
the  Civil  war  began,  Stephen  A.  Wilson  enlisted  as  a lieutenant  in 
Company  I,  Forty-seventh  Georgia  volunteers,  and  was  promoted  to 
captain.  He  was  with  his  command  in  various  engagements,  and 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


C12 


was  enroute  to  the  relief  of  Vicksburg  when  that  city  capitulated. 
He  was  a participant  in  the  battles  of  Lookout  Mountain,  Mission- 
ary Ridge  and  Chickamauga,  and  received  a wound  in  the  head  at 
the  battle  of  Lost  Mountain.  After  his  recovery  he  rejoined  his 
command  at  John’s  island,  taking  part  in  the  engagement  there 
and  also  at  James’  island  and  Honey  Hill.  Returning  home  for  the 
purpose  of  removing  his  family  to  a place  of  safety,  he  was  cut  oft' 
from  his  command,  and  under  these  conditions  joined  the  troops  of 
Gen.  Frank  Cheatham,  with  whom  he  remained  to  the  close  of  the 
war.  Lie  was  remarkably  successful  in  recuperating  his  prostrate 
fortunes,  and  was  a recognized  leader  in  his  community,  being  a man 
of  much  force,  dignity  of  character,  fine  judgment  and  unimpeach- 
able integrity.  His  first  two  wives  left  no  children  beyond  infancy, 
but  his  third  wife,  Miss  Tabitha  A.  Edwards,  who  is  still  living 
in  Effingham  county,  is  the  mother  of  Dr.  Walter  Scott  Wilson, 
Horace  E.  Wilson  and  Dr.  Frank  Cheatham  Wilson,  all  of  Savan- 
nah, and  Frances  Katharine,  the  widow  of  Louis  Marshall  Ryals, 
of  Savannah,  formerly  of  Virginia,  and  Mary  Murchison  Lafitte. 
Mrs.  Wilson  is  the  daughter  of  the  late  Rev.  Joseph  C.  and  Frances 
(Cone)  Edwards,  and  great-granddaughter  of  Capt.  William  Cone, 
and  Capt  John  Pitts,  both  of  whom  commanded  companies  in  the 
Revolutionary  war. 

Wilsonville,  a village  in  the  southeast  part  of  Coffee  county,  is  in 
the  Seventeen  Mile  creek  valley.  It  is  about  six  or  seven  miles  south 
of  Nicholls,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station,  and  is  the  chief 
trading  point  in  that  part  of  the  county.  The  population  in  1900 
was  100.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice  and  good  educational 
and  religious  advantages. 

Winburn,  William  Alfred,  of  Savannah, 
second  vice-president  of  the  Central  of 
Georgia  Railway  Company,  has  been 
identified  with  railroad  affairs  from  his 
early  youth  and  has  risen  through  the 
various  grades  of  promotion  by  reason  of 
the  effective  service  he  has  rendered.  He 
was  born  in  Gainesville,  Hall  county,  Ga., 
Oct.  19,  1863,  a son  of  James  B.  M.  and 
Mary  Prince  (Montgomery)  Winburn, 
the  former  born  in  Jefferson,  Jackson 
county,  Ga.,  Oct.  9,  1835,  and  the  latter 
at  Anderson,  county  seat  of  Anderson 
county,  S.  C.  Mr.  Winburn  secured  his  early  educational  training 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


613 


in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  town  and  in  1880,  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  years,  he  there  identified  himself  with  the  railway 
service,  in  a clerical  capacity  in  the  local  depot.  From  1881  to 
1883  he  was  a clerk  in  the  division  freight  office  of  the  A. 
& C.  Air  Line  railroad,  in  the  city  of  Atlanta ; thereafter 
served  until  1SS6  as  clerk  in  the  division  freight  and  passenger 
office  of  the  Western  North  Carolina  railroad,  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  ; 
in  1887  held  a similar  office  at  Asheville,  that  state;  from  1887 
to  1891  was  division  freight  and  passenger  agent  of  the  Richmond 
& Danville  railroad,  at  Asheville ; in  1892  was  clerk  in  the  general 
manager’s  office  of  the  Columbus  Southern  railway,  at  Columbus, 
Ga. ; and  later  in  the  office  of  the  traffic  manager  of  the  Central  of 
Georgia,  in  Savannah  ; from  1892  to  1901  was  general  freight  agent 
of  the  Central  of  Georgia,  in  Savannah,  where  he  has  since  main- 
tained his  headquarters  ; in  1901-2  he  was  traffic  manager  of  the  same 
system,  and  since  that  time  has  been  second  vice-president  of  the 
company,  in  charge  of  its  traffic,  and  being  one  of  the  well  known 
and  popular  railway  officials  of  his  native  state.  Mr.  Winburn  is 
a Democrat  in  his  political  allegiance,  is  a communicant  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  church  and  is  identified  with  various  social 
and  fraternal  organizations.  On  July  11,  1888,  was  solemnized 
his  marriage  to  Miss  Anne  Cole  Smith,  daughter  of  Pressley  N. 
and  Sue  (Cole)  Smith,  of  Salisbury,  N.  C.,  and  they  have  three 
children — William  Alfred,  Jr.,  Sue  Cole  and  James  Randall. 

Winchester,  a post-village  of  Macon  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Central  of  Georgia  railroad,  ten  miles  northeast  of  Montezuma,  and 
is  the  principal  trading  and  shipping  point  for  that  part  of  the 
county. 

Winder,  a town  in  Jackson  county,  and  extending  into  Gwinnett 
and  Walton  counties,  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature 
in  1893.  It  is  located  at  the  junction  of  the  Gainesville,  Jefferson  & 
Southern  and  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  railways  and  in  1900  had  a 
population  of  1,145.  It  has  an  international  money  order  postoffice, 
with  rural  free  delivery,  express  and  telegraph  service,  three  banks, 
an  oil  mill,  a cotton  mill  with  5,000  spindles  and  some  other  factor- 
ies, and  is  well  supplied  with  schools  and  churches.  During  the 
war  it  was  known  as  Jug  Tavern  and  a skirmish  occurred  here  on 
August  3,  1864,  when  the  Fourteenth  Illinois  cavalry  was  attacked 
about  daylight  and  almost  annihilated  by  a force  of  Confederate 
cavalry. 

Winfield,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Columbia 


614 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


county,  is  about  twelve  miles  north  of  Thomson,  which  is  the  near- 

Wingfield,  Nisbet,  city  engineer  and 
commissioner  of  public  works  of  the  city 
of  Augusta,  and  known  as  one  of  the 
representative  civil  engineers  of  the  state, 
was  born  on  the  old  homestead  planta- 
tion, in  Dade  county,  Ga.,  Sept.  23,  1861, 
a son  of  Marcellus  Alfred  Wingfield,  born 
in  Madison,  Morgan  county,  Ga.,  in  1820, 
and  Julia  (Lea)  Wingfield,  born  in  Knox- 
ville, Tenn.,  in  1835.  The  father  was 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  during  the 
major  portion  of  his  active  business  career, 
and  die'd  in  1871,  his  wife  having  passed 
away  in  1863.  He  was  a son  of  John  and  Francis  (Cunningham) 
\\  ingfield,  both  natives  of  Georgia  and  representative  of  stanch 
pioneer  families  of  the  state,  and  his  wife's  parents  were  Prior 
and  Anna  T.  (Heard)  Lea,  of  Tennessee.  Nisbet  Wingfield  was 
educated  in  the  University  of  Tennessee  at  Knoxville,  when  he 
graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1881  in  a special  course, 
having  taken  a thorough  training  in  civil  engineering  as  a portion 
of  his  college  work.  After  leaving  the  university  he  was  em- 
ployed until  1897  as  a constructing  engineer  in  various  southern 
states  and  within  that  period  he  built  many  public  works,  the  total 
cost  of  such  improvements  made  under  his  direction  aggregating 
more  than  $8,000,000.  In  1887,  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  he  built  the 
second  large  mechanical  filtering  plant  ever  constructed  in  the 
United  States,  the  same  being  a municipal  plant.  He  also  accom- 
plished the  feat  of  supplying  the  residents  on  the  summit  of  Look- 
out mountain  with  water  from  a spring  at  the  base  of  the  historic 
mountain,  the  water  being  pumped  to  an  elevation  of  2,000  feet. 
This  notable  work  was  completed  in  1890.  In  1897  Mr.  Wingfield 
was  employed  by  the  city  of  Augusta  to  construct  its  present 
admirable  water-works  system,  the  work  being  completed  in  1901. 
Since  1898  he  has  held  the  position  of  city  engineer  and  commis- 
sioner of  public  works  of  Augusta,  the  office  having  been  specially 
created  for  him,  while  his  labors  in  the  connection  have  so  re- 
dounded to  the  benefit  of  the  city  and  its  people  that  none  can 
doubt  the  wisdom  of  the  course  taken  in  creating  this  new  muni- 
cipal office.  Mr.  Wingfield  exercises  his  franchise  in  support  of  the 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  but  he  has  never  had  any 


est  railroad  station. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


615 


desire  to  enter  the  domain  of  “practical  politics.”  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  he  is  identified  with 
the  American  public  works  association,  the  American  water  works 
association,  the  American  society  of  civil  engineers,  the  Benevo- 
lent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  the 
Commercial  and  Country  clubs  of  Augusta.  On  Nov.  18,  1881, 
Mr.  Wingfield  was  married  to  Miss  Susan  L.  Wallace,  daughter 
of  Charles  B.  Wallace  and  granddaughter  of  the  late  Campbell 
Wallace,  formerly  railroad  commissioner  of  Georgia.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wingfield  have  two  children — Robert,  born  Feb.  9,  1886,  and 
Wallace,  born  May  26,  1888. 

Wingfield,  Samuel  Barnett,  the  able  and 
honored  judge  of  the  court  of  ordinary  of 
Clarke  county,  is  a representative  of  one 
of  the  well  known  families  of  Georgia, 
with  whose  annals  the  name  has  been 
identified  from  an  early  period  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  commonwealth,  the  founder  of 
the  line  in  this  state  having  been  the 
great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  The  original  American  progen- 
itors came  from  Suffolk,  England,  in  the 
colonial  era  and  settled  in  Virginia,  from 
which  state  came  the  Georgia  branch. 
The  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  Samuel  Wing- 
field, a successful  planter  of  Wilkes  county,  Ga.,  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  Judge  Samuel  B.  Wingfield,  who  has  maintained  his  home 
in  the  city  of  Athens  for  many  years,  was  born  in  Washington, 
Wilkes  county,  Ga.,  Feb.  26,  1838,  a son  of  Archibald  Simpson  and 
Jane  Ann  (Barnett)  Wingfield,  both  natives  of  Georgia,  where 
they  passed  their  entire  lives.  The  mother  passed  away  in  the 
year  which  marked  the  birth  of  Samuel  B.  and  the  father  died  in 
1861,  having  been  for  many  years  teller  in  a bank  at  Washington. 
His  father-in-law,  Samuel  Barnett,  was  president  of  the  bank  and 
was  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  and  influential  capitalists  of 
Wilkes  county.  Archibald  S.  Wingfield  was  the  owner  of  exten- 
sive plantation  interests  and  held  many  slaves,  in  Wilkes  county, 
before  the  Civil  war.  Judge  Wingfield  attended  the  schools  of 
Washington  until  he  had  attained  to  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  when 
he  was  compelled  to  abandon  his  studies  on  account  of  impaired 
health.  Prior  to  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  he  devoted  him- 
self to  the  management  of  a farm  which  had  been  given  him  by 


616 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


his  father,  in  Wilkes  county.  He  earnestly  desired  to  go  forth  in 
defense  of  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy,  but  his  health  was  such 
that  he  was  unable  to  pass  the  required  physical  examination.  In 
1864,  however,  he  enlisted  in  the  regiment  of  Georgia  infantry 
commanded  by  Gen.  Robert  Toombs,  took  part  in  several  skir- 
mishes but  no  heavy  engagements  and  was  present  at  the  surren- 
der of  both  Atlanta  and  Savannah.  After  the  war  closed  Judge 
Wingfield  took  up  his  residence  at  Athens,  where  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Georgia  Railroad  Company,  later  holding  responsi- 
ble positions  in  turn  with  the  Southern  and  the  Macon  & Northern 
railroads.  He  thereafter  was  employed  as  book-keeper  and  ac- 
countant by  various  firms  in  this  city  until  1901,  when  he  was 
elected  ordinary  of  the  county,  giving  a most  acceptable  admin- 
istration and  being  chosen  as  his  own  successor  in  1904.  His  term 
expires  in  1908.  He  served  as  meat  inspector  of  the  city  of  Athens 
several  years  ago.  He  is  a stalwart  adherent  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  zealous  members  of  the  Baptist 
church.  On  June  24,  1858,  Judge  Wingfield  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  D.  Callaway,  daughter  of  William  R.  Callaway, 
who  died  in  Wilkes  county  many  years  ago.  Concerning  the  chil- 
dren of  this  marriage  the  following  brief  record  is  entered : 
Rosalie  R.  became  the  wife  of  W.  S.  Short  and  is  now  deceased ; 
Beatrice  is  the  wife  of  E.  P.  Short,  of  Edgewood,  DeKalb  county ; 
Archibald  S.  resides  in  Athens;  Annie  is  the  widow  of  James  O. 
Farrell  and  resides  at  the  parental  home;  Kate  Bell  is  the  wife  of 
John  N.  Williamson,  of  Athens;  William  and  Samuel  B.,  Jr.,  are 
also  residents  of  this  city;  Ida  is  the  wife  of  Warren  J.  Smith,  of 
Athens;  Lila  became  the  wife  of  Dr.  Charles  Finley  and  both  are 
deceased;  Robert  Screven  and  George  Terry  both  reside  in  Athens; 
and  two  children  died  in  infancy.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  Judge 
and  Mrs.  Wingfield  have  had  to  date,  six  sons  and  seven  daughters, 
twenty-six  grandsons  and  fifteen  granddaughters. 

Wingfield,  Thomas  T.,  head  of  the  Wingfield  Hardware  Com- 
pany, of  Augusta,  is  one  of  the  pioneer  merchants  of  the  city,  where 
he  is  the  oldest  representative  of  the  hardware  trade  now  living,  and 
has  long  been  identified  with  the  best  business  and  civic  interests  of 
Augusta,  where  he  has  ever  commanded  the  most  unqualified  con- 
fidence and  regard.  He  was  born  in  Washington,  Wilkes 
county,  Ga.,  Aug.  16,  1827,  a son  of  James  and  Susan  (Gordon) 
Wingfield,  the  former  a native  of  Hanover  county,  Va.,  and  the 
latter  of  Wilkes  county,  Ga.  James  Wingfield  was  a small  boy  at 
the  time  of  his  parents’  removal  from  the  Old  Dominion  state  to 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


617 


AVilkes  county,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated  and  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  long  and  useful  life,  having  been  a farmer  by 
vocation  and  sixty-four  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His 

wife  died  in  Washington,  that  county,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-seven  years  and  of 
'"VMk  their  eleven  children  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  now  the  only  survivor.  Thomas 
T.  Wingfield  was  a student  in  Washing- 
ton academy,  in  his  native  town,  until  he 
had  attained  to  the  age  of  sixteen  years, 
when  he  took  a position  as  clerk  in  a local 
grocery  and  retained  this  position  for  five 
years.  In  1849  he  removed  to  Augusta, 
where  he  was  employed  in  a dry-goods 
store  the  first  year,  then  became  book- 
keeper in  a grocery  establishment,  retain- 
ing this  incumbency  three  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which,  in 
1854,  he  engaged  in  the  retail  grocery  business  on  his  own  responsi- 
bility. In  1857  he  removed  to  Washington  county,  Miss.,  where 
for  two  years  he  attempted  to  raise  cotton,  in  the  Mississippi  valley. 
Each  year  his  crops  were  submerged  and  destroyed  by  the  overflow 
of  the  river,  and  he  was  thus  forced  to  abandon  his  efforts.  Wash- 
ington county  at  the  present  day  is  known  as  one  of  the  finest 
cotton-producing  sections  of  Mississippi.  In  1859  Mr.  Wingfield 
returned  to  Augusta,  where  he  became  bookkeeper  in  the  hardware 
establishment  owned  by  John  and  Thomas  A.  Bones  and  held  that 
position  twenty  consecutive  years,  within  which  three  or  more 
changes  were  made  in  the  personel  of  the  firm,  as  well  as  in  the  title 
of  the  concern.  In  1879  he  resigned  this  office  and  engaged  in  the  hard- 
ware business  on  his  own  account,  having  thus  been  engaged  in  this 
line  of  enterprise  in  this  city  for  more  than  a quarter  of  a century. 
His  large  and  well  stocked  establishment  is  located  at  1043  Broad 
street,  and  two  of  his  sons,  James  G.  and  Edward  B.,  are  now  asso- 
ciated with  him  in  the  business,  which  is  conducted  under  the  title 
of  the  Wingfield  Hardware  Company,  being  both  wholesale  and  re- 
tail in  its  ramifications  and  controlling  a large  and  representative 
trade.  Mr.  Wingfield  is  a stalwart  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  is  a prominent  member  of  the  Greene  street  Presbyterian 
church,  in  which  he  is  an  elder.  He  is  a Royal  Arch  Mason  and  the 
only  living  charter  member  of  Webb  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  of  Augusta.  On  May  17,  1854,  was  solmnized  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Wingfield  to  Miss  Mary  M.  Bones,  who  was  born  in  the 


CIS 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


north  of  Ireland,  and  was  a resident  of  Augusta  at  the  time  of  her 
marriage.  She  died  in  1877,  and  six  children  survive  her:  Eleanor 
Bryson,  Mary  J.,  Susan  Lee,  James  G.,  Edward  B.  and  William  C. 
Susan  L.  is  now  the  wife  of  Henry  C.  Tennent,  of  Augusta. 

Winn,  Thomas  Elisha,  was  born  in  Clarke  county  in  1839,  at- 
tended school  at  Emory  college  and  at  Henry  college  in  Virginia, 
where  he  studied  law.  He  entered  the  Confederate  army  in  1861 
and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  attaining  the  rank  of  lieu- 
tenant-colonel. After  the  war  he  engaged  in  farming.  He  was 
made  county  commissioner  of  schools  of  Gwinnett  county  in  1876, 
and  served  until  1890,  when  he  was  elected  to  a seat  in  the  lower 
house  of  the  Fifty-second  Congress. 

Winn,  William  J.,  the  able  city  engi- 
neer of  Savannah,  is  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative civil  engineers  of  the  state,  and 
a veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  in  which  he 
rose  to  the  rank  of  colonel  in  the  Con- 
federate service.  Colonel  Winn  was  born 
in  Walthourville,  Liberty  county,  G'a., 
Feb.  9,  1838,  a son  of  James  Wilson  and 
Elizabeth  Rebecca  (Norman)  Winn,  both 
natives  of  Liberty  county,  where  the 
former  was  born  Aug.  1,  1807,  and  the 
latter  Aug.  23,  1819.  The  progenitor  of 
the  Winn  family  in  Georgia  was  John 
Winn,  Sr.,  who,  with  his  immediate  family,  was  numbered  among 
the  original  settlers  of  St.  John’s  parish,  now  known  as  Liberty 
county,  having  taken  up  his  residence  there  in  1755.  He  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Council  of  Safety  which  met  in  the  old  Tondee  Tavern, 
in  Savannah,  as  a delegate  from  his  parish,  and  by  reason  of  his 
activity  in  the  cause  of  independence  in  the  troublous  days  of  the 
Revolution  he  was  named  in  the  “disqualifying  act’’  as  being  ineli- 
gible for  any  office  of  honor  or  profit  under  the  British  govern- 
ment. He  entered  the  Continental  line  at  the  outset  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, having  previously  been  made  second  lieutenant  in  the  first 
company  of  the  Second  regiment  of  foot  militia  of  Georgia.  His 
company  had  as  its  captain  Thomas  Carter,  and  the  regiment  was 
commanded  by  Col.  Kenneth  Baillie.  His  commission  as  second 
lieutenant  was  dated  Feb.  21,  1766.  His  service  in  the  patriot 
army  during  the  war  is  certified  by  Col.  John  Baker,  the  record 
being  still  extant.  His  son  Peter  was  likewise  in  the  Colonial 
service  in  the  great  struggle  for  independence,  as  certified  by  Col. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


619 


E.  Clark.  In  1767  he  had  been  made  ensign  of  the  Fifth  Company, 
John  Mann,  captain,  of  the  Second  Georgia  regiment,  Augusta 
division,  commanded  by  Col.  James  Jackson.  John  Winn,  son  of 
Peter  Winn,  was  major  during  the  war  of  1S12.  Col.  William  J. 
Winn,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  afforded  the  ad- 
vantages of  the  common  schools  of  his  day  and  supplemented  this 
discipline  by  a course  in  the  Georgia  military  academy.  After 
leaving  school,  his  father  having  died  in  the  meanwhile,  he  assumed 
charge  of  the  home  plantation,  to  which  he  gave  his  supervision 
until  there  came  the  call  of  higher  duty,  with  the  precipitation  of 
the  war  between  the  states.  He  was  among  the  first  to  go  forth 
in  defense  of  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy.  He  enlisted  as  second 
lieutenant  of  Company  H,  Liberty  Volunteers,  an  organization 
formed  in  his  home  county,  and  this  was  mustered  into  the  Con- 
federate service  early  in  1861,  as  a member  of  the  Fourteenth 
Georgia  regiment,  which  later  became  the  Twenty-fifth  Georgia 
infantry.  On  the  formation  of  the  regiment  Lieutenant  Winn  was 
chosen  its  major.  The  regiment  was  mustered  in  at  Oglethorpe 
Barracks,  Savannah,  and  remained  in  this  locality,  on  coast  duty, 
until  i860,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Jackson,  Miss.,  to  form  a part 
of  General  Johnston’s  army.  The  command  participated  in  the 
engagements  around  Jackson  and  then  went  to  Tennessee,  becom- 
ing a part  of  the  Army  of  Tennessee,  under  General  Bragg,  and 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  In  this  memorable 
fight  Major  Winn  was  severely  wounded  and  sent  home  on  a fur- 
lough. After  recuperating  he  rejoined  his  regiment,  at  Dalton, 
Ga.,  and  on  the  promotion  of  Colonel  Wilson  to  brigadier-general, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Williams  having  been  mortally  wounded  in  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga,  Major  Winn  was  promoted  to  the  colonelcy 
of  his  regiment.  He  was  in  command  of  the  regiment  from  Dalton 
to  Atlanta,  taking  part  in  the  innumerable  engagements  which 
marked  the  progress  of  the  command,  and  in  one  of  the  conflicts 
in  the  vicinity  he  was  so  seriously  wounded  as  to  incapacitate  him 
for  further  field  service,  thus  being  accorded  an  honorable  dis- 
charge. In  the  Georgia  military  academy  he  had  prepared  himself 
for  the  profession  of  civil  engineering,  and  after  the  close  of  the 
war  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  in  the  common  schools  one  year, 
at  the  expiration  of  which  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  profession 
noted.  His  first  work  in  this  connection  was  in  the  capacity  of 
assistant  engineer  in  the  construction  of  the  Montgomery  & Eufaula 
railroad  in  Alabama,  and  he  was  made  chief  engineer  before  the 
completion  of  the  work.  He  then  became  chief  engineer  of  the 


620 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


North  & South  railroad,  a narrow-gauge  line,  which  was  being 
built  in  Georgia,  and  he  continued  to  be  identified  with  railway 
construction  and  civil-engineering  in  Georgia,  Florida  and  other 
southern  states  for  many  years,  doing  a large,  varied  and  impor- 
tant work.  He  made  a survey  of  the  Florida  ship  canal  for  the 
United  States  government  in  1878.  In  1888  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Savannah  and  was  appointed  city  engineer  in  May  of  that 
year.  He  has  since  remained  the  incumbent  of  this  office  where 
his  efforts  have  greatly  conserved  the  well  being  of  the  city,  his 
zeal  and  efficiency  being  of  the  highest  type  and  his  administration 
of  the  important  affairs  of  his  office  admirable  in  all  respects,  gain- 
ing to  him  official  and  popular  commendation.  Colonel  Winn  is 
a stalwart  Democrat  in  his  political  adherency,  and  is  affiliated  with 
the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the  United  Confederate  Veterans.  On 
Feb.  16,  1859,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Fleming, 
daughter  of  John  S.  and  Jane  A.  (Quarterman)  Fleming,  of  Liberty 
county,  and  they  have  three  children : Fleming  W.,  who  is  associ- 
ated with  the  Savannah  Cotton  Oil  Company,  married  Miss  Mary 
Montgomery,  of  Liberty  county,  and  they  have  two  children — 
Fleming  W.,  Jr.,  and  Lillian  S. — Mary  Luella,  is  the  wife  of  Edmond 
W.  Brown,  of  Savannah ; and  William  H.  also  resides  in  Savannah, 
his  wife,  Beulah,  having  been  born  in  Houston  county,  Ga. 

Winokur,  a village  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Charlton  county, 
is  a station  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  railway.  It  has  a money 
order  postoffice  and  some  mercantile  and  shipping  interests. 

Winslow  (railroad  name  Grangerville),  a post-hamlet  of  Wayne 
county,  is  on  the  Macon  & Brunswick  division  of  the  Southern 
railway  system,  ten  miles  southeast  of  Jesup. 

Winston,  a village  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Douglas  county, 
is  a station  on  the  division  of  the  Southern  railroad  that  runs  west 
from  Austell.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free 
delivery,  some  mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  and  in  1900 
reported  a population  of  100. 

Winterville,  a town  in  Oglethorpe  county,  is  on  the  Athens 
branch  of  the  Georgia  railroad,  and  in  1900  had  a population  of 
320.  It  has  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a money  order  postoffice 
with  rural  free  delivery,  several  successful,  business  houses,  some 
of  which  deal  extensively  in  fertilizers,  and  good  schools  and 
churches. 

Wiregrass,  a post-hamlet  of  Clinch  county,  is  on  the  ridge  be- 
tween Jones  and  Suwanoochee  creeks,  about  six  miles  northeast 
of  Calhoun,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


621 


Wise,  James  Walter,  of  Fayetteville,  a 
leading  member  of  the  Fayette  county 
bar,  and  a representative  of  that  county 
in  the  state  legislature,  was  born  in 
Henry  county,  Ga.,  March  3,  1868,  a son 
of  George  E.  and  Rachel  (Foster)  Wise, 
the  former  born  in  Morgan  county  and 
the  latter  in  Henry  county,  Ga.  The 
ancestry  in  the  paternal  line  traces  to 
Scotch-Irish  stock.  The  family  Avas  early 
founded  in  Virginia,  whence  representa- 
tives came  to  Georgia  in  the  early  ’30’s 
and  located  in  Henry  county.  George  E. 
Wise  was  a loyal  soldier  of  the  Confederacy  and  served  during 
the  entire  period  of  the  Civil  war,  as  a lieutenant  in  the  Twenty- 
seventh  Georgia  volunteer  infantry.  In  1877  he  represented  Henry 
county  in  the  state  legislature.  James  W.  Wise  was  afforded  the 
advantages  of  the  excellent  schools  of  his  native  county  and  Avas 
reared  on  the  homestead  plantation.  Fie  took  up  the  study  of  larv 
in  the  office  of  the  well  known  firm  of  Hall  & Hammond,  of 
Atlanta,  later  ha\dng  as  a preceptor  Judge  Ragan,  of  that  city, 
and  finally  continued  his  technical  studies  in  the  law  department 
of  Emory  college  at  Oxford,  Ga.  In  1892  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  McDonough,  Henry  county,  and  in  the  following  year  located 
at  Fayetteville,  where  he  has  since  been  established  in  the  suc- 
cessful practice  of  his'  profession.  He  is  a stanch  adherent  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  has  been  an  active  worker  in  its  cause. 
He  served  several  terms  as  mayor  of  Fayetteville,  and  in  1902  was 
elected  to  represent  Fayette  county  in  the  lower  house  of  the  state 
legislature.  He  was  reelected  in  1904  and  is  now  chairman  of  the 
ways  and  means  committee.  He  is  a member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South. 

Withers,  a post-town  of  Clinch  county,  is  on  the  branch  of  the 
Atlantic  Coast  Line  railway  that  runs  south  from  Dupont  Junc- 
tion, and  is  near  the  Echols  county  line.  The  population  in  1900 
was  120. 

Wofford,  William  T.,  was  a soldier  of  two  wars,  having  served 
during  the  entire  Mexican  war  as  an  apprenticeship  for  his  experi- 
ence in  the  Civil  war.  During  the  interim  he  practiced  Hav  and 
served  as  a member  of  the  legislature.  He  Avas  a delegate  to  the 
Southern  convention  in  1858  and  to  the  secession  convention  in 
1861.  In  the  latter  he  voted  against  the  ordinance  until  the  last, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


622 


but  like  many  others  of  similar  belief  he  offered  his  services  to  the 
state  and  was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  Eighteenth  regiment. 
On  the  death  of  Gen.  T.  R.  R.  Cobb  he  was  advanced  to  the  rank 
of  brigadier-general.  At  the  beginning  of  1865  he  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  department  of  North  Georgia,  where  the  suffering 
was  intense,  and  where  he  did  much  to  alleviate  the  distress. 
After  the  war  he  was  elected  to  Congress,  though  he  was  not 
allowed  to  serve.  He  was  able,  however,  to  procure  help  for  his 
district  from  the  government.  He  was  a Democratic  presidential 
elector  in  1872  and  again  in  1876,  and  was  a member  of  the  con- 
stitutional convention  of  1877.  His  last  years  were  spent  near 
Cassville. 


Wolf,  John,  a prominent  florist  and 
successful  young  business  man  of  Savan- 
nah, has  demonstrated  in  his  career  what 
is  possible  of  accomplishment  on  the  part 
of  the  youth  who  comes  to  America  from 
foreign  shores  and  sets  forth  to  win  inde- 
pendence through  his  own  efforts.  He 
was  born  in  Hungary,  Austria,  May  1, 
1871,  and  is  a son  of  Sandler  and  Anna 
(Weiland)  Wolf,  who  passed  their  entire 
lives  in  Austro-Hungary.  The  father 
was  a musician  by  profession  and  died 
when  John  was  but  four  years  old,  while 
he  was  only  twelve  years  of  age  when  his  mother  also  passed 
away.  He  was  left  a homeless  orphan,  ragged  and  barefoot,  a 
veritable  waif  of  the  streets.  What  he  has  accomplished  is  best 
shown  in  the  fact  that,  though  he  is  but  thirty-four  years  of  age, 
he  is  now  the  owner  of  the  largest  wholesale  and  retail  system  of 
greenhouses  in  Georgia  and  one  of  the  most  extensive  in  the  entire 
South.  After  the  death  of  his  mother  he  entered  the  employ  of 
a florist  in  his  native  country,  remaining  thus  engaged  for  three 
years.  In  1888,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  immigrated  to  America, 
landing  at  Castle  Garden.  From  New  'York  he  made  his  way  to 
West  Virginia,  where  he  could  find  no  profitable  employment,  so  he 
returned  to  the  state  of  New  York,  walking  the  entire  distance, 
as  he  was  without  money.  He  consumed  three  weeks  in  making 
the  trip  and  finally  found  employment  in  a brickyard  at  Haver- 
straw,  N.  Y.,  receiving  one  dollar  and  seventy-five  cents  a day. 
Less  than  a month  later  he  gave  up  this  work  and  made  his  way 
to  Georgia,  where  he  took  charge  of  a crew  of  his  countrymen  in 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


623 


connection  with  the  construction  of  a railroad  bridge.  Sickness 
broke  out  among  the  men,  who,  of  course,  gave  up  the  work, 
necessitating  his  retirement  from  his  position  shortly  after  he 
assumed  the  same.  He  then  came  to  Savannah,  where  his  first  em- 
ployment was  in  the  brewery  of  Herman  Winter,  but  one  week’s 
experience  proved  ample.  He  then  found  a position  in  the  employ 
of  August  C.  Oelschig,  the  well  known  florist,  receiving  ten  dollars 
a month  and  being  thus  engaged  for  the  ensuing  nine  months.  For 
the  following  three  years  he  was  employed  by  another  florist, 
Gustave  Keisling,  receiving  twenty-five  dollars  a month.  With 
$500,  which  he  had  saved  from  his  wages,  he  engaged  in  business 
for  himself  as  a florist  in  1893.  He  began  operations  on  too  large 
a scale  to  be  justified  by  his  limited  capital  and  failure  attended 
the  venture,  from  which  he  retired  with  only  a mule  and  wagon, 
which  he  sold  for  $125.  He  then  went  to  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
where  he  soon  exhausted  his  diminutive  capital  and  was  compelled 
to  borrow  from  a Savannah  friend  a sufficient  sum  to  defray  the 
expense  of  his  return  trip.  Upon  coming  again  to  Savannah  he 
secured  employment  in  caring  for  various  flower  gardens  about 
the  city,  being  thus  engaged  about  one  year.  In  1895  he  again 
started  in  business  for  himself,  his  capital  at  this  time  being  but 
sixty  dollars.  Plis  previous  experience  had  taught  its  lesson, 
however,  and  he  began  on  a modest  scale  and  enlarged  the  scope 
of  his  enterprise  as  the  growing  business  justified.  Within  ten 
years  he  has  built  up  a magnificent  business,  creditable  alike  to 
the  city  and  to  himself.  In  1903  he  purchased  a tract  of  eight 
acres,  at  the  intersection  of  Anderson  and  Ott  streets,  and  upon 
this  property  he  has  since  expended  $16,000  in  improvements,  in 
the  construction  of  greenhouses,  office  and  general  equipment.  His 
conservatories,  seventeen  in  number,  have  140,000  square  feet  of 
glass  and  are  modern  in  every  respect.  Mr.  Wolf  makes  a specialty 
of  cut  flowers,  supplying  both  the  wholesale  and  retail  trade.  The 
valuation  of  his  property,  exclusive  of  stock,  is  fully  $30,000.  The 
significance  of  this  statement  is  pronounced,  when  reversion  is 
made  to  the  financial  status  of  Mr.  Wolf  upon  his  arrival  in 
America.  He  is  held  in  high  esteem  in  business  and  social  circles, 
and  is  much  of  a linguist,  speaking  the  German,  Hungarian,  Bohe- 
mian and  English  languages.  He  is  a member  of  the  Savannah 
chamber  of  commerce,  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  and 
the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Catholic 
church,  but  is  now  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  On 
Jan.  1,  1900,  Mr.  Wolf  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Amelia  B. 


624 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Staib,  who  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  June  13,  1873,  and  they 
have  two  children:  John,  Jr.,  born  Nov.  17,  1901,  and  Anna,  born 
Oct.  27,  1903.  Mrs.  Wolf  is  a member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Wolffork,  a post-hamlet  of  Rabun  county,  is  in  a picturesque  dis- 
trict, about  seven  miles  northwest  of  Clayton,  which  is  the  most 
convenient  railroad  station. 

Womack,  a post-town  in  the  extreme  southwest  corner  of  Clay 
county,  reported  a population  of  263  in  1900.  It  is  the  most  impor- 
tant trading  point  in  that  section,  has  good  church  and  school 
privileges,  etc.  Fort  Gaines,  eight  miles  northwest,  is  the  nearest 
railroad  town. 

Wood,  Joseph,  member  of  the  Continental  Congress,  was  a native 
of  Pennsylvania.  In  1774  he  came  to  Georgia  and  settled  at  Sun- 
bury.  He  was  one  of  that  radical  element  that  elected  Lyman  Hall 
a delegate  to  the  Continental  Congress  from  St.  John’s  parish,  at 
a time  when  the  rest  of  the  st^te  was  unwilling  to  array  itself 
against  the  British  government.  Soon  after  this  event  he  returned 
to  Pennsylvania  and  entered  the  army,  where  he  rose  rapidly  to 
the  rank  of  colonel.  Late  in  the  year  1776  he  came  again  to  his 
plantation  on  the  Newport  river  and  in  January,  1777,  was  himself 
elected  a delegate  to  the  Continental  Congress.  He  died  on  his 
plantation  in  Liberty  county  in  1791. 

Woodbine,  a village  of  Camden  county,  is  a station  on  the  Sea- 
board Air  Line  railroad,  at  the  point  where  it  crosses  the  Satilla 
river.  The  population  in  1900  was  87.  It  has  a money  order  post- 
office,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  and  does  considerable  ship- 
ping, both  by  rail  and  water. 

Woodbury,  a town  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Meriwether 
county,  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1872. 
The  Macon  & Birmingham  railroad  crosses  the  Columbus  & 
McDonough  division  of  the  Southern  at  this  point.  Its  population 
by  the  census  of  1900  was  566.  It  has  telegraph  and  express 
offices,  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery,  a bank, 
several  mercantile  establishments  doing  a good  business,  a large 
oil  mill  and  excellent  school  and  church  privileges. 

Woodcliff,  a village  in  Screven  county,  with  a population  of  103 
in  1900,  is  on  the  Sylvania  Central  railroad,  about  half-way  be-, 
tween  Rockyford  and  Sylvania.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice, 
with  rural  free  delivery,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  and  impor- 
tant mercantile  and  shipping  interests. 

Wood  Station,  a village  in  Catoosa  county,  with  a population  of 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


625 


89  in  1900,  is  about  five  miles  east  of  Rockspring,  which  is  the 
nearest  railroad  town. 

Woodstock,  a town  in  the  southern  part  of  Cherokee  county,  is 
on  the  line  of  the  Atlanta,  Knoxville  & Northern  railroad,  and  not 
far  from  the  Cobb  county  line.  It  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the 
legislature  on  Dec.  8,  1897,  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of 
276.  From  its  money  order  postoffice  a number  of  free  delivery 
routes  supply  mail  to  the  adjacent  rural  districts,  its  stores  do  a 
good  business,  it  has  express  and  telegraph  offices,  good  school 
and  church  privileges,  and  does  considerable  shipping. 

Woodville,  a town  in  the  northern  part  of  Greene  county,  is  on 
the  Athens  branch  of  the  Georgia  railway.  It  has  telegraph  and 
express  offices,  a money  order  postoffice  with  rural  free  delivery, 
several  stores,  schools  and  churches,  and  in  1900  reported  a popu- 
lation of  300. 

Woodward,  James  G.,  mayor  of  the 
city  of  Atlanta,  has  not  only  shown 
marked  power  and  discrimination  in  the 
administration  of  the  municipal  govern- 
ment of  the  beautiful  capital  of  Georgia 
but  has  also  manifested  the  elements  of 
popular  strength  and  gained  in  a signifi- 
cant degree  the  esteem  and  confidence 
of  the  public.  He  was  born  in  Marietta, 
Cobb  county,  Ga.,  Jan.  14,  1845,  a son 
of  Nelson  and  Nancy  (Hutchins)  Wood- 
ward, the  former  born  in  Fayette  county, 
Pa.,  and  the  latter  in  Georgia,  Jan.  26, 
1810,  her  parents  having  been  early  settlers  of  the  state,  if,  indeed, 
they  were  not  natives  of  the  same.  The  family  records  are  some- 
what obscure  in  these  regards  and  exact  data  are  not  available. 
Nelson  Woodward  went  forth  with  a company  of  Georgia  volun- 
teers to  serve  in  the  Mexican  war,  taking  part  in  various  engage- 
ments and  sacrificing  his  life  in  the  cause,  as  he  died  while  still 
in  the  service,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  war.  James  G.  Woodward 
received  the  advantages  of  the  common  schools  of  Marietta,  and 
it  was  his  privilege  to  secure  that  further  training  which  has  con- 
sistently been  pronounced  equivalent  to  a liberal  education,  by 
serving  an  apprenticeship  at  the  printer’s  trade.  He  began  in 
January,  1858,  and  perfected  himself  in  the  mysteries  and  details 
of  the  “art  preservative  of  all  arts.”  His  apprenticeship  was 
served  in  the  office  of  the  Marietta  Advocate,  owned  by  the  late 


40-in 


626 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Rev.  W.  H.  Hunt,  and  he  continued  to  follow  the  printing  busi- 
ness for  more  than  forty  years,  within  which  time  he  was  employed 
in  many  of  the  leading  cities  of  the  country.  He  returned  to  and 
took  up  his  permanent  residence  in  Atlanta  Sept.  1,  1877,  and  here 
he  was  identified  with  the  Constitution  and  the  Journal  for  many 
years,  continuing  in  the  work  of  his  trade  until  the  summer  of 
1899,  when  he  was  first  elected  mayor  of  the  city.  He  has  long 
been  an  ardent  and  uncompromising  supporter  of  the  principles 
and  policies  of  the  Democratic  party  and  has  for  many  years  been 
retained  in  public  service  in  Atlanta.  He  served  as  a member  of 
the  city  council  in  1888-9 ; was  for  nine  years  a valued  member  of 
the  board  of  aldermen, — 1890-92,  1896-8,  and  1902-4.  In  1899,  as 
already  intimated,  he  was  elected  mayor,  served  two  years,  and 
in  1905  was  again  called  to  the  chief  executive  office  of  the  city 
government,  a position  of  which  he  is  the  incumbent  at  the  time 
of  this  writing.  His  administration  has  been  essentially  sane  and 
businesslike,  progressive,  direct  and  certain  in  policy,  and  his  rec- 
ord as  mayor  is  one  which  redounds  to  his  credit  and  to  the  honor 
and  benefit  of  the  city,  as  the  many  tablets  on  large  public  im- 
provements throughout  the  city  thoroughly  demonstrates.  Mayor 
Woodward  was  formerly  identified  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  and  he  is 
now  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  has  been 
a member  of  the  Atlanta  Typographical  Union  for  more  than 
thirty-five  years.  He  has  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  classes 
of  citizens,  and  no  one  is  more  intrinsically  loyal  to  the  fair  capital 
city.  On  Dec.  24,  1877,  Mr.  Woodward  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Emma  L.  Millican,  of  Atlanta,  daughter  of  John  and  Lucy 
(Matthews)  Millican,  both  of  whom  were  reared  at  or  near  Athens, 
Ga.,  where  they  remained  until  directly  after  the  close  of  the  Civil 
war,  when  they  removed  to  Atlanta,  where  they  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives.  Mayor  and  Mrs.  W'oodward  have  only  one 
child,  Miss  Nannie  A.  Woodward,  born  Nov.  3,  1878. 

Woodward,  Leland  W.,  whose  name  is  a synonym  for  integrity 
and  energetic  business  action,  is  president  of  the  Woodward  Lum- 
ber Company  of  Augusta,  a concern  which  has  done  much  to  add 
to  the  prestige  Georgia  has  gained  in  the  commercial  world  through 
the  development  of  her  great  lumbering  industry.  Mr.  Woodward 
is  a native  of  the  Old  Palmetto  State,  having  been  born  at  Barn- 
well, Barnwell  county,  S.  C.,  July  6,  1862.  He  is  a son  of  Willis  W. 
and  Sophronia  R.  (Tarrant)  Woodward,  both  natives  of  that  county. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


627 


their  respective  families  having  been  founded  in  South  Carolina  at 
an  early  date.  Willis  W.  Woodward  learned  the  carpenter's  trade 
in  early  life  and  in  later  years  became  a successful  contractor  and 

builder.  When  the  Civil  war  broke  upon 
the  country  he  enlisted  as  a soldier  in  a 
South  Carolina  regiment  and  served  in  the 
cause  of  the  Confederacy,  having  partic- 
ipated in  a number  of  important  engage- 
ments and  was  once  severely  wounded. 
He  is  now  living  practically  retired  in 
the  city  of  Augusta.  His  devoted  wife 
was  summoned  to  her  home  beyond  a 
few  years  ago  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight 
years.  The  boyhood  of  Lelancl  W.  Wood- 
ward was  passed  during  the  troublous 
period  that  followed  the  war,  so  that 
his  opportunities  to  acquire  an  education  were  somewhat 
limited.  He  managed  to  secure  a good  common  school 
training,  however,  and  to  this  he  has  added  by  self  effort 
and  by  association  with  well  informed  men.  In  1872,  when 
he  was  but  ten  years  of  age,  his  parents  took  up  their  resi- 
dence in  Augusta,  Ga.,  but  about  a year  later  removed  to  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  state,  where  they  lived  until  1878,  when  they  re- 
turned to  Augusta.  Mr.  Woodward  learned  the  carpenter’s  trade 
with  his  father  and  for  several  years  did  a good  business  as  a con- 
tractor. Subsequently  he  was  employed  as  a stationary  engineer, 
and  for  one  year  was  bridge  supervisor  for  the  Charleston  & West- 
ern Carolina  railway.  He  was  then  for  four  years  manager  of  a 
large  lumber  and  manufacturing  concern  in  Augusta  and  while  in 
this  position  mastered  many  of  the  details  of  the  business,  thus 
gaining  a technical  knowledge  that  has  been  of  inestimable  bene- 
fit to  him  and  his  associates  in  his  present  enterprise.  In  1899  he 
resigned  his  place  as  manager  to  organize  the  Woodward  Lumber 
Company,  of  which  he  has  been  president  from  the  beginning. 
This  company  now  ranks  as  one  of  the  foremost  in  its  line  in  north- 
eastern Georgia.  It  owns  large  tracts  of  timber  land,  operates  its 
own  saw-mills,  and  has  a well  equipped  sash,  door  and  blind  fac- 
tory at  Augusta.  Its  manufactured  products  are  kept  up  to  the 
highest  possible  standard,  the  inflexible  rule  being  that  no  inferior 
material  or  workmanship  must  leave  the  factory.  Such  a concern 
must  naturally  prosper,  and  the  success  of  the  company  has  been 
due  in  a great  measure  to  the  technical  skill  and  executive  ability 


628 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


of  its  president,  whose  course  has  always  been  fully  endorsed  by 
the  members  of  the  company,  all  of  whom  are  reliable  and  substan- 
tial business  men.  The  company  is  represented  in  the  membership 
of  the  Southern  Manufacturers’  association  and  occupies  a high 
position  as  one  of  Georgia’s  manufacturing  establishments.  Mr. 
Woodward  is  a Democrat  in  his  political  convictions,  but  has  never 
been  an  aspirant  for  public  office,  preferring  the  more  certain 
emoluments  of  a well  conducted  business  enterprise.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  with  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Baptist 
church.  On  Nov.  30,  1888,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jennie  E.  Hair, 
of  Aiken  county,  S.  C.,  and  they  have  two  children:  Tarrant,  born 
in  1889  and  Wynona,  born  in  1891. 

Woodward,  Park,  general  manager  of 
the  city  water  works  of  Atlanta,  is  one 
of  the  sterling  citizens  whose  name  is 
familiar  to  practically  all  residents  of 
the  beautiful  capital  city,  where  he  has 
served  in  various  official  capacities.  He 
has  also  been  prominently  identified 
with  newspaper  work  here  and  with  mili- 
tary affairs  in  the  state,  being  now  re- 
tired with  the  rank  of  colonel.  He  was 
a gallant  soldier  of  the  Confederacy  in 
the  Civil  war  and  in  all  the  relations  of 
life  has  so  borne  himself  as  to  merit 
and  retain  the  confidence  and  good  will  of  his  fellow  men.  Colonel 
Woodward  was  born  in  Bluffton,  Beaufort  county,  S.  C.,  May  4, 
1847,  a son  of  Rev.  Alsop  Park  and  Elizabeth  Catherine  (Pope) 
Woodward,  the  former  born  in  Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1804,  and 
the  latter  on  St.  Helena  island,  S.  C.,  March  2,  1818.  His  father, 
who  was  a clergyman  of  the  Episcopal  church,  was  fifty-four  years 
of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  Daufuskie  Isl- 
and, S.  C.,  in  November,  1858.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this 
review  died  on  May  29,  1904,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Oakland  ceme- 
tery, Atlanta.  In  the  paternal  line  Colonel  Woodward  is  descended 
from  Richard  Woodward,  of  Ipswich,  England,  who  came  to 
America  in  1634,  and  settled  at  Watertown,  Mass.,  whence  certain 
of  his  descendants  later  removed  to  Orange  county,  N.  Y.  Through 
this  ancestor,  by  intermarriages,  Colonel  Woodward  is  descended 
from  such  well  known  families  as  the  Danas,  Alsops,  Vails,  Still- 
wells and  that  of  Park.  His  great-grandfather,  Benjamin  Vail, 
was  a Revolutionary  soldier,  having  been  a captain  in  the  New 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


629 


York  regiment  commanded  by  Coonel  Hathron,  and  was  killed 
in  the  engagement  at  Minnisink,  on  the  Delaware  river,  while  gal- 
lantly leading  his  company,  July  22,  1779.  Through  his  mother 
Colonel  Woodward  traces  his  lineage  to  many  distinguished 
sources.  He  is  descended  from  Col.  Nathaniel  Pope,  gentleman, 
of  England,  who  came  to  America  in  1635,  settling  in  Maryland, 
where  records  still  extant  indicate  that  he  was  one  of  the  twenty- 
four  framers  of  the  “Grand  Inquest,”  and  he  removed,  with  his 
nine  menials,  to  Westmoreland  county,  Va.,  where  he  was  com- 
missioned lieutenant-colonel  of  the  colony,  April  4,  1655.  In  the 
family  line  also  were  Capt.  William  Pope,  who  served  under  Gen. 
Francis  Marion  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution;  Hon.  William  Pope, 
of  South  Carolina,  who  was  state  senator  for  many  years,  and  Col. 
John  Ashe,  gentleman,  of  Callison,  S.  C.,  who  came  from  Devon- 
shire, England,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Carolina  in  1683.  He 
was  a member  of  the  assembly  of  the  provinces  in  1701-3,  and  was 
sent  by  the  people  as  agent  to  lay  their  grievances  before  the 
lords  proprietors,  sailing  for  England  in  1703  and  dying,  in  Lon- 
don, in  August  of  that  year.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  John 
in  the  assembly  of  1704.  Col.  Park  Woodward  was  a student  of 
Oglethorpe  university  and  the  South  Carolina  military  institute. 
In  June,  1863,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  he  tendered  his  services 
to  the  Confederate  government,  becoming  a private  in  the  Terrell 
Artillery,  of  Columbus,  Ga.,  which  became  known  as  Brook’s  bat- 
tery. He  joined  the  command  at  White’s  Bluff,  near  Savannah, 
and  the  battery  was  thence  sent  to  Fort  McAllister,  where  it  re- 
mained until  the  time  of  Sherman’s  attack  on  Savannah.  Colonel 
Woodward  was  present  at  the  siege  of  Savannah,  took  part  in  the 
battle  at  Bentonville,  N.  C.,  and  in  other  engagements  of  minor 
importance,  in  that  state,  his  battery  having  been  attached  to 
Hardee’s  corps  in  North  Carolina  after  the  fall  of  Savannah.  He 
continued  in  service  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  paroled, 
at  Greensboro,  N.  C.,  May  5,  1865.  His  military  career  since  the 
war  may  be  summed  up  briefly  in  his  service  record,  as  follows : 
First  lieutenant  and  adjutant  of  the  Fourth  battery,  Georgia  state 
troops ; lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Fifth  Georgia  infantry,  and  later 
colonel  of  the  same  regiment,  from  which  he  was  retired  with  that 
rank.  Colonel  Woodward  was  business  manager  of  the  Atlanta 
Daily  Herald  from  1874,  until  February,  1876,  when  it  suspended 
publication.  He  was  thereafter  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  At- 
lanta Daily  Courier  for  a brief  period,  disposing  of  his  interest  in 
the  same  to  accept  the  position  of  bookkeeper  in  the  office  of  the 


630 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Atlanta  Constitution,  which  position  he  held  until  1879,  when  he 
was  appointed  chief  deputy  United  States  marshal  of  Georgia. 
This  office  he  held  until  1883,  when  he  was  appointed  deputy  clerk 
of  the  superior  court  of  Fulton  county,  serving  until  1884,  after 
which  he  was  assistant  postmaster  of  Atlanta  until  1889,  when  he 
was  chosen  city  clerk  and  remained  in  tenure  of  this  office  until 
1896,  since  which  time  he  has  served  continuously  and  most  ef- 
ficiently as  general  superintendent  of  the  Atlanta  water  works. 
He  is  an  uncompromising  Democrat,  is  identified  with  the  United 
Confederate  Veterans;  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in 
which  he  is  specially  prominent  in  the  chivalric  body,  having  had 
the  distinction  of  serving  as  grand  commander  of  the  Georgia 
grand  commandery  of  Knights  Templars,  and  is  also  a member 
of  Yaarab  Temple,  Ancient  Arabic  Order,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine.  He  also  holds  membership  in  the  Capital  City  club,  the 
Atlanta  Athletic  club,  and  Piedmont  Driving  club,  as  well  as  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  was  formerly  a commu- 
nicant of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  but  now  holds  member- 
ship in  the  Christian  church.  On  Feb.  1,  1876,  Colonel  Woodward 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Kate  Schley  Howell,  daughter  of 
Flon.  Clark  Howell  and  Mary  Davis  (Hook)  Howell,  of  Atlanta, 
and  the  children  of  this  union  are  as  follows : Clark  Howell,  Mary 

Davis,  Elizabeth  Pope,  Martha  Kate,  Daniel  Hook,  and  Harry 

Woolley,  Basil  M.,  M.  D.,  of  Atlanta, 
is  one  of  those  strong,  earnest  and  noble 
men  who  may  be  looked  upon  as  a bene- 
factor of  the  human  race,  and  through 
his  effective  treatment  of  persons  ad- 
dicted to  the  opium  and  liquor  habits,  or 
diseases,  he  has  attained  to  international 
reputation  and  accomplished  a wonder- 
ful work.  He  was  born  in  Perry  county, 
Ala.,  Sept.  28,  1834,  a son  of  Robert  A. 
and  Mary  (White)  Woolley,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  northern  Alabama 
and  the  latter  in  Anson  county,  N.  C. 
They  were  substantial,  sturdy  old  time  farmers.  Doctor  Woolley 
is  one  of  eleven  children.  He  was  afforded  the  advantages  of  a 
country  academy  and  later  continued  his  studies  under  the  direc- 
tion of  professors  of  Howard  College,  at  Marion,  Ala.,  being  em- 
ployed in  the  meanwhile  and  reciting  his  lessons  at  night,  in  or- 


Stockdell. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


631 


der  to  make  as  much  progress  as  possible.  At  the  age  of  eighteen 
years  he  was  made  assistant  circuit  clerk  at  Marion,  later  was  em- 
ployed as  a dry-good  salesman  and  bookkeeper,  and  finally  en- 
gaged in  the  book  business  on  his  own  account.  He  made  a suc- 
cess of  the  enterprise  and  continued  in  it  until  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service,  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  Fifty-first  Alabama  cavalry,  with  which  he  served  dur- 
ing the  four  years  of  the  great  conflict  between  the  states.  Con- 
cerning his  career  it  is  found  expedient  to  quote,  with  slight  elimin- 
ation and  paraphrase,  from  an  article  published  in  the  Atlanta 
Journal:  “He  went  from  the  circuit  clerk’s  office  into  one  of  the 
largest  dry-goods  houses  of  the  town  of  Marion,  and  so  great  were 
his  business  talents  and  so  implicit  the  confidence  of  his  employer 
that  in  a short  time  he  was  the  leading  and  confidential  clerk  of 
the  establishment.  By  strict  economy  he  saved  the  greater  part 
of  his  salary,  and  having  the  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him,  he 
engaged  in  the  business  of  a bookseller,  with  a handsome  and 
costly  stock  of  books  and  stationery.  This  afforded  him  an  excel- 
lent opportunity  for  reading  and  for  storing  his  mind  with  useful 
knowledge,  and  being  naturally  studious  he  made  the  best  of  his 
opportunities.  He  made  the  business  successful  and  thus  it  con- 
tinued until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  After  the  war  he  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  and  cotton  commission  business  at  Selma, 
Ala.,  where  he  accumulated  quite  a fortune,  all  of  which  was  lost 
in  the  national  financial  panic  of  1873.  He  was  at  that  time  one 
of  the  most  prominent  business  men  of  that  section  of  the  state, 
and  an  influential  member  of  the  board  of  trade  of  his  city. 
He  practically  announced  his  financial  condition  a year  before 
the  panic  came.  This  was  done  at  a meeting  of  business  men 
in  the  board  of  trade  rooms  while  talking  over  the  situation 
in  consequence  of  the  flood  of  1872.  By  means  best  known 
to  himself  he  had  become  forcibly  impressed  with  the  great  in- 
crease in  the  number  of  persons  who  were  addicted  to  the  use  of 
opium  in  the  various  forms  and  to  the  overuse  of  whisky  and  other 
intoxicants.  Though  eminently  free  from  the  use  of  either,  being 
not  only  strictly  temperate  himself,  but  also  of  a very  temperate 
family,  he  realized  the  ruinous  effects  of  such  habits.  His  mind 
being  directed  to  the  subject,  he  sought  information  thereon  from 
every  available  source,  until  finally  convinced  that  a treatment 
for  these  evils  would  not  only  prove  a boon  to  mankind  but  also 
a livelyhood  to  the  discoverer.  He  delved  deeply  into  the  con- 
stitution of  man,  studied  closely  the  effects  of  opiates  and  alcohol, 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


632 

and  the  substances  best  adapted  to  overcoming  their  results  and 
eliminating  their  poisons  from  the  human  system.  No  successful 
treatment  had  been  found  up  to  this  time,  and  assured  that  he  had 
found  the  great  secret  and  that  he  had  a reliable  and  safe  treat- 
ment for  the  opium  and  alcohol  habits,  he  proclaimed  it  through 
the  press  and  was  soon  gratified  with  wonderful  results.  For 
twenty-five  years  he  has  devoted  himself  to  the  splendid  work  and 
he  has  cured  thousands,  while  there  has  not  been  a single  instance 
of  death  from  the  use  of  his  remedies,  which  is  unusual  in  the 
treatment  of  disorders  of  so  serious  a character.  Each  and  every 
patient  is  examined  and  given  a prescription  as  his  or  her  case 
may  demand,  and  the  treatment  is  in  no  sense  a patent  medicine. 
For  many  years  Doctor  Woolley  has  been  a close  and  constant 
student  of  medicine.  When  he  commenced  the  practice  of  his  spe- 
cialty he  met  with  opposition  from  the  medical  fraternity,  but  this 
was  modified  by  the  unanswerable  proofs  of  his  wonderful  suc- 
cess and  by  his  manly  bearing  toward  this  honored  profession.  He 
was  graduated  in  the  Atlanta  medical  college,  one  of  the  oldest 
regular  schools  in  the  state,  was  subjected  to  a rigid  examination 
and  found  worthy  and  well  qualified.  The  world  is  indebted  to 
Dr.  B.  M.  Woolley  for  one  of  the  most  useful  and  beneficial  dis- 
coveries of  the  century,  and  his  fame  will  go  down  the  ages  as 
the  friend  and  benefactor  of  mankind.”  It  may  further  be  said 
that  more  than  15,000  persons,  in  all  sections  of  the  country,  have 
been  successfully  treated  by  Doctor  Woolley,  and  that  he  has  had 
the  unequivocal  endorsement  of  the  press,  the  pulpit  and  the  gen- 
eral public.  He  has  maintained  his  home  and  business  headquar- 
ters in  the  city  of  Atlanta  since  1873.  He  is  a Democrat  in  his 
political  allegiance,  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  is 
a zealous  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  in  the 
Sunday  school  of  which  he  served  as  superintendent  for  a number 
of  years.  In  May,  1859,  Doctor  Woolley  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Hattie  Leake,  daughter  of  Doctor  Leake,  who  was  a resi- 
dent of  Laurens,  S.  C.  She  is  survived  by  two  children,  Vassar 
Woolley,  who  was  born  in  1862,  and  now  resides  in  Atlanta,  and 
Eliza,  born  in  1873,  and  now  the  wife  of  E.  W.  Allen,  of  Atlanta. 
On  Feb.  22,  1893,  Doctor  Woolley  was  married  to  Miss  Dora  V. 
Abbey,  daughter  of  E.  M.  and  Elizabeth  Abbey,  of  Mississippi, 
and  the  two  children  of  this  union  are  Basil  M.,  Jr.,  and  Marion. 

Woolsey,  a town  in  the  southern  part  of  Fayette  county,  was  in- 
corporated by  act  of  the  legislature  on  Dec.  15,  1893.  In  1900  the 
population  was  53.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


633 


free  delivery,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  and  being  located  on 
a division  of  the  Southern  railway  system  has  good  shipping  facil- 
ities. 

Wooster,  a post-hamlet  of  Meriwether  county,  is  ten  miles 
northeast  of  Greenville,  which  is  the  nearest  railway  station. 

Worth,  a town  of  Turner  county,  is  four  miles  northwest  of 
Ashburn,  at  the  junction  of  the  Central  of  Georgia  and  the  Haw- 
kinsville  & Florida  Southern  railways.  The  population  in  1900 
was  216.  It  has  important  mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  ex- 
press and  telegraph  offices,  a money  order  postofifice,  and  good 
educational  and  religious  advantages. 

Worth  County  was  laid  out  from  Irwin  and  Dooly  in  1856  and 
was  named  for  Gen.  William  Worth,  a distinguished  soldier  of  the 
Mexican  war.  In  August,  1905,  a part  was  set  off  to  Turner  and 
Tift  counties.  Before  this  time  the  boundaries  were  as  follows: 
Dooly  county  on  the  north,  Irwin  and  Berrien  on  the  east,  Col- 
quitt on  the  south,  Mitchell,  Dougherty  and  Lee  on  the  west  and 
Lee  on  the  northwest.  The  surface  is  level  and  is  watered  by  the 
Flint  and  the  Little  rivers  and  their  branches.  Along  these  streams 
the  soil  is  fertile  and  cotton,  rice,  field  and  ground  peas,  chufas,  po- 
tatoes and  the  cereals  are  raised  in  abundance.  Vegetables,  ber- 
ries and  melons  are  raised,  but  few  are  shipped.  The  chief  fruits 
are  peaches,  apples,  pears,  plums,  cherries  and  grapes.  There  is  a 
remnant  of  the  original  forest  still  standing,  containing  cypress, 
pine,  gum  and  hickory  timber,  and  considerable  lumber  is  sawed. 
The  Atlantic  Coast  Line  railroad  crosses  the  county  from  east  to 
west,  the  Albany  & Northern  runs  across  the  northwest  corner, 
the  Georgia  Northern  across  the  southwest  corner  and  a short  line 
known  as  the  Flint  River  & Gulf  touches  the  northeastern  por- 
tion. Worth  county  has  but  few  minerals.  Clay,  limestone  and 
sandstone  are  found,  but  the  deposits  are  not  worked.  There  are 
a number  of  factories  in  the  county,  chiefly  along  the  streams, 
which  provide  fine  water-power.  Sylvester  is  the  county  seat. 
Isabella,  formerly  the  county  seat,  Willingham  and  Poulan  are 
important  towns.  The  population  in  1900  was  18,664,  an  increase 
of  8,616  since  1890. 

Wormsloe. — (See  Isle  of  Hope.) 

Wray,  a village  of  Irwin  county,  is  a station  on  the  Atlantic  & 
Birmingham  railroad,  not  far  from  the  Coffee  county  line.  It  has 
a money  order  postoffice,  a few  stores,  and  does  some  shipping. 

Wrayswood,  a post-hamlet  in  the  northern  part  of  Greene 


634 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


county,  is  about  seven  miles  east  of  Apalachee,  which  is  the  near- 
est railroad  town. 

Wrens,  a town  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Jefferson  county,  was 
incorporated  by  act  of  the  general  assembly  on  Dec.  17,  1901.  It 
is  on  the  Augusta  Southern  railroad  and  in  1900  had  a population 
of  218.  It  has  important  mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  ex- 
press and  telegraph  offices,  a money  order  postoffice,  and  is  one 
of  the  thriving  towns  in  that  section  of  the  state. 

Wright,  a village  of  Wilcox  county,  is  at  the  terminus  of  a short 
branch  of  the  Fitzgerald,  Ocmulgee  & Red  Bluff  railroad,  and  in 
1900  had  a population  of  50.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  some 
mercantile  concerns,  and  does  a good  shipping  business,  especially 
in  lumber  and  naval  stores. 

Wright,  Ambrose  Ramsom,  was  born  at  Louisville,  Jefferson 
county,  in  April,  1826.  At  the  beginning  of  the  war  he  was  prac- 
ticing law  in  his  native  county.  When  Georgia  decided  to  with- 
draw from  the  Union  he  was  sent  as  a commissioner  to  Maryland 
to  induce  the  people  of  that  state  to  join  the  Confederacy.  He 
entered  the  service  of  the  state  as  a private  in  the  Third  Georgia 
regiment,  but  was  elected  its  colonel,  and  in  June,  1862,  was  com- 
missioned brigadier-general.  He  served  during  the  entire  war,  dis- 
tinguished himself  at  Malvern  Hill,  Gettysburg,  and  Sharpsburg — 
he  being  wounded  and  his  horse  killed  under  him  in  the  last  named 
battle — and  in  1864  was  commissioned  major-general.  After  the 
war  he  settled  in  Augusta,  where,  as  editor  of  the  Chronicle  and 
Sentinel  he  was  a power  for  his  party.  He  was  elected  a member 
of  Congress  in  1872,  but  died  on  December  21st  of  the  same  year, 
before  taking  his  seat. 

Wright,  Augustus  R.,  was  born  at  Wrightsboro,  McDuffie 
county,  in  1813.  He  was  educated  as  a lawyer  and  established 
himself  in  practice  at  Rome.  From  1843  to  1849  he  served  as  judge 
of  the  Cherokee  circuit;  was  elected  representative  in  Congress  as 
a Democrat  in  1856,  and  was  a member  of  the  Confederate  Con- 
gress during  the  war. 

Wright,  Boykin,  former  attorney-general  of  the  State  of  Georgia 
and  present  representative  of  Richmond  county  in  the  state  legisla- 
ture, is  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influential  members  of  the 
bar  of  the  city  of  Augusta,  where  he  controls  a large  and  important 
practice.  He  was  born  on  the  homestead  plantation  in  Newton 
county,  Ga.,  May  20,  1852,  a son  of  Franklin  and  Salina  Frances 
fRobinson)  Wright,  the  former  born  in  Putnam  county,  Ga.,  Dec. 
12,  1821,  and  the  latter  in  Jasper  county,  June  16,  1831.  The  father 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


635 


was  a planter  during  his  active  career  and  for  a number  of  years  past 
has  lived  retired  in  Savannah  and  Atlanta,  having  passed  the  age  of 
four  score  years.  His  cherished  and  devoted  wife  was  summoned 

into  eternal  rest  on  Feb.  20,  1905.  Of  their 
children  four  are  living:  Robert  F.,  assist- 
ant commissioner  of  agriculture  of  the 
State  of  Georgia ; Boykin ; Adelaide,  wife 
of  James  B.  Chestnut  of  Savannah ; and 
Jeanne,  wife  of  Frank  Welden,  of  Atlanta. 
Franklin  Wright  is  a son  of  Robert 
Wright,  who  was  five  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  parents’  removal  from  Orange 
county,  Va.,  to  Greene  county,  Ga.,  the 
latter  having  been  a son  and  namesake  of 
Robert  Wright,  who  was  a valiant 
soldier  in  the  continental  line  dur- 
Revolution,  after  the  close  of  which 
he  removed  to  Georgia,  as  above  implied.  Cornelius  Rob- 
inson, maternal  grandfather  of  Boykin  Wright,  was  likewise 
a soldier  in  the  Revolution.  Boykin  Wright  passed  his  boyhood 
days  on  the  home  plantation,  and  in  1868  was  matriculated  in 
Emory  college,  Oxford,  Ga.,  where  he  remained  until  the  close 
of  his  junior  year.  Later  he  entered  the  law  department  of  the 
University  of  Georgia,  and  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the 
class  of  1875,  which  has  furnished  many  prominent  and  distin- 
guished men  of  affairs  to  the  state.  Mr.  Wright  at  once  opened 
an  office  in  Augusta,  where  his  professional  novitiate  was  of  com- 
paratively brief  duration,  as  is  evident  when  the  fact  is  recalled 
that  his  prestige  was  such  that  after  three  years  of  practice,  or  as 
soon  as  he  was  constitutionally  eligible,  he  was  elected  solicitor- 
general  of  the  Augusta  judicial  circuit,  of  which  office  he  remained 
the  incumbent  twelve  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which,  in  1892,  he 
resumed  his  law  practice,  which  soon  assumed  large  proportions. 
In  1902  he  was  appointed  attorney-general  of  the  state,  by  Gover- 
nor Allen  D.  Candler,  and  he  rendered  most  able  service  in  this 
important  office,  of  which  he  remained  in  tenure  until  the  expira- 
tion of  Governor  Candler’s  administration,  since  which  time  he 
has  given  his  attention  to  the  work  of  his  profession,  retaining  a 
very  large  and  representative  clientage.  In  1904  he  was  elected 
to  represent  the  county  in  the  state  legislature,  in  which  he  natur- 
ally has  assumed  a position  of  leadership.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Georgia  bar  association ; a prominent  factor  in  the  councils  of  the 


636 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Democratic  party  in  the  state;  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  each,  the  Augusta  orphan  asylum,  the  medical  college  of  the 
University  of  Georgia  and  the  academy  of  Richmond  county;  and 
is  a stockholder  and  director  in  many  manufacturing  and  indus- 
trial concerns  in  Augusta  and  elsewhere  in  the  state.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South.  On  Feb.  17, 
1885,  Mr.  Wright  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Constance  Cabell, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Robert  G.  Cabell,  of  Richmond,  Va.,  and  grand- 
daughter of  William  H.  Cabell,  who  was  at  one  time  governor  of 
Virginia  and  later  president  of  the  Virginia  court  of  appeals.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wright  have  three  children:  Marguerite  Cabell,  Boy- 

kin, Jr.,  and  Constance  Cabell.  The  following  sketch  of  Mr. 
Wright  as  a lawyer  is  furnished  by  the  Hon.  Henry  C.  Hammond, 
judge  of  the  superior  court  of  the  Augusta  circuit,  than  whom  no 
one  in  Georgia  is  better  qualified  to  speak  on  this  subject:  “Here 
we  shall  speak  of  Mr.  Wright  only  as  we  know  him  in  the  law  of- 
fice  and  the  court  room.  Not  to  speak  of  him  as  a factor  in  the 
social,  political  and  business  life  of  this  community  leaves  very 
much  untold,  and  a true  appreciation  of  the  manner  of  man  he  is 
could  be  conveyed  only  by  the  skilled  analyst  of  character.  The 
writer’s  opportunities  for  forming  an  opinion  of  Mr.  Wright  as  a 
lawyer  have  been  unusually  good.  The  view-point  has  been  va- 
ried. First,  as  a law  student,  next  as  an  untried,  unfledged  prac- 
titioner, then  as  associate  or  opposing  counsel  before  court  and 
jury,  and  now  as  judge.  In  all  the  years  to  come,  will  the  law  stu- 
dent ever  cease  to  remember  with  gratitude  the  kindly  treatment 
of  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  bar — he  who  could  pause  to 
make  friendly  inquiry  about  studies  and  prospects,  he  who  would 
take  time  to  answer,  with  painstaking  patience,  some  elementary 
question,  he  who  stood  ever  ready  to  encourage  and  to  help?  His 
welcoming  hand  was  held  out  to  the  young  attorney  just  come  to 
the  bar.  Here  was  no  desire  to  belittle  or  ignore,  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, the  shedding  of  a light  so  warm  and  genial  as  to  bring  into 
flower  aught  of  good  there  might  be.  The  first  case  of  any  im- 
portance, that  felony  case,  that  real  test  of  the  young  attorney’s 
power  to  walk  alone — Mr.  Wright  was  the  solicitor-general  then, 
and,  as  always,  he  discharged  his  full  duty  to  the  state,  but,  Oh  1 
those  words  of  praise  only  partly  deserved,  uttered  in  open  court 
before  judge,  jury  and  spectators,  that  frank  admission  to  the  jury 
that  a strong  defense  had  been  set  up,  and  that  even  his  own  con- 
fidence in  the  guilt  of  the  accused  had  been  shaken — the  inevitable 
verdict  of  not  guilty  that  marked  a turning  point  in  the  young  at- 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


637 


torney’s  career.  It  has  been  said  by  lawyers  who  tasted  from  both 
spoons  that  Mr.  Wright  was  the  best  to  fight  with,  and  the  worst 
man  to  fight  against  at  the  Georgia  bar.  Certainly  he  is  an  ideal 
associate.  No  carping  word,  no  dissatisfaction,  no  distrust — only 
aidful  sympathy  and  support  in  all  things.  When  it  comes  to  a 
division  of  fee  and  glory,  he  is  all  too  liberal  to  the  associate,  and 
when  to  a division  of  work  and  responsibility  all  too  liberal  to 
himself.  As  an  opponent,  he  is  courteous,  fair,  honorable,  but 
withal  so  resourceful,  so  undaunted,  so  unconquerable  as  to  make 
him  foeman  worthy  of  any  steel.  He  does  not  discount  his  enemy, 
or  his  enemy’s  case,  but  mining  deep,  prepares  to  overthrow  it. 
To  the  court,  and  to  its  officials,  he  is  invariably  considerate.  His 
deep  research,  his  mature  thought,  his  clear  speech,  illumine  the 
path  of  the  Judge.  When  sought  he  never  withholds  from  the 
court  his  invaluable  aid  and  counsel.  Mr.  Wright’s  relations  with 
his  fellow  members  of  the  bar  are  the  happiest.  Friendly,  cordial, 
sympathetic,  constantly  doing  things  with  his  right  hand  that  his 
left  knows  not.  His  comradeship,  his  good  humor,  his  charming 
company  are  sought  by  his  brethren  of  the  bar  and  by  him  freely 
bestowed.  Though  an  always  busy  man,  the  greeting  is  a glad 
hand-shake,  a winning  smile,  a cheering  word.  His  wonderful  suc- 
cess as  a trial  lawyer  has  brought  no  envy,  no  jealousy.  Like 
valiant  knight,  he  joins  battle  with  his  antagonist,  who,  though 
overthrown,  feels  not  bitterness  but  only  just  esteem  for  the  brave 
heart  and  masterful  hand  that  has  wrought  his  defeat.  Fortunate 
is  the  client  who  has  this  strong  generous  man  for  counselor  and 
-advocate.  In  and  out  of  the  court  house,  his  client’s  interest,  rep- 
utation, feelings  are  in  his  tender  and  sheltering  care.  Were  the 
cause  not  his  client’s,  but  his  own,  he  could  not  pour  into  it  more 
freely  the  work  of  head  and  hand.  An  eminent  Federal  jurist  upon 
hearing  from  the  bench  his  presentation  of  a client’s  case,  said  he 
had  never  seen  a lawyer  into  whose  keeping  he  would  more  will- 
ingly commit  his  most  vital  interests.  Writing  of  his  work  and 
his  method  of  work,  one  can  deal  only  in  generalities,  but  their  use 
shall  be  guarded  and  within  bounds.  This  man  of  genius  and  in- 
spiration, this  debater  and  orator,  is  withal  a plodder.  He  takes 
naught  for  granted,  but  on  and  on  to  the  bottom  and  end  of  every- 
thing that  concerns  the  matter  in  hand.  His  files  grow  into  vol- 
umes of  fact  and  law.  He  is  not  at  himself  in  the  preparation  of 
a case  until  he  is  literally  waist  deep  in  law  books.  While  mind- 
ful of  responsiblity,  he  does  not  avoid  it.  Reference  cannot  be 
made  to  this  thrilling  murder  trial  or  that  intricate  civil  case.  Suf- 


038 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


fice  it  to  say  that  in  all  he  is  to  duty  as  faithful  as  a saint.  Though 
the  litigation  may  live  on  through  years,  it  never  stales  with  him. 
In  the  court  room,  alas ! no  word  of  mine  can  give  adequate  de- 
scription of  this  cautious,  bold,  this  suave,  unflinching,  this  humor- 
ous, earnest  practitioner.  He  never  says  die,  or  let  up,  or  give 
back,  it’s  now,  now  and  all  the  time  with  him.  He  starts  by  stat- 
ing his  case  so  clearly  that  judge  and  jury,  though  wayfaring  men, 
need  not  err.  With  him  no  drifting,  but  straight  ahead  to  a well- 
marked  goal.  The  witnesses  he  handles  with,  and  without,  gloves. 
With  rare  tact,  and  relentless  penetration,  he  seeks  out  and  brings 
to  light  the  much  or  little  they  know.  Mr.  Wright  is  a strong  be- 
liever in  trial  by  jury  and  he  always  attributes  to  jurors,  intelli- 
gence and  fairness.  He  accepts  frequent  victory  and  infrequent 
defeat  with  the  same  outward  calmness.  It  would  take  a pen  far 
better  trained  than  the  writer’s  to  set  forth  fairly  the  varied  traits 
of  character  manifasted  in  this  truly  remarkable  man.  Behind  all 
these,  too,  is  a physique  scarcely  less  interesting.  Of  course,  it 
will  be  left  to  the  artist  to  portray  his  handsome  countenance,  and 
his  graceful  form.  But  any  one  of  us  may  be  permitted  to  say  how 
he  impresses  us  as  we  look  upon  him  in  the  forenoon  or  meet  him 
on  the  highway.  Mr.  Wright  is  the  tallest  man  in  Georgia  for  his 
height.  He  stands  erect  in  self-respect  and  comes  near  adding  a 
cubit  to  his  stature,  though  time  has  not  been  able  to  turn  one  hair 
white — an  eye  to  threaten  and  command,  yet  grace  is  seated  on  his 
brow.  It  shows  in  his  every  movement.  His  frame,  thought  slight, 
would  seem  a thing  not  made  of  flesh  and  blood — a marvelous  au- 
tomaton with  a scorn  for  work  and  weariness.  Day  after  day  he 
sits  at  his  desk  doing  the  work-horse  task,  in  the  court  room,  he 
goes  the  terrorizing  gait  of  the  thoroughbred.  He  is  looked  upon 
as  a delicate  man  and  so  he  is,  but  we  who  know  him  know  he  is 
one  of  iron  nerve  and  unquenchable  vitality.  The  health,  strength 
and  longevity  of  his  parents  warrant  the  ardent  hope  cherished  by 
all  that  this  tireless  toiler  may  still  for  years  to  come  keep  his 
shoulder  to  the  wheel.  Here  is  a good  man  and  a great  lawyer  whose 
life  and  work  makes  only  for  the  good  of  his  time  and  people.” 

Wright,  Germyn. — (See  Wright's  Fort). 

Wright,  Jefferson  D.,  M.  D.,  is  one  of  the  leading  physicians  and 
surgeons  of  Jefferson  county,  being  established  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  the  thriving  little  city  of  Louisville,  where  he 
also  owns  and  conducts  a drug  store.  He  was  born  on  a planta- 
tion in  that  county,  Aug.  13,  1860,  a son  of  Col.  Henry  G.  and  Susan 
Emily  (Jenkins)  Wright,  both  natives  of  Jefferson  county,  where 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


639 


the  former  was  born  July  9,  1830,  and  the  latter  in  the  year  1832. 
Colonel  Wright  was  one  of  the  successful  planters  of  Washington 
county,  whither  he  removed  from  Jefferson  county  when  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review  was  a child.  He  was  colonel  of  a Georgia  regi- 
ment of  volunteers  in  the  Confederate  service  during  the  Civil  war 
and  in  this  connection  made  a gallant  record.  He  met  an  acci- 
dental death,  in  1904,  by  the  running  away  of  a horse  which  he  was 
driving.  His  widow  still  resides  with  her  children.  Dr.  J.  D. 
Wright  passed  his  boyhood  days  on  the  homestead  plantation,  in 
Washington,  county,  where  he  secured  his  earlier  educational 
training,  after  which  he  passed  two  years  as  student  in  the  Geor- 
gia military  academy  at  Marietta,  a short  interval  in  Emory  col- 
lege at  Oxford,  and  Mercer  university,  at  Macon.  Still  later  he 
was  for  eighteen  months  a student  in  the  Hunter  school  for  boys 
in  the  city  of  Macon,  and  then  entered  the  medical  department  of 
the  University  of  Maryland  at  Baltimore,  where  he  completed  the 
prescribed  course  and  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of 
1882,  duly  receiving  his  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine,  coming 
forth  admirably  equipped  for  the  active  work  of  both  departments 
of  his  chosen  profession.  He  at  once  opened  an  office  in  Louis- 
ville, and  his  success  stands  as  voucher  for  his  ability  and  his  de- 
votion to  the  exacting  duties  of  his  humane  vocation.  He  is  the 
owner  of  one  of  the  two  drug  stores  of  the  town,  having  a well 
equipped  establishment  and  securing  a representative  patronage, 
as  does  he  also  in  his  direct  professional  work.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Medical  Association  of  Georgia  and  is  a close  and  appre- 
ciative student  of  his  profession,  keeping  abreast  of  all  advances 
made  in  the  same.  He  has  valuable  plantation  interests  in  the 
county,  is  a member  of  the  directorate  of  the  First  National  bank 
of  Louisville  and  is  a stockholder  in  the  Louisville  Manufacturing 
Company.  He  is  found  aligned  as  a stanch  supporter  of  the  prin- 
ciples and  policies  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  takes  a loyal  in- 
terest in  all  that  tends  to  advance  the  welfare  of  his  home  town 
and  county.  On  Jan.  27,  1886,  Doctor  Wright  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Lulie  L.  Powell,  daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  Isaac  R. 
Powell,  who  was  for  many  years  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine in  Jefferson  county.  To  this  marriage  have  been  born  two 
children — Louisa  Mary  and  Emily  Jenkins,  aged  respectively  fif- 
teen and  ten  years,  in  1906. 

Wright,  Sir  James,  governor  of  Georgia  from  1761  to  1776  and 
1779  to  1782,  was  born  in  Charleston,  S.  C.,  about  1714.  It  is  sup- 
posed that  he  was  educated  in  England,  but  he  studied  law  in  this 


640 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


country  and  was  attorney-general  of  South  Carolina  for  twenty- 
one  years.  In  1760  he  became  lieutenant-governor  of  Georgia  and 
the  following  year  was  appointed  Royal  governor.  His  administra- 
tion was  wise  and  beneficial  and  he  was  popular  until  the  passage 
of  the  Stamp  Act,  in  trying  to  enforce  which,  he  became  into  con- 
flict with  the  people.  I he  repeal  of  the  act  brought  temporarjr  re- 
lief. But  in  1768  Governor  Wright  dissolved  the  assembly,  charg- 
ing them  with  entertaining  Revolutionary  ideas.  On  February  10, 
1770,  he  again  dissolved  that  body  for  electing  Dr.  Noble  W. 
Jones  as  speaker.  The  following  year  he  spent  in  England,  where 
he  was  made  a baronet,  and  returned  in  1773.  He  objected  to  the 
meeting  at  Tondee’s  tavern  in  1774,  and  tried  in  vain  to  prevent  it. 
In  January,  17  76,  he  was  captured  by  Joseph  Habersham,  as  he  sat 
in  his  own  house,  but  escaped.  Governor  Wright  returned  to  Sa- 
vannah on  February  11th  and  sailed  for  England.  During  the  Brit- 
ish occupation  of  the  town  in  1779,  he  returned  to  Savannah  and 
resumed  his  duties  as  governor,  but  left  for  South  Carolina  at  the 
evacuation  and  never  returned.  The  British  government  allowed 
him  about  £33,000  for  lost  property  and  £1,000  a year  for  salary. 
He  died  in  London,  Nov.  20,  1785. 

Wright,  Robert  Franklin,  was  born  in 
Newton  county,  Ga.,  March  17,  1850. 
His  father,  Franklin  Wright,  was  born 
near  Monticello,  in  Jasper  county,  Ga., 
Dec.  12,  1821,  and  his  grandfather,  Rob- 
ert Wright,  was  a native  of  Orange 
county,  V a.,  who  removed  to  Georgia, 
lived  for  a while  in  Greene  county,  then 
in  Jasper,  but  spent  the  greater  part  of 
his  life  in  Newton  county.  This  grand- 
father was  a captain  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  Mr.  Wright’s  great-grandfather, 
Robert,  was  an  officer  in  the  Sixth  Vir- 
ginia regiment  during  the  war  for  American  independence.  Frank- 
lin Wright,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was,  during 
the  war  between  the  states,  first  a corporal  in  Company  K,  Second 
regiment  of  state  troops,  and  later  was  in  the  commissary  depart- 
ment. Mr.  Wright’s  mother  was  Miss  Salina  Robinson,  daughter 
of  Cornelius  Robinson,  who  came  from  Dublin,  Ireland,  to  Amei- 
ica  and  was  a direct  descendant  of  the  “Robinsons  of  Roheby”. 
When  Mr.  Wright  was  fifteen  years  old,  the  family  removed  from 
the  paternal  home  in  Newton  county  to  the  town  of  Oxford,  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


641 


seat  of  that  great  institution  of  Southern  Methodism,.  Emory  col- 
lege, at  which  he  was  graduated  in  1872.  He  was  then  made  prin- 
cipal of  the  high  school  at  Lawrenceville,  taught  a short  time  at 
the  academy  of  Richmond  county  in  Augusta,  and  was  next  prin- 
cipal in  succession  of  the  Boys’  high  school  at  Covington,  and  the 
Male  academy  at  Elberton.  He  was  for  eight  years  school  commis- 
sioner of  Elbert  county,  which  position  he  resigned  in  1890  to  ac- 
cept that  of  assistant  keeper  of  the  penitentiary,  tendered  him  by 
Gov.  W.  J.  Northen.  Through  his  influence  reforms  were  inaugu- 
rated in  the  Georgia  prison  system  and  during  Governor  Atkin- 
son’s administration,  in  accordance  with  a report  made  by  Mr. 
Wright  after  a personal  inspection  of  the  convicts,  a law  was  en- 
acted giving  the  state  supervision  of  all  misdemeanor  convicts. 
In  1898  Mr.  Wright  earnestly  supported  Hon.  O.  B.  Stevens  in  his 
race  against  Hon.  R.  T.  Nesbitt  for  the  position  of  commissioner 
of  agriculture  and  upon  the  election  of  Mr.  Stevens  and  his  acces- 
sion to  that  office,  was  appointed  assistant  commissioner.  This 
post  he  filled  during  the  administration  of  Mr.  Stevens,  and  was 
retained  in  it  upon  the  appointment  of  Hon.  T.  G.  Hudson,  when 
Mr.  Stevens  resigned  to  accept  a position  as  railroad  commissioner. 
Mr.  Wright  has  made  a faithful,  diligent  and  zealous  assistant 
commissioner  of  agriculture,  and  in  addition  to  his  official  duties, 
with  Prof.  Jos.  T.  Derry  prepared  the  “Georgia,  Historical  and 
Industrial”,  a useful  work  issued  in  1901  by  the  authority  of  Hon. 
O.  B.  Stevens,  and  again  in  1904,  he  and  Professor  Derry  prepared 
for  the  department  of  agriculture  “Georgia’s  Resources  and  Ad- 
vantages”. In  all  these  years,  both  when  teaching  and  when  in 
the  service  of  the  state,  Mr.  Wright  has  found  time  to  devote  to 
agriculture,  and  as  a practical  farmer,  has  taken  high  stand  in  El- 
bert county.  He  has  also  been  engaged  in  commercial  affairs  in 
Elberton  and  has  assisted  materially  in  the  upbuilding  of  that 
progressive  Georgia  city.  Mr.  Wright  was  married  in  November, 
1878,  to  Miss  Janie  Tate,  at  Elberton,  and  they  have  seven  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  four  daughters:  F.  T.,  O.  T.,  Robert,  Willena, 
Madge,  Norma  and  Thelma.  Willena  died  at  the  age  of  two  years 
and  Madge  when  nearly  twelve  years  old.  Mr.  Wright  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South  and  of  the  order  of 
Free  Masons. 

Wright,  William  H.,  superintendent  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line 
railroad  for  the  Savannah  district  and  chairman  of  the  board  of 
control  of  the  Savannah  union  station,  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Savannah,  Aug.  24,  1866.  He  is  a son  of  W.  A.  and  Dora  (Pat- 


41-111 


C42 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


terson)  Wright,  the  former  born  in  Springfield,  Effingham  county, 
Ga.,  in  1837,  and  the  latter  in  Key  West,  Ga.,  in  1840.  In  the 
paternal  line  Mr.  Wright  is  a descendant  of  Jacob  Casper  Wald- 

hauer,  who  was  among  the  Salzburger 
refugees  who  landed  in  Savannah  about 
1734.  He  was  a member  of  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  which  elected  a delegate 
from  Georgia  to  the  Philadelphia  conven- 
tion of  1775 ; was  proscribed  by  the  Brit- 
ish government  and  a price  placed  on  his 
head.  On  the  maternal  side  Mr.  Wri  ght 
is  descended  from  Asa-  Patterson,  a sol- 
dier in  a Massachusetts  regiment  during 
the  war  of  1812,  and  he  is  a col- 
lateral descendant  from  Gov.  Horatio  Sey- 
mour, of  New  York.  Mr.  Wright  was  af- 
forded the  advantages  of  the  Savannah  public  schools,  and  in  1879 
secured  employment  as  messenger  boy  at  the  Savannah  river 
wharf  of  the  A.  & G.  railroad.  The  following  year  he  was  made 
flagman,  and  in  1883  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  freight 
conductor.  Two  years  later  he  became  a passenger  conductor,  in 
which  capacity  he  remained  in  service  until  1894,  when  he  was 
made  general  yard  master  in  Savannah.  He  retained  this  position 
until  189G,  when  he  became  train  master  of  the  line  between  Sa- 
vannah, Ga.,  and  Jacksonville,  Fla.  In  1900  he  was  promoted  from 
this  office  to  that  of  superintendent  of  the  Charleston  & Savannah 
railway,  and  in  September,  1902,  was  transferred  to  the  Savannah 
district  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line,  being  now  superintendent  in 
charge  of  the  lines  from  Savannah  to  Jacksonville,  and  from  Bruns- 
wick to  Albany.  In  May,  1902,  he  was  elected  chairman  of  the 
board  of  control  of  the  Savannah  union  station,  of  which  position 
he  has  since  continued  in  tenure.  Mr.  Wright  is  a member  of  Citi- 
zens’ club,  a semi-political  organization,  and  served  two  terms  as 
a members  of  the  board  of  aldermen  of  Savannah,  having  been 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  accounts  and  a member  of  other 
important  committees.  He  is  a member  of  the  Order  of  Railway 
Conductors,  and  is  affiliated  with  Savannah  Lodge,  No.  183,  Be- 
nevolent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

Wrightsboro. — About  twenty  years  after  Georgia  was  first  set- 
tled at  Savannah  Edmund  Grey,  with  a number  of  associates,  came 
from  Virginia  and  founded  the  town  of  Brandon  on  a small  trib- 
utary of  the  Little  river,  in  the  northern  part  of  McDuffie  county. 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


643 


Although  Grey  pretended  to  be  a Quaker  he  and  his  followers  were 
dissolute  characters  and  during  Governor  Reynolds’  term  of  of- 
fice they  were  driven  from  the  colony.  Grey  subsequently  formed 
a settlement  on  the  neutral  lands  lying  between  the  Altamaha  and 
St.  John’s  rivers.  To  this  settlement  flocked  criminals  of  all  classes 
to  escape  the  demands  of  justice.  The  settlement  at  Brandon  was 
revived  by  a company  of  Quakers,  headed  by  Joseph  Mattock,  who 
obtained  a grant  of  40,000  acres  of  land  in  that  locality.  The  name 
was  changed  to  Wrightsboro  in  honor  of  Gov.  James  Wright,  who 
had  succeeded  Governor  Reynolds,  and  who  favored  the  grant  of 
land  to  the  Quakers.  The  Wrightsboro . of  the  present  day  is  a 
quiet  little  village,  with  a population  of  less  than  fifty  people  in 
1900.  Though  a place  of  importance  prior  to  the  War  of  the  Rev- 
olution, it  has  never  figured  prominently  in  the  annals  of  the  state 
since.  Here  lived  prior  to  and  during  the  Revolutionary  war  four 
of  the  most  prominent  military  leaders  of  Richmond  County,  to- 
wit:  Col.  William  Candler,  Cols.  Benjamin  and  William  Few  and 
their  younger  brother,  Major  Ignatius  Few. 

Wright’s  Fort. — In  the  early  days  of  the  Revolution  Germyrt 
Wright,  a brother  of  Governor  Wright,  erected  a fort  on  the  Flor- 
ida side  of  the  St. 'Mary’s  river,  which  became  a resort  and  refuge 
for  the  Tories  of  Georgia,  and  from  which  they  made  numerous 
forays  ag'ainst  the  southern  settlements  of  that  province.  In  the 
summer  of  1776  Capt.  John  Baker,  with  70  mounted  men,  marched 
against  the  fort.  His  plan  was  to  wait  until  nightfall,  surprise  the 
fort  by  a sudden  assault  and  then  make  a rapid  retreat.  His  move- 
ments were  conducted  with  great  secrecy,  but  unfortunately  his 
approach  was  discovered  by  a negro,  who  alarmed  the  fort.  Three 
cannon  were  fired  from  the  fort  and  were  answered  by  a schooner 
lying  in  the  river  a short  distance  below.  Baker,  surmising  that 
this  was  a signal  asking-  for  reinforcements  from  the  schooner, 
placed  his  men  in  ambush  along  the  banks  and  fired  on  the  boats 
as  they  came  up  the  stream.  Several  of  the  British  were  killed, 
wounded  or  captured,  and  from  one  of  the  prisoners  Baker  learned 
that  a large  body  of  Indians  were  encamped  near  the  fort.  He 
therefore  retreated  eight  or  nine  miles  before  going  into  camp  for 
the  night.  During  the  darkness  two  of  his  men,  Daniel  and  James 
McGirth,  stole  nearly  all  the  horses  belonging  to  the  company  and 
deserted  to  the  enemy.  For  this  act  of  treachery  Daniel  McGirth 
was  made  a lieutenant-colonel  in  the  Florida  Rangers,  (q.  v.) 
The  loss  of  the  horses  caused  the  failure  of  the  expedition  and 
Baker  returned  north. 


C44 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Wrightsville,  the  county  seat  of  Johnson  county,  is  located  near 
the  center  of  the  county  on  the  Wrightsville  & Tennille  railroad, 
and  was  incorporated  by  the  legislature  in  1866.  It  has  a court- 
house valued  at  $20,000,  a postoffice  with  rural  delivery,  two  banks, 
express  and  telegraph  service,  some  prosperous  business  houses, 
a good  public  school  system  and  several  churches.  The  Nannie 
Lou  Warthen  institute  is  located  here  and  is  somewhat  noted  as 
an  educational  institution.  About  5,000  bales  of  cotton  are  handled 
annually  and  the  town  has  a good  trade  in  lumber  and  naval  stores. 
Artesian  wells  supply  a fine  quality  of  water.  The  population  in 
1900  was  1,127  within  the  corporate  limits  of  the  town  and  3,614 
in  the  militia  district. 

Y 

Yahoola,  a post-hamlet  of  Lumpkin  county,  is  about  five  miles 
north  of  Dahlonega.  Lula  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Yamacraw  Bluff. — The  high  ground  about  the  city  of  Savannah 
took  the  name  of  Yamacraw  Bluff  from  the  tribe  of  Indians  that 
lived  there.  This  bluff  was  the  scene  of  some  stirring  events  at 
the  beginning  of  the  Revolution.  The  Continental  Congress  in 
1775  passed  a resolution  forbidding  all  commercial  relations  be- 
tween the  colonies  and  Great  Britain  or  any  of  her  dominions,  and 
the  strict  observance  of  this  had  prevented  the  crews  of  the  armed 
vessels  along  the  coast  from  obtaining  a sufficient  supply  of  pro- 
visions. Driven  to  desperation  they  determined  to  force  a trade 
into  the  Savannah  river  and  the  ports  along  the  coast.  In  this 
they  were  aided  by  a number  of  Tory  planters  who  had  a large 
amount  of  rice  which  they  were  desirous  of  getting  to  market.  On 
March  1,  1776,  eleven  ships,  loaded  with  rice,  were  at  Savannah, 
waiting  for  an  opportunity  to  put  to  sea,  but  they  were  so  closely 
watched  by  the  patriots  that  the  opportunity  was  slow  in  present- 
ing itself.  On  the  2nd  Captain  Barclay,  of  the  British  navy,  came 
up  the  river  with  the  Scarborough  and  the  Hinchinbrooke,  men- 
of-war,  and  two  sloops,  his  design  being  to  capture  the  rice  ships 
to  get  provisions.  The  vessels  stationed  themselves  between  Cock- 
spur  island  and  the  Five  Fathom  Hole,  a short  distance  below  the 
town,  waiting  for  a chance  to  seize  the  rice.  The  Hinchinbrooke 
ran  aground  and  while  in  this  predicament  her  crew  was  fired  on 
by  a company  of  riflemen  commanded  by  the  intrepid  Maj.  Joseph 
Habersham.  During  the  night  two  ships  sailed  up  Back  river  and 
about  200  men  from  the  Hinchinbrooke  landed  and  marched  across 
Hutchinson’s  island.  This  force,  under  the  command  of  Maitland 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


645 


and  Grant,  was  to  cooperate  with  those  on  board  the  vessels,  and 
Sunday  morning,  March  3d,  found  the  British  ready  to  make  a 
dash  for  the  ships  of  rice.  Seeing  that  their  efforts  were  about  to 
be  crowned  with  success  the  Americans  determined  to  burn  the 
ships,  rather  than  see  them  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Cap- 
tain Rice  was  detailed  for  the  work  of  dismantling  the  shipping, 
but  was  detained  on  board  one  of  the  ships.  Colonel  McIntosh 
threw  up  hasty  works  on  the  bluff  opposite,  gathered  a force  of  300 
men,  with  three  four-pounders,  and  sent  messengers  to  demand  the 
release  of  Rice  and  his  men.  The  messengers  were  also  detained, 
whereupon  the  Council  of  Safety  ordered  the  arrest  of  all  the  royal 
council.  This  had  the  effect  of  securing  the  release  of  the  Amer- 
icans. Captain  Bowen  was  then  ordered  to  fire  the  Inverness,  the 
rice  ship  lying  farthest  up  the  stream,  and  allow  it  to  drift  down 
upon  the  others.  The  first  attempt  was  unsuccessful,  owing  to 
the  fact  that  the  tide  was  too  far  spent,  but  about  four  o’clock  in  the 
afternoon  another  effort  was  made,  and  this  one  was  more  fortunate. 
The  ship  was  set  on  fire,  the  cable  slipped,  and  while  enveloped  in 
flames  she  was  allowed  to  drift  against  those  below.  Many  of  the 
British  soldiers  jumped  overboard  and  swam  to  shore.  Three  of 
the  vessels  were  burned,  six  dismantled,  and  in  the  excitement  of 
the  moment  the  other  two  got  away  to  sea.  In  the  meantime  about 
150  volunteers  came  from  the  South  Carolina  side  of  the  river  and 
350  of  the  country  militia,  under  Colonel  Bull,  had  reached  the 
scene,  and  these  aided  materially  in  driving  the  British  from  the 
vicinity  of  the  town.  Several  of  the  British  were  killed  as  they 
fled  from  the  burning  ships.  This  affair,  sometimes  called  the 
battle  of  Yamacraw  Bluff,  occured  more  than  a month  before  the 
battle  of  Lexington,  and  it  is  therefore  an  open  question  whether 
the  Revolution  was  not  really  commenced  on  Georgia  soil. 

Yamasee  Bluff. — On  the  night  of  March  20,  1779,  General  Lin- 
coln, who  was  then  encamped  at  Purysburgh,  ordered  Captains 
Campbell  and  Milligan  to  endeavor  to  surprise  two  British  galleys, 
the  Comet  and  the  Hornet,  then  lying  at  anchor  at  Yamasee  bluff 
some  distance  down  the  river.  Campbell  and  Milligan  took  their 
two  galleys,  the  Congress  and  the  Lee,  and  started  for  the  bluff. 
At  the  same  time  a company  of  forty  militia  wras  sent  by  land  to  take 
possession  of  a house  opposite  to  where  the  British  vessels  were 
at  anchor.  This  force  got  possession  of  the  house  but  the  two 
American  galleys  got  aground,  which  prevented  the  attack  from 
being  the  surprise  intended.  At  nine  o’clock  Campbell  and  Milli- 
gan gained  their  places  and  the  firing  was  commenced.  The  Thun- 


646 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


derer,  another  British  galley  lying  further  down  the  river  advanced 
to  the  assistance  of  the  other  two,  and  compelled  the  militia  to  re- 
treat from  the  house.  She  then  turned  her  attention  to  the  two  gal- 
leys and  the  engagement  became  a naval  battle,  with  two  ships 
against  three.  After  a brisk  fire  of  about  an  hour  the  British  began 
to  man  their  boats,  with  an  intention  to  board.  Knowing  that  the 
enemy  was  superior  in  numbers  Campbell  and  Milligan  abandoned 
their  galleys,  taking  as  many  of  their  crews  as  could  be  accommo- 
dated in  the  boats  and  letting  the  others  shift  for  themselves.  In  this 
engagement  the  Americans  lost  3 killed,  6 wounded  and  10  pris- 
oners, besides  the  two  vessels.  The  British  loss  was  one  killed  and 
one  wounded. 

Yancey,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Floyd  county, 
is  a station  on  the  Southern  railroad. 

Yarbrough,  a post-hamlet  in  the  extreme  southern  part  of  Gordon 
county,  is  about  ten  miles  northeast  of  Adairsville,  which  is  the 
most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Yatesville,  a town  in  the  eastern  part  of  Upson  county,  is  almost 
on  the  Monroe  county  line.  It  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legis- 
lature on  Dec.  17,  1896,  and  in  1900  reported  a population  of  283. 
It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  does 
a good  shipping  and  mercantile  business,  etc. 

Yazoo  Land  Companies. — Not  long  after  the  close  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  land  speculators  began  to  look  with  covetous  eyes 
upon  the  vast  domain  lying  between  the  frontier  settlements  of 
Georgia  and  the  Mississippi  river,  and  in  1789  three  companies 
were  organized  to  purchase  and  settle  the  territory.  They  were 
the  South  Carolina  Yazoo  Company,  the  Virginia  Yazoo  Company 
and  the  Tennessee  Company.  The  first  was  made  up  of  Alexander 
Moultrie,  Isaac  Huger,  William  C.  Snipes,  Thomas  Washington 
and  others,  a Captain  Sullivan  being  the  principal  promoter.  Wash- 
ington, whose  real  name  was  Walsh,  was  hung  at  Charleston  in 
1792  for  forgery.  The  Virginia  company  was  headed  by  Patrick 
Henry,  with  whom  were  associated  David  Ross,  William  Cowan, 
John  B.  Scott,  Francis  Watkins  and  others,  and  the  Tennessee 
company  was  composed  of  Zechariah  Cox,  Thomas  Gilbert,  John 
Strother  and  their  associates. 

On  November  20th  petitions,  showing  the  great  benefits  the  state 
would  derive  from  the  sale  and  settlement  of  the  lands,  were  pre- 
sented to  the  legislature  and  on  December  21st  Governor  Telfair 
approved  “An  act  for  disposing  of  certain  lands  or  territory  within 
this  State.”  By  the  provisions  of  the  act  all  the  land  bounded  on 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


647 


the  north  by  the  33d  parallel,  on  the  east  by  the  Tombigbee  river, 
on  the  south  by  Cole’s  creek  and  a line  from  its  source  to  the  Tom- 
bigbee and  on  the  west  by  the  Mississippi  should  be  reserved  as 
a preemption  for  the  South  Carolina  company  for  two  years  from 
the  pasage  of  the  act ; and  if  the  company  within  that  time  paid 
into  the  state  treasury  the  sum  of  $66,964,  then  the  governor  was 
authorized  to  convey  to  them  and  their  successors  the  lands  as  de- 
scribed. The  Virginia  company  was  to  receive  a tract  lying  north 
of  the  33d  parallel,  extending  from  the  Tennessee  river,  the  Tom- 
bigbee and  Bear  creek  on  the  east  to  the  Mississippi,  and  north  to  the 
northern  boundary  of  the  state,  under  the  same  conditions,  for 
$93,741.  The  Tennessee  company  was  granted  the  lands  lying  east 
of  Bear  creek,  south  of  the  Tennessee  river,  bounded  on  the  south 
by  the  34th  parallel  and  extending  east  from  the  Tombigbee  for 
120  miles,  on  the  same  terms  as  the  other  companies,  for  $46,875. 
A fourth  company,  known  as  the  Georgia  Company,  entered  the 
contest  too  late  to  receive  consideration,  though  its  propositions 
were  more  favorable  to  the  state  than  any  of  those  to  whom  the 
grants  were  made. 

The  whole  transaction  seems  to  have  been  a piece  of  “high 
finance.”  Without  the  actual  payment  of  a single  dollar  the  com- 
panies took  possession  of  the  lands  and  tried  to  realize  enough  from 
their  sale  to  meet  the  conditions  imposed  by  the  act.  But,  owing 
to  the  hostile  attitude  of  the  Indians,  settlers  were  slow  to  invest 
in  lands  to  which  the  Indian  title  had  not  been  fairly  extinguished 
and  where  they  would  be  in  constant  peril  in  their  attempts  to 
establish  a home.  Consequently  the  two  years  passed,  payment 
was  not  made  and  the  sales  failed  of  consummation.  The  com- 
panies entered  suits  in  equity  in  the  supreme  court  of  the  United 
States,  but  before  a decision  was  reached  the  amendment  to  the 
Federal  constitution,  providing  that  “The  judicial  power  of  the 
United  States  shall  not  be  construed  to  extend  to  any  suit  of  law 
or  equity,  commenced  or  prosecuted  against  one  of  the  United 
States  by  citizens  of  another  state,”  became  effective  and  put  a 
stop  to  the  proceedings.  Thus  matters  stood  until  after  the  cession 
of  1802,  by  which  Georgia  relinquished  the  terriory  to  the  United 
States,  when  the  Virginia  and  South  Carolina  companies  set  up 
a claim  for  indemnity,  alleging  a violation  of  contract  on  the  part 
of  the  state.  The  question  was  referred  to  commissioners,  who 
reported  the  following  year  that  they  had  no  equitable  claim  either 
for  the  land  or  for  compensation.  The  claim  was  then  carried  be- 
fore Congress,  where  a committee  of  the  house,  in  January,  1804, 


648 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


made  a report  sustaining  the  commissioners  and  the  affair  was 
ended. 

No  sooner  were  those  first  companies  disposed  of  than  others 
were  formed  to  take  their  places.  The  potentiality  for  great  for- 
tunes was  still  there  and  the  speculators,  who  had  lost  considerable 
money  in  the  first  venture,  were  anxious  to  recoup  themselves. 
The  legislature  of  1793  was  beseeched  to  renew  the  grants,  but,  ac- 
cording to  Chappell,  that  body,  under  the  influence  of  “Washing- 
ton’s stern  course  and  true  teaching  in  1789,  proved  itself  staunch 
and  altogether  impregnable.”  About  this  time  the  speculators 
were  informed  through  James  Gunn,  then  United  States  senator 
from  Georgia,  that  Spain  was  about  to  relinquish  her  claims  in  the 
West,  covering  the  territory  it  was  sought  to  exploit.  This  in- 
formation, which  was  given  to  the  schemers  a year  or  more  before 
the  treaty  with  Spain  was  concluded,  impelled  them  to  work  as- 
siduously in  the  perfection  of  their  plans ; in  enlisting  the  aid  of 
influential  men  far  and  wide ; in  raising  funds  to  secure  the  election 
to  the  legislature  of  men  who  would  be  favorable  to  their  nefa- 
rious purpose.  Among  those  deeply  interested  in  the  transaction 
was  Senator  Gunn,  who  moved  cautiously,  however,  as  he  was  a 
candidate  for  reelection.  Yet,  it  was  understood  that  if  he  was  re- 
turned by  the  legislature  it  was  to  be  regarded  as  evidence  that  the 
assembly  was  composed  of  men  favorable  to  the  sale  of  the  western 
lands.  In  fact,  it  is  said,  that  when  the  news  of  Gunn’s  reelection 
reached  New  York  some  one  remarked  publicly  in  a coffee  house 
there:  “Then  the  Western  territory  of  Georgia  is  sold.” 

The  general  assembly  convened  at  Augusta  early  in  November, 
1794.  At  first  no  move  was  made  on  the  part  of  the  speculators ; 
no  petition  for  the  sale  of  the  lands  was  presented;  no  lobby  showed 
itself  until  the  reelection  of  Gunn.  Then  the  mask  was  thrown  off 
and  on  November  12th  John  Wereat  appeared  as  the  agent  for 
Albert  Gallatin,  Alexander  J.  Dallas  and  Jared  Ingersoll,  and  sub- 
mitted a proposition  to  purchase  all  the  territory  originally  includ- 
ed in  the  grant  to  the  South  Carolina  Yazoo  Company  for  some- 
thing over  $66,000.  Three  other  companies  quickly  entered  the 
field.  The  four  made  a combination  among  themselves  for  the  sat- 
isfactory division  of  practically  all  the  land  west  of  the  Alabama 
and  Coosa  rivers.  The  new  companies  were  styled  the  “Georgia,”" 
the  “Georgia-Mississippi,”  the  “Tennessee,”  and  the  “Virginia- 
Yazoo,”  but  as  the  name  “Yazoo,”  as  applied  to  land  companies, 
had  become  a hiss  and  a by-word  throughout  the  country,  the  title 
of  the  last  named  was  changed  to  that  of  the  “Upper  Mississippi.’^ 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


649 


A bill  granting  the  demands  of  the  companies  was  passed,  but  was 
vetoed  by  Governor  Matthews  on  December  28th.  Another  bill 
was  immediately  introduced  and  railroaded  through.  It  contained 
substantially  the  same  provisions  as  the  former,  but  was  worded 
in  a way  to  meet  the  technical  objections  of  the  executive.  This 
bill  was  approved  by  the  governor  on  Jan.  7,  1795.  Concerning  the 
passage  of  the  two  measures  Chappell  says : “Over  the  proposals 
and  efforts  of  the  combined  speculators  to  buy  this  almost  imperial 
expanse  the  State’s  unworthy  representatives  higgled  and  hesi- 
tated for  some  time,  not,  as  the  upshot  showed,  in  order  to  obtain 
a better  price  for  the  State,  but  with  a view  only  to  bigger  bribes 
for  themselves.  At  length,  paid  to  their  own  full  satisfaction  for 
their  votes,  they  sold  the  whole  coveted  region  at  one  ‘fell  swoop’ 
of  legislation  for  the  sum  of  $500,000  to  the  four  leagued  companies, 
the  purchase  money  being  apportioned  among  them  as  were  also 
the  lands,  according  to  their  own  wishes  and  dictation.” 

It  afterward  developed  that  every  member  who  voted  for  the 
bill,  with  the  exception  of  one,  was  interested  in,  and  parties  to, 
the  purchase.  By  the  provisions  of  the  bill  a part  of  the  purchase 
price  was  to  be  paid  before  the  passage  thereof,  and  the  remainder 
by  Nov.  1,  1795,  when  a grant  should  be  executed  conveying  the 
title  in  fee  simple  to  the  persons  constituting  the  companies.  The 
Georgia  company  received  the  lion’s  share  of  the  domain,  its  grant 
being  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  34th  parallel ; on  the  east  by 
the  Coosa  and  Alabama  rivers  to  the  mouth  of  the  Tombigbee ; 
thence  up  the  Tombigbee  to  the  line  of  the  32°  40';  west  on  that 
line  to  the  Mississippi  river,  and  up  the  Mississippi  to  the  34th  par- 
allel. For  this  tract  the  company  was  to  pay  $250,000,  of  which 
$50,000  was  to  be  paid  down  and  the  remainder  by  the  time  speci- 
fied in  the  act.  The  Mississippi  company  received  a tract  bounded 
on  the  north  by  the  line  of  32°  40';  on  the  east  by  the  Tombigbee; 
on  the  south  by  the  line  of  31°  18',  and  on  the  west  by  the  Missis- 
sippi. This  company  was  to  pay  $155,000.  No  cash  payment  was 
made,  but  a mortgage  was  given  covering  the  entire  grant.  The 
Upper  Mississippi  company  was  allotted  a strip  twenty-five  miles 
wide,  south  of  and  along  what  is  now  the  northern  boundary  of 
Mississippi  and  extending  from  Bear  creek  and  the  Tennessee  river 
on  the  east  to  the  Mississippi  on  the  west.  The  purchase  price  was 
fixed  at  $35,000  and  a deposit  of  $5,000  was  made  by  the  company 
upon  the  passage  of  the  act.  The  Tennessee  company  received  the 
same  lands  that  had  been  granted  by  the  act  of  1789  to  the  company 


650 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


of  the  same  name,  for  which  $60,000  was  to  be  paid  by  the  first  of 
November. 

The  total  amount  of  land  in  these  grants  was  given  by  the  com- 
panies in  their  petition  to  the  legislature  as  21,750,000  acres,  1,000,- 
000  of  which  were  to  be  reserved  to  the  state  for  the  citizens  of 
Georgia,  but  as  soon  as  the  bill  was  passed  it  was  announced  by 
the  same  authority  that  nearly  40,000,000  acres  were  to  be  offered 
for  sale, — a slight  discrepancy  of  about  18,000,000  acres.  This 
time  the  companies  made  their  payments  promptly,  the  lands  were 
divided  into  smaller  tracts  by  metes  and  bounds  and  sold  to  various 
parties,  some  of  it  as  low  as  ten  cents  an  acre.  After  the  agitation 
was  commenced  for  the  repeal  of  the  act  the  lands  remaining 
unsold  were  surrendered  to  the  state.  That  agitation  was  started 
by  President  Washington,  who  called  the  attention  of  Congress  to 
the  subject.  A committee  reported  that  the  acts  of  the  companies 
contemplated  an  infringement  on  the  law  of  the  land  and  advised 
the  president  to  permit  no  individuals  or  states  to  make  treaties 
with  the  Indians  for  the  extinguishment  of  their  title.  By  this  re- 
port the  companies  were  thrown  into  consternation  and  a campaign 
was  started  in  Georgia  for  the  election  of  a legislature  that  would 
repeal  the  “Yazoo  Fraud,”  as  the  act  was  now  commonly  called. 
Gen.  James  Jackson  resigned  his  seat  in  the  United  States  senate 
to  accept  an  election  to  the  legislature,  where  he  secured  the  enact- 
ment of  a law,  on  Feb.  13,  1796,  declaring  the  Yazoo  act  null  and 
void.  It  was  also  ordered  that  all  mention  of  the  proceedings, 
records  of  deeds,  etc.,  should  be  expunged  from  the  official  records, 
the  money  paid  for  the  land  should  be  returned,  that  no  papers  in 
evidence  should  be  recorded  in  future,  and  “that  the  enrolled  law 
or  usurped  act  shall  then  be  publicly  burned  in  order  that  no  trace 
of  so  unconstitutional,  vile  and  fraudulent  a transaction,  other  than 
the  infamy  attached  to  it  by  this  law,  shall  remain  in  the  public 
offices.” 

Two  days  later  the  documents  in  the  case  were  collected  for  in- 
cineration. Materials  for  a bonfire  were  collected  in  front  of  the 
state-house  at  Louisville,  the  legislature  marched  out  in  solemn 
procession  and,  with  the  assembled  spectators,  stood  with  uncov- 
ered heads  while  General  Jackson  with  a lens  focused  the  rays  of 
the  bright  February  sun  upon  the  pile,  thus  “calling  down  fire  from 
heaven”  for  the  consumption  of  the  pernicious  documents.  The  act, 
bearing  the  Great  Seal  of  State,  and  all  its  correlative  records  were 
placed  in  the  hands  of  a chosen  messenger  who  consigned  them  to 
the  fury  of  the  flames,  exclaiming  as  he  did  so : “God  save  the 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


651 


state  and  long  preserve  her  rights,  and  may  every  attempt  to  injure 
them  perish  as  these  corrupt  acts  now  do.” 

Although  shorne  of  their  legal  backing  by  this  crushing  blow  the 
companies  did  not  disband.  They  waited  until  after  the  cession  of 
the  territory  to  the  the  United  States  in  1802,  when  the  matter 
was  brought  to  the  attention  of  Congress.  In  one  form  and  anoth- 
er it  continued  before  that  body  until  the  last  day  of  March,  1814, 
when  an  appropriation  of  $5,000,000  was  made  to  quiet  the  Yazoo 
claims  and  all  title  to  the  territory  was  relinquished  by  the  claim- 
ants. 

Yellow  Creek,  a post-village  of  Dawson  county,  with  a popula- 
tion in  1900  of  148,  is  about  seven  miles  southwest  of  Dawson- 
ville.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Nelson,  ten  miles  west. 

Yellow  Fever. — Pathologists  describe  this  disease  as  a malig- 
nant fever,  marked  by  yellowness  of  the  skin,  from  which  it 
takes  its  name,  and,  in  the  advanced  stage,  by  the  vomiting  of  a 
dark  colored  matter,  whence  the  disease  is  sometimes  called  the 
black  vomit.  Its  approach  is  usually  foreshadowed  by  lassitude, 
loss  of  appetite  and  mental  depression.  The  attack  generally  begins 
in  the  night,  the  first  stage  being  marked  by  a chilly  sensation. 
This  is  soon  suceeded  by  the  hot  stage,  the  temperature  of  the 
body  often  rising  to  107°  accompanied  by  acute  headache,  pains 
in  the  limbs  and  stomach,  nausea,  which  culminates  in  the  black 
vomit.  The  fever  continues  from  three  to  nine  days,  though  in 
a majority  of  cases  there  is  a remission  at  the  end  of  the  second 
or  on  the  third  day.  In  favorable  cases  convalescence  follows,  in 
others  the  pulse  becomes  feeble,  followed  by  coma  and  finally 
death. 

The  disease  is  endemic  in  low  districts  lying  near  the  sea,  but. 
under  certain  conditions,  is  sporadic  in  other  localities.  It  seldom 
appears  north  of  38°  north  latitude  or  south  of  the  corresponding 
degree  of  south  latitude,  and  never  in  a lower  temperature  than 
72°  nor  at  a greater  altitude  than  2,000  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
sea.  Various  theories  have  been  advanced  by  pathologists  as  to 
its  origin.  Some  say  it  is  carried  in  the  air;  some  insist  that  it  is 
communicated  by  the  clothing  or  bedding  worn  or  used  by  infected 
patients ; others  contend  that  the  disease  is  not  contagious,  but  that 
it  may  be  contracted  by  persons  who  enter  the  infected  district. 
In  1881  Dr.  Carlos  Finlay  advanced  the  theory  that  the  germ  of 
yellow  fever  was  disseminated  by  a species  of  mosquito,  now 
known  as  the  Stegomyia  Fasciatus.  In  1900  Dr.  George  M.  Stern- 
berg, surgeon-general  of  the  United  States  army,  appointed  Maj. 


652 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Walter  Reed  and  contract  surgeon  Agramonte,  Carroll  and  Lazear 
to  investigate  the  merits  of  the  theory  proposed  by  Dr.  Finlay. 
An  experiment  station  was  established  near  Quemado,  Cuba,  where 
exhaustive  researches  were  made,  and  the  result  has  been  that 
the  most  progressive  physicians  of  the  day  accept  the  mosquito 
theory  as  being  responsible  for  the  spread  of  the  malady  in  infected 
districts. 

In  common  with  other  countries  having  a semi-tropical  climate, 
Georgia  has  been  visited  at  times  by  yellow  fever.  In  1808  an 
epidemic  occurred  at  St.  Mary’s  in  Camden  county,  in  which  the 
total  mortality  was  81,  and  a few  cases  appeared  in  Savannah  the 
same  season.  The  epidemics  of  the  fever  were  in  1820,  when  the 
city  of  Savannah  was  the  only  place  seriously  affected;  1839,  at 
Savannah  and  Augusta  ; 1854,  when  the  same  two  cities  and  also 
Macon  and  Darien  felt  the  blighting  hand  of  the  disease ; and  in 
1876,  when  the  fever  included  Savannah,  Brunswick,  Macon  and  the 
Isle  of  Hope,  where  the  citizens  of  Savannah  had  taken  refuge. 
Quasi  epidemics  occurred  at  Savannah  in  1817  and  each  of  the 
two  following  years,  and  again  in  1827  and  1828  there  were  some 
cases  in  the  city,  but  not  enough  to  create  alarm.  Doboy  island 
and  Darien  suffered  from  the  ravages  of  the  disease  in  1877,  and 
several  deaths  occurred  at  Brunswick  in  1893.  Aside  from  these 
instances  the  state  has  never  been  subjected  to  the  yellow  fever 
to  any  extent,  and  with  a better  knowledge  of  its  cause,  better 
sanitary  regulations,  etc.  it  is  probable  the  worst  is  passed.  The 
mosquito,  which  is  now  regarded  as  being  the  chief  distributer  of 
the  infection,  is  essentially  a house  insect,  is  found  most  abun- 
dantly in  cities,  and  bites  by  day  as  well  as  at  night.  Its  larvae 
can  be  readily  killed  by  a thin  film  of  kerosene  on  the  surface 
of  the  water  where  they  are  found,  and  if  to  this  be  added  the  drain- 
age of  stagnant  pools  and  marshes  in  sections  where  the  mosquito 
is  found,  there  is  no  reason  why  yellow  fever  should  not  ultimately 
yield  to  such  a process. 

Yellow  Pine, — (See  Lumber). 

Yellow  River,  a post-hamlet  of  Gwinnett  county,  is  about  two 
miles  south  of  Gloster,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Yeomans,  a post-village  in  Terrell  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Seaboard  Air  Line  railroad,  about  five  miles  northwest  of  Daw- 
son. 

Yeomans,  Manning  Jasper,  is  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the 
Terrell  county  bar,  being  established  in  practice  in  Dawson  and 
at  the  present  time  is  the  solicitor  of  the  city  court.  He  was  born 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


653 


at  Manassas,  Tattnall  county,  Ga.,  March  17,  1866,  and  in  the  same 
county  also  were  born  his  parents,  Andrew  J.  and  Alary  A.  Yeo- 
mans. His  father  was  a soldier  of  the  Confederacy  in  the  Civil  war 
and  his  life  was  largely  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits.  After 
completing  his  curriculum  of  the  common  schools  Mr.  Yeomans 
engaged  in  teaching  school,  utilizing  this  means  of  defraying  the 
expense  of  his  collegiate  work.  He  finally  entered  the  University 
of  Georgia,  in  which  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of 
1891,  receiving  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  He  then  took  post- 
graduate work  in  Vanderbilt  university,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  which  in- 
stitution conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Alaster  of  Arts  in  1893. 
He  began  teaching  school  in  1883  and  continued  in  pedagogic  work 
at  intervals  until  1896.  He  was  superintendent  of  the  city  schools 
of  Dawson  from  1893  to  1896.  In  the  meantime  he  had  taken  up 
the  study  of  law  and  in  the  year  last  mentioned  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar,  forthwith  instituting  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Dawson,  where  his  sucess  has  been  most  distinctive  and  gratifying. 
In  1898  he  was  appointed  solicitor  of  the  city  court,  was  reap- 
pointed in  1902  and  again  in  1906.  Mr.  Yeomans  has  been  a zeal- 
ous worker  in  the  cause  of  the  Democratic  party  and  is  a promi- 
nent factor  in  its  councils  in  the  state.  In  1902  he  was  elected  vice- 
chairman  of  the  Democratic  state  executive  committee  and  in  1904 
was  elected  chairman  of  the  committee,  showing  much  skill  and 
finesse  in  maneuvering  the  forces  at  his  command  in  the  campaign 
of  that  year.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Knights 
of  Pythias,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  the  Sigma  Nu  college  fraternity, 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  South.  On  June  6,  1895,  Air.  Yeomans  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Julia  Olivia  Stevens,  daughter  of  Hon.  Oliver 
B.  and  Julia  A.  (Lofton)  Stevens,  of  Dawson,  and  they  have  four 
children — Alary  Julia,  Alildred  Kessler,  Manning  Stevens,  and  Ter- 
rell Lamar. 

Yonah,  a post-hamlet  of  Banks  county,  is  not  far  from  the  Hall 
county  line,  and  is  a short  distance  from  the  Southern  railway, 
though  the  nearest  station  Bellton,  three  miles  southwest. 

Youley,  a post-hamlet  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Burke  county, 
is  ten  miles  east  of  Munnerlyn,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  sta- 
tion. 


654 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


Youmans,  John  E.,  of  Swainsboro, 
the  efficient  and  popular  judge  of  the 
court  of  ordinary  of  Emanuel  county, 
has  passed  his  entire  life  in  this  county, 
where  he  has  been  identified  with  plan- 
tation interests  from  his  youth  to  the 
present.  He  was  born  on  the  plantation 
which  he  still  owns,  ten  miles  west  of 
Swainsboro,  May  21,  1850,  a son  of  Sol- 
omon and  Eliza  (Barwick)  Youmans, 
both  of  whom  were  likewise  native  of 
Emanuel  county,  where  the  former  was 
born  June  27,  1827,  and  the  latter  Sept. 
9,  1827.  Solomon  Youmans  passed  his  entire  life  in  this  county, 
being  a planter  by  vocation,  and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-three 
years;  his  widow  still  resides  in  this  county.  Solomon  Youmans 
was  a son  of  John  and  Sallie  (Herrington)  Youmans,  and  the  for- 
mer was  a son  of  Solomon  Youmans,  who  was  a valiant  soldier  in 
the  Continental  line  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  who  was  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  Georgia.  Eliza  (Barwick)  Youmans  is  a 
daughter  of  Nathan  and  Elizabeth  (Whidden)  Barwick,  and  this 
family  also  was  early  founded  in  Georgia.  Of  the  children  of  Solo- 
mon and  Eliza  Youmans  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  first 
born.  Two  sons  and  two  daughters  are  deceased,  and  seven  sons 
are  living,  namely:  John  E.,  Nathan  R.,  Sewell  H.,  Thomas  N., 

Ebenezer  S.,  George  F.,  Lott  W.  and  Lawson,  all  being  resident  of 
Emanuel  county.  Judge  Youmans  was  reared'  on  the  homestead 
plantation  and  was  afforded  the  advantages  of  the  schools  of  his 
native  county.  He  continued  to  devote  his  attention  to  the  person- 
al supervision  of  his  plantation  until  1900,  when  he  was  elected 
judge  of  the  court  of  ordinary,  gave  a most  satisfactory  administra- 
tion and  was  reelected,  without  opposition,  in  1904.  Prior  to  his 
election  to  his  present  office  he  served  eight  years  as  a member  of 
the  board  of  road  and  revenue  commissioners  of  his  county,  and  for 
six  years  was  a justice  of  the  peace.  He  still  owns  and  directs  the 
management  of  his  plantation,  as  already  stated.  Judge  Youmans 
is  a stalwart  in  the  local  camp  of  the  Democracy  and  is  affiliated 
with  the  Masonic  fraternity.  On  March  2,  1879,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Agnes  Elizabeth  Youngblood,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Ruth  Cleveland,  who  was  born  in  1892. 

Young  Cane,  a post-town  in  the  western  part  of  Union  county, 
is  a trading  center  of  some  importance.  The  population  in  1900 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


655 


was  285.  Mineral  Bluff,  on  the  Atlanta,  Knoxville  & Northern, 
is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

Young  Female  College. — This  institution  owes  its  existence  to 
Maj.  E.  R.  Young,  a wealthy  planter  of  Thomas  county,  who  died 
in  1860,  leaving  a legacy  of  $30,000  for  the  establishment  of  a 
school  at  Thomasville,  to  be  known  as  the  “Young  Female  Col- 
lege.” In  his  will  he  named  seven  trustees  to  carry  out  his  wishes, 
but  before  they  could  do  so  the  will  was  contested  in  the  courts 
and  a final  decision  was  not  reached  until  1868.  The  board  then 
purchased  what  is  known  as  the  Kirksey  residence,  with  fifteen 
acres  of  land,  and  in  February,  1868,  the  school  was  opened.  It 
has  done  much  toward  building  up  the  town  in  which  it  is  located 
and  is  a fitting-  monument  to  its  public  spirited  founder. 

Young  Harris,  a town  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Towns  county, 
was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1895.  In  1900  it  re- 
ported a population  of  342.  It  was  named  in  honor  of  Young  L. 
G.  Harris,  of  Athens,  who  founded  the  school  there  which  also 
bears  his  name.  The  town  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural 
free  delivery,  and  several  stores.  Murphy,  N.  C.,  is  the  nearest 
railroad  station. 

Young  Harris  College,  located  in  the  town  of  the  same  name 
in  Towns  county,  was  founded  in  1885  by  Young  L.  G.  Harris,  after 
whom  both  the  town  and  the  institution  were  named.  Subsequent- 
ly he  presented  the  property  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
under  whose  auspices  it  is  conducted  as  a coeducational  school  and 
is  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  educational  institutions  in  that 
section  of  the  state. 

Young,  John  Remer. — Success  in  any 
line  of  occupation  or  in  any  avenue  of 
business  is  not  a matter  of  spontaneity 
but  is  the  legitimate  offspring  of  sub- 
jective effort  in  the  proper  utilization  of 
the  means  at  hand,  the  improvement  of 
opportunity  and  the  exercise  of  the  high- 
est functions  made  possible  by  personal 
ability.  The  subject  of  this  memoir  de- 
serves classification  among  the  distin- 
guished business  men  not  only  of  the  city 
of  Savannah  but  also  of  the  state  of 
Georgia,  for  he  wrested  from  the  hands 
of  fate  a large  measure  of  success  and  left  the  record  of  an  hon- 
orable and  useful  life.  His  administrative  and  initiative  powers 


6 56 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


were  superb,  and  he  was  identified  with  enterprises  and  undertak- 
ings of  wide  scope  and  importance.  Mr.  Young  was  born  on  his 
father’s  plantation  in  Thomas  county,  Ga.,  April  7,  1856,  a son  of 
Remer  Young,  who  later  became  one  of  the  most  extensive  and 
successful  planters  of  Lowndes  county,  whither  he  removed  in 
1859  and  where  the  boyhood  and  youth  of  the  subject  of  this  tri- 
bute were  passed.  John  R.  Young  was  prepared  for  college  in 
Valdosta  institute  and  then  entered  the  University  of  Georgia, 
where  he  completed  his  educational  discipline.  After  leaving  the 
university  he  passed  a few  years  on  his  father’s  plantation  and  in 
the  management  of  the  plantation  of  J.  W.  Lathrop  & Company, 
in  Lowndes  county.  He  then  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  naval 
stores,  in  which  he  continued  successfully  until  1883,  when  he  dis- 
posed of  his  interests  in  this  line  to  accept  a position  as  traveling 
representative  of  the  extensive  naval  stores  firm  of  Peacock,  Hunt 
& Co.,  of  Savannah,  in  which  city  he  at  that  time  took  up  his  resi- 
dence. After  two  years  with  this  firm  its  junior  partners,  Messrs. 
Ellis  and  Holt,  withdrew  and  formed  a partnership  under  the  title 
of  Ellis,  Holt  & Co.,  Mr.  Young  being  tendered  and  having  accepted 
an  interest  in  the  business.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Holt,  C.  B. 
Parker  was  admitted  to  the  firm,  which  became  known  as  Ellis, 
Young  & Co.,  and  in  1897  the  business  was  incorporated  under  the 
title  of  the  Ellis-Young  Company.  In  1904  the  name  was  changed 
to  John  R.  Young  Company,  and  the  enterprise  has  since  been  con- 
tinued under  the  corporate  title.  This  company  stands  as  one  of 
the  largest  and  most  successful  naval-stores  concerns  in  the  entire 
south,  and  the  magnificent  business  which  has  been  built  up  has 
come  largely  through  the  discriminating  efforts  and  wise  and 
conservative  administration  of  Mr.  Young.  During  his  residence 
in  Savannah  he  stamped  the  impress  of  his  sterling  business  abil- 
ities upon  many  projects  and  undertakings  which  made  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  city  commercially  and  industrially,  and  in  a 
civic  sense  he  was  so  thoroughly  identified  with  every  line  of  public 
enterprise  that  he  became  widely  known  and  honored  throughout 
his  native  commonwealth.  He  was  the  organizer  of  the  Georgia 
Pine  Investment  Company,  of  which  he  was  president ; organized 
the  old  Macon  & Atlanta  Railway  Company,  which  was  placed  in 
the  hands  of  a receiver  in  1892-3,  together  with  the  Georgia  South- 
ern & Florida  and  the  Macon  & Birmingham  railroads.  In  1893 
he  was  elected  president  of  the  Atlantic  Short  Line  Railway  Com- 
pany, and  upon  the  failure  to  sell  the  property  and  franchise,  owing 
to  the  objection  of  some  of  the  stockholders,  he  was  appointed 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


657 


receiver  of  the  company,  by  Judge  Speer,  of  the  United  States  court. 
He  was  also  made  receiver  of  the  Savannah  Electric  Railway  Com- 
pany in  the  same  year,  by  appointment  of  the  same  judge.  He  was 
president  of  the  National  Tank  and  Export  Company,  with  whose 
organization  he  was  prominently  concerned,  in  1901.  He  was  also 
president  of  the  Tattnall  Investment  Company,  of  Savannah;  of 
the  Gulf  Coast  Transportation  Company;  the  Young  Investment 
Company,  of  Valdosta;  and  the  Suwanee  River  Transportation 
Company.  He  was  a member  of  the  directorate  of  each,  the  Citi- 
zens’ bank,  of  Savannah ; the  Georgia  State  Building  and  Loan 
Association;  the  Consolidated  Naval  Stores  Company;  the  Naval 
Stores  Export  Company;  and  the  Georgia  Federation  of  Commer- 
cial Bodies.  Mr.  Young’s  splendid  abilities  as  a financier  and 
practical  business  man,  so  attracted  attention  in  Savannah  busi- 
ness circles  that  four  years  after  taking  up  his  residence  here  he 
was  elected  vice-president  of  the  board  of  trade.  At  the  next 
election  he  was  made  president,  retaining  the  position  for  several 
years,  and  later  was  again  called  to  the  presidency  of  the  body, 
having  been  its  executive  head  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred on  Nov.  19,  1905.  His  activity  and  able  service  as  a member 
and  official  of  the  board  of  trade  attracted  to  him  the  attention 
throughout  commercial  circles  in  the  south  and  of  capitalists  in 
other  sections  of  the  Union,  the  result  being  of  much  benefit  to 
the  city  of  his  home.  He  was  a member  of  Landrum  Lodge,  Free 
and  Acepted  Masons;  Palestine  Commandery,  Knights  Templars; 
Alee  Temple,  Ancient  Arabic  Order,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine; 
Savannah  Lodge,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  of 
drew’s  society,  of  which  he  served  as  president  at  one  time,  and 
the  Savannah  Benevolent  association.  He  was  an  associate  mem- 
ber of  the  Savannah  Volunteer  Guards,  the  Georgia  Hussars  and 
the  Chatham  Artillery.  He  also  held  membership  in  the  St.  An- 
drew’s society,  of  which  he  served  as  president  at  one  time,  and 
also  of  the  Oglethorpe  club  and  the  Savannah  Yacht  club.  He  was 
an  attendant  and  supporter  of  the  Independent  Presbyterian 
church.  Mr.  Young  remained  a bachelor  until  his  death,  and  is 
survived  by  the  following  named  brothers  and  sisters : Henry 

M.,  of  Lowndes  county;  James  Iv.,  of  Brunswick,  Ga. ; Mrs.  J. 
B.  Jones,  Mrs.  Henry  Y.  Peeples,  Mrs.  John  T.  Roberts,  Mrs. 
Brocius  Fender  and  Miss  Mec  Young,  of  Lowndes  county;  and 
Mrs.  William  Pendleton,  of  Bryn  Anthyn,  Pa. 

Young,  Pierce,  M.  B.,  soldier  and  member  of  Congress,  was  born 
at  Spartanburg,  S.  C.,  Nov.  15,  1839.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  years 


42— III 


G58 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


he  entered  the  Georgia  military  institute,  at  Marietta,  and  in  1857 
was  appointed  a cadet  to  West  Point,  where  he  remained  four 
years,  leaving  the  institution  a short  time  before  he  would  have 
graduated  to  enter  the  Confederate  service.  He  was  offered  a com- 
mission as  first  lieutenant  in  the  First  Georgia  regulars  by  Gover- 
nor Brown,  but  declined  to  accept  an  appointment  as  second  lieu- 
tenant in  the  artillery  service.  He  served  as  an  engineer  on  Gen- 
eral Bragg’s  staff  at  Pensacola;  was  an  aide  on  the  staff  of  Gen. 
W.  H.  T.  Walker;  adjutant  of  Cobb’s  Georgia  legion;  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  Seventeenth  Georgia  infantry;  brigadier-general  of 
cavalry  in  1863,  and  major-general  in  1864.  After  the  war  he  set- 
tled on  his  plantation  in  Bartow  county.  In  1866  he  was  elected 
to  Congress  and  was  three  times  reelected ; was  a delegate  to  the 
Democratic  national  conventions  of  1868,  1876  and  1880 ; delegate 
to  the  state  conventions  of  1876  and  1880,  his  name  being  men- 
tioned in  the  latter  as  a candidate  for  governor;  was  commissioner 
to  the  Paris  exposition  of  1878 ; appointed  consul-general  to  St. 
Petersburg  by  President  Cleveland  in  1885 ; resigned  in  1887  and 
in  1893  was  appointed  minister  to  Guatemala  and  Honduras.  While 
holding  this  position  he  was  taken  sick  and  started  home,  but  died 
at  New  York  city  on  July  6,  1896. 

Young,  William  B.,  one  of  the  hon- 
ored and  influential  citizens  and  promi- 
nent men  of  Augusta,  where  he  has  made 
his  home  for  the  past  sixty  years,  is  a 
native  of  Georgia  and  represented  the 
same  as  an  officer  in  the  Confederate 
service  during  the  climacteric  period  of 
the  war  between  the  states.  He  was 
born  on  his  father’s  plantation,  in  Colum- 
bia county,  Ga.,  May  14,  1838,  a son  of 
Allen  C.  and  Elizabeth  (Dye)  Young, 
the  former  a native  of  Columbia  county 
and  a representative  of  one  of  the  ster- 
ling pioneer  families  of  that  section,  and  the  latter  of  Burke  county. 
During  his  earlier  business  career  Allen  C.  Young  was  a planter, 
by  vocation,  but  he  later  became  a carpenter  and  builder  and 
took  up  his  residence  in  Augusta  in  1846  where  he  died  in 
1896,  at  a venerable  age,  his  wife  having  passed  away  in  1884. 
Capt.  William  B.  Young  was  eight  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his 
parents’  removal  to  Augusta,  where  he  secured  his  early  education. 
As  a youth  he  learned  the  carpenter’s  trade  under  the  direction 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


659 


of  his  father ; later  he  became  clerk  and  bookkeeper  for  a local 
mercantile  concern;  and  just  prior  to  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war 
he  established  himself  individually  in  the  mercantile  business  in 
Augusta.  Upon  the  call  of  the  Confederacy  for  volunteers  he  was 
among  the  first  to  respond,  subordinating  all  personal  interests 
to  the  one  object  of  defending  the  rights  and  institutions  under 
whose  influence  he  had  been  reared.  Early  in  1861  he  enlisted  in 
Company  A,  Cobb’s  Legion  of  Georgia  cavalry,  in  which  he  was 
forthwith  made  corporal  and  proceeded  to  the  front  with  his  com- 
mand, which  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia.  He 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines,  first  battle  of  Cold  Harbor, 
the  memorable  engagements  of  Malvern  Hill,  second  Manassas, 
Harper’s  Ferry,  Sharpsburg,  first  and  second  Fredericksburg, 
Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Bristow  Station,  Mine  Run,  Brandy 
Station  and  numerous  other  fights  and  skirmishes  in  which  the 
cavalry  was  concerned.  He  was  captured  in  February,  1864,  and 
held  as  a prisoner  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  was  released 
on  formal  parole.  Early  in  1862  he  was  promoted  first  lieutenant 
of  Company  I,  Cobb  Legion,  and  just  after  the  battle  of  Malvern 
Hill  he  was  made  captain  of  that  company,  receiving  his  commission 
as  such  and  remaining  in  command  of  the  company  until  the  time 
of  his  capture,  with  others  of  his  comrades.  After  the  close  of  the 
war  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Augusta,  where  he  again  established 
himself  in  the  general  mercantile  business,  in  which  he  was  active- 
ly concerned  until  1886,  when  he  became  cashier  of  the  Augusta 
Savings  bank,  of  which  he  was  made  president  in  1895,  in  which 
year  he  was  also  chosen  president  of  the  National  Exchange  bank 
of  Augusta,  having  since  remained  at  the  executive  head  of  these 
two  important  financial  institutions.  He  is  vice-president  of  the 
Clark  Milling  Company;  president  of  the  Augusta  Real  Estate 
and  Improvement  Company;  president  of  the  Richards  & Shaver 
Printing  Company ; president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Med- 
ical College  of  Georgia,  in  Augusta,  the  medical  department  of  the 
state  university;  is  a director  of  the  Bon  Air  Hotel  Company,  and 
has  other  important  capitalistic  interests,  indicating  his  progressive 
spirit  and  liberality  in  supporting  enterprises  which  have  marked 
value  and  importance  in  fostering  the  advancement  and  material 
prosperity  of  his  home  city  and  state.  Captain  Young  has  ever 
been  a stanch  advocate  of  the  principles  and  policies  for  which  the 
Democratic  party  stands  sponsor;  served  seventeen  years  as  a 
member  of  the  city  council  of  Augusta ; was  mayor  of  the  city,  in 
1895,  1896  and  1897,  proving  one  of  the  best  chief  executives  the 


G60 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


municipal  government  has  ever  claimed.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Commercial  club  and  the  Country  club,  and  in  a fraternal  way 
is  affiliated  with  the  United  Confederate  Veterans  and  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  in  which  latter  he  is  past  grand  commander  of  the 
Georgia  grand  commandry  of  Knights  Templars.  He  is  also  a 
past  high  priest  of  his  chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons,  in  his  home 
city.  On  Nov.  11,  1871,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ella  W. 
Key,  daughter  of  Rev.  Caleb  W.  Key,  a clergyman  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  South.  Mrs.  Young  died  on  June  21,  1899,  and  is 
survived  by  two  sons— William  K.,  who  is  engaged  in  business 
in  Augusta,  and  C.  Bruce,  one  of  the  sucessful  younger  members 
of  the  Richmond  county  bar. 

Youngs,  a post-hamlet  of  Polk  county,  is  a station  on  the  Central 
of  Georgia  railway,  five  miles  south  of  Cedartown. 

Younker,  a village  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Dodge  county, 
is  a station  on  the  Wrightsville  & Tennille  railroad.  It  has  a few 
stores  with  a local  trade,  a money  order  postoffice,  and  does  some 
shipping. 

Ypsilanti,  a post-hamlet  of  Talbot  county,  is  ten  miles  northeast 
of  Talbotton,  which  is  the  most  convenient  railroad  station. 

Yukon,  a post-hamlet  of  Gilmer  county,  is  four  miles  east  of  Tal- 
ona,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 

z 

Zachry,  Julian  J.,  one  of  the  leading 
lawyers  of  the  younger  generation  in  the 
city  of  Augusta,  is  a native  Georgian  and 
a member  of  old  and  honored  families 
of  this  commonwealth.  He  was  born 
on  the  homestead  plantation,  in  Colum- 
bia county,  April  29,  1878,  a son  of  Wil- 
liam N.  and  Harriet  W.  (Griffin)  Zachry, 
the  former  born  in  Columbia  county,  and 
the  latter  in  the  city  of  Augusta.  They 
now  reside  at  Harlem,  Columbia  county, 
the  father  having  retired  from  active  bus- 
iness, after  many  years  of  successful 
operations  as  a planter.  Julian  J.  Zachry  was  reared  on  the  home 
plantation  and  secured  his  educational  discipline  of  a preliminary 
sort  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  county,  where  he  remained 
until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  when  he  located 
in  Augusta  and  took  up  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


661 


Henry  C.  Roney,  thoroughly  fortifying  himself  in  the  minutae  of 
the  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  on  May  24,  1897.  Since  that 
time  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  general  practice  of  his  profession 
in  Augusta,  giving  his  undivided  attention  to  the  same  and  has 
built  up  an  excellent  business.  He  is  a close  and  appreciative 
student,  never  enters  into  a cause  without  the  fullest  preparation 
and  is  known  as  a good  trial  lawyer  and  safe  counselor.  He  has 
finely  equipped  offices  in  the  Dyer  building,  where  he  has  a law 
library  of  an  exceptionally  comprehensive  and  valuable  sort.  He 
is  a stalwart  in  the  camp  of  the  Democratic  party  but  has  never 
sought  official  preferment;  is  a member  of  the  Richmond  county 
bar  association  and  counsel  for  the  Mutual  Fire  Indemnity  Asso- 
ciation, of  Augusta.  Mr.  Zachry  is  a member  of  St.  John’s  church, 
Methodist  Episcopal  South. 

Z ana,  a postoffice  of  Irwin  county,  is  about  four  miles  northwest 
of  Fitzgerald.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  Abba,  on  the  Atlan- 
tic & Birmingham. 

Zebulon,  the  county  seat  of  Pike  county,  located  on  a division  of 
the  Southern  railway  that  runs  from  Atlanta  to  Fort  Valley,  was 
incorporated  about  1822  and  named  in  honor  of  Gen.  Zebulon  M. 
Pike,  of  New  Jersey,  a gallant  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  whose 
surname  the  county  bears.  Zebulon  had  in  1900  a population  of 
361.  It  has  a court  house,  a money  order  postoffice  wtih  rural  free 
delivery,  express  and  telegraph  offices,  a bank,  several  prosperous 
commercial  houses,  and  a good  system  of  public  schools,  at  the 
head  of  which  is  a well  conducted  high  school.  There  is  abun- 
dance of  good  freestone  water  and  the  climate  is  delightful. 

Zeigler,  a post-village  of  Screven  county,  with  a population  of 
87  in  1900,  is  a station  on  the  Sylvania  Central  railroad.  It  has 
some  stores,  which  do  a good  local  business,  and  handles  consider- 
able freight. 

Zeke,  a post-hamlet  of  Cherokee  county,  is  four  miles  northwest 
of  Keithsburg,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  town. 

Zellner,  a post-hamlet  in  the  central  part  of  Monroe  county,  is 
about  five  miles  north  of  Collier,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  sta- 
tion. 

Zenith,  a post-hamlet  of  Crawford  county,  is  a station  on  the 
Atlanta  & Fort  Valley  division  of  the  Southern  railway  system,  and 
is  twelve  miles  south  of  Knoxville. 

Zetella,  a village  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Spalding  county, 
is  a station  on  the  Southern  railroad.  The  population  in  1900  was 


662 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


65.  It  has  a money  order  postoffice,  with  rural  free  delivery,  and 
is  the  principal  trading  point  in  that  section  of  the  county. 

Zoar,  a village  of  Bulloch  county,  with  a population  of  100  in 
1900,  is  located  on  a little  tributary  of  the  Ogeechee  river,  about 
four  miles  northeast  of  Clito,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  station. 
It  has  a postoffice,  some  stores  with  a good  local  trade,  and  enjoys 
good  educational  and  religious  advantages. 

Zoepffel-Quellenstein,  Dr.  Erich,  the  able  and  popular  consul 
of  the  German  empire  in  the  city  of  Atlanta,  was  born  in  Quellen- 
stein,  Russia,  on  the  family  estate,  March  3,  1865.  He  is  a son  of 
Albert  and  Olga  (Geoschnikoff)  Zoepffel,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  Prussia,  in  1818,  and  the  latter  in  the  city  of  St.  Peters- 
burg, Russia,  in  1833.  The  subject  of  this  brief  review  was  afforded 
the  best  of  scholastic  advantages,  both  academic  and  technical.  He 
attended  excellent  educational  institutions  in  Russia,  Germany  and 
France,  including  colleges  in  St.  Petersburg,  Berlin  and  Paris  and 
the  celebrated  University  of  Tubingen.  As  a young  man  he  served 
as  an  officer  in  the  Prussian  Guards  and  in  1894  he  entered  the 
foreign  office  in  the  city  of  Berlin,  whence  he  was  sent  to  Russia, 
Italy,  Spain,  Bulgaria,  the  United  States,  then  again  to  Russia, 
to  Belgium  and  finally  again  to  the  United  States,  being  now  the 
consul  of  Germany  in  Atlanta,  where  he  has  a wide  circle  of  friends 
in  the  leading  social  and  business  connections  of  the  Georgia  cap- 
ital. 

Zubly,  John  J.,  Presbyterian  minister,  was  born  at  St.  Gall, 
Switzerland,  August  27,  1724.  About  the  middle  of  the  century 
he  came  to  America,  first  stopping  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1758  came  to  Savannah  as  minister  to  a Presbyterian 
congregation  there.  He  was  a delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress 
that  met  in  July,  1775,  and  at  the  opening  of  that  body  delivered  an 
address  on  “The  Law  of  Liberty,”  copies  of  which  are  still  pre- 
served among  the  collections  of  the  Georgia  Plistorical  Society. 
He  was  chosen  by  the  Provincial  Congress  as  a delegate  to  the 
Continental  Congress,  but  would  not  accept  until  he  obtained  the 
consent  of  his  congregation.  A committee  was  appointed  to  wait 
on  the  church  and  get  this  consent,  after  which  Mr.  Zubly  went 
with  Archibald  Bulloch  and  John  Houston  to  Philadelphia.  When 
the  matter  of  declaring  the  colonies  independent  came  up  he  was 
opposed  to  the  scheme  and  wrote  to  Governor  Wright,  advising 
him  of  the  probable  action  of  Congress.  It  seems  that  he  was 
suspected,  as  one  of  his  letters  was  intercepted,  and  he  was  charged 
with  being  a traitor  to  the  cause  of  liberty.  He  vacated  his  seat 


CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA 


663 


in  Congress,  returned  to  Georgia  and  took  sides  with  the  royalists. 
He_was  ordered  to  be  banished  and  one  half  his  property  confis- 
cated. Accordingly  he  went  to  South  Carolina,  but  subsequently 
returned  to  Savannah,  where  he  preached  until  his  death  on  July 
23,  1781. 


DUKE  UNIVERSITY 
LIBRARY 


DURHAM,  NORTH  CAROLINA 

27706 


